A RECORD number of Holstein enthusiasts descended on a Kendal farm to view the award-winning Berryholme herd which was crowned the winner of the Premier Herd Competition in 2019.

The Wright family have been farming at Berry Holme Farm since 1919 and registered their first Friesian in 1965. David, who manages the farm, joined the team full time in the early 2000’s and is now the fourth-generation to farm at Berryholme. The 140-cow milking herd (plus followers) is nationally recognised for exceptional breeding, confirmation, production and their extremely high standard of health and welfare. Currently averages are 10,850kg at 4.31 percent butterfat and 3.28 percent protein with a calving interval of 398 days. They began classifying in 2001 and the herd now boasts 86 percent of their herd as VG/EX animals with 45 EX and 72 VG.

Having won the Premier Herd award in their Centenary year, the family, including David, his wife Naomi and his father Francis.

Holstein UK President John Jamieson and Head of Breed Development Meurig James commented on the outstanding quality of the herd and how hard David and his team had worked to make the event come together. John said, “When you turn into the driveway, you think you’ve landed in God’s country and if we ever wondered what Holstein cows would look like in heaven then what we see today at Berryholme is the perfect example.” During David’s speech, he paid tribute to Francis and his right-hand-man Thomas Atkinson who have worked so hard over a lifetime to make the herd what it is today.

The highly-anticipated Best of Berryholme Sale took place during the afternoon and received competition from across the UK and Ireland.