Looking the part to make impact in show ring

Lizzie Miles is one of the new breed of showmen and women who have turned the livestock classes at agricultural shows into more than simply being about the animals in recent times.

During the past 15 years there has been a marked increase in cattle handlers taking as much care in how they look when leading their stock around a ring as the pampering that is given to their cows and bulls beforehand.

Purists who believe that showing stock is all about the animal will nod their heads in appreciation of a competent handler, but does the way the handler looks while competing count for anything?

Lizzie, who will be showing her cow Littlebridge Pheasant 92 at next weekend’s North Yorkshire County Show as well as a couple of in-milk heifers and two calves, believes that looking right helps the individual in feeling good about themselves.

“If you look good and your cows look good it’s so much more professional. If you don’t look as though you take yourself seriously how is anyone going to believe in you?”

But Lizzie is fully aware that at the end of the day it is the cows she shows that are the main thing.

“I’ve taken part in a number of showmanship competitions and in those it is all about the way you walk the calf around or the manner in which you do things that gets noted. That’s fine and can be great fun, but I’m also very aware of being a girl in agriculture. Yes, I do like to put make-up on and do my hair, but at the same time I like to be taken seriously.”

Having completed her studies at Bishop Burton College Lizzie returned to the family farm at Little Bridge Farm in the hamlet of Ellerbeck between Northallerton and Osmotherley. She now farms here with her father Peter and uncle David.

The farm runs to some 340 acres and is a dairy and sheep enterprise. The 130 Holstein milkers and 150 followers are based here and at Sydal Lodge Farm nearby. They also have a flock of 350 breeding ewes that are targeted at producing a good butcher’s lamb. Lizzie is totally immersed in the farm making sure they produce the best quality animals they can and, when she is not showing her cows she has quite a different look.

“If you see me at six o’clock in the morning you’d get another picture of me completely. My hair is up, I’m scruffy looking and just getting on with the job that I’ve loved ever since I was little.”

Milking at Little Bridge is conducted at 6am and 4.30pm every day in a 16/16 herringbone de Laval parlour. Although it is 22-years-old (the same age as her) Lizzie sees no reason to change. The Miles’s milk is sold to Arla on a non-aligned contract and they are receiving just over 30ppl. They keep costs under control by feeding grass silage and concentrates in out of parlour and in parlour feeders.

“I’m now the fourth generation to farm here. My elder brother and sister are not involved with the farm but what keeps me here and keeps me dairy farming is constantly striving to build and breed a better cow. I look for longevity, conformation, good feet and legs.

“When I open those back gates for the cows to come into the milking parlour and see fantastic looking cows staring back at me that’s why I do it.

“Dad and I are constantly nattering about cows and bulls. We literally eat, breathe and sleep cows here. We look at other farmers’ cows and we look at cow families all the time with a view to choosing which genetics we are going to bring into the herd.

“Every dairy farmer wants something different that is appropriate to his or her needs. We would rather get 1,000 litres less from a lactation and get another lactation out of the cow rather than pushing it. Our average number of lactations in the herd is around five.

“Getting the breeding right is a huge part of dairy farming. In my opinion there is a Holstein bull for every farmer. If you want a Hi-Type animal or a less extreme cow it is all about making sure you are with the right company and looking for the right traits for you.”

Lizzie’s summer agricultural show career started at North Yorkshire County Show around a decade ago and she is grateful to family friend Sarah Liddle for getting her started.

“I owe a lot to Sarah. She showed me how to prepare and show and I went all over the place with her. I was hooked immediately and have competed ever since.

“I’m also very fortunate that my dad pushes me to achieve and constantly encourages me. I’ve had some success as a handler at the Great Yorkshire Show, where I was champion handler one year; and we had a First at Harrogate last year with Littlebridge Shottle Honey II.

“The Great Yorkshire Show has the largest entry of Holstein cows in the country and whilst it is taken seriously it is also good light-hearted competition where everyone is very helpful.

“It was so sad when the North Yorkshire County Show was called off last year. I’m hopeful that we will do well there next Sunday but you should never be presumptuous. I’ve won with a calf but never a cow just yet.

“All winter I spend time looking for which cows and calves I’m going to take and by the time summer comes I’m so excited. Now that I’m home full-time the selection of which cows is always on my mind. You just get a feeling about some.

“My dad, uncle and granddad all used to show cows and they are always very supportive of me when I’m in the show ring. I get to a number of the more local shows such as Wensleydale and Stokesley; the Calf Show at Thirsk; the Nationals; and Dairy Expo at Carlisle.”

Family to mark century at farm

The combination of sheep and dairy works well at Little Bridge and Lizzie tells of just how much the lamb trade has picked up.

While Lizzie would love to carry off major prizes with her home bred dairy cows she is also looking forward to what she considers will be a fantastic achievement.

“In seven years our family will have been here for 100 years.

“Now that will really be worth celebrating.”

North Yorkshire County Show takes place at Otterington Hall, between Thirsk and Northallerton, on Sunday June 16.