Yorkshire farmer wins dairy crown

Just 11 days prior to competing his third calver, Saxelby Goldwyn Rose suffered a twisted stomach and needed an operation.

However, determined that the show would go on, Mr Butterfield and his wife Elaine managed to get her to the show where she impressed judges sufficiently to take the top prize.

Mr Butterfield farms from Linghaw Farm, Bentham, and has been showing for more than 25 years. His cow, which fortunately made a speedy recovery from its operation, is getting used to success, having taking the reserve breed championship at the 2009 great Yorkshire Show as well as four breed championships this year.

Halving calved on June 10 it has been yielding 50kg of milk a day since, with 3.57 protein.

Mr Butterfield, speaking to the Yorkshire Post after claiming the title, said: "She is just one of those cows who loves showing. She has been getting a bit tired today but as soon as she comes away from home and arrives at the showground she is ready."

The entry of dairy shorthorn cattle was a significant increase on last year's levels, won in the end by Dewsbury farmer Ian Collins with Churchroyd Heather 29.

In the junior classes, Scottish farmer David Gray won with a well-balanced Jersey which he bred himself.

He said: "I am delighted to win, especially with such a strong show in the ring."

The Ayrshire class was won by Great Yorkshire Show veterans David and Christine Sanderson.

Elsewhere the junior interbreed class for beef was won by Hayley Clarke with a semmintal.

The Supreme Pig – best in the show – was a Welsh gilt from the hobby business of retired milkman Brian Mulkeen, 70, and his wife, Margaret, of Wigan.

Mrs Mulkeen said: "After keeping pigs for 60 years, Brian just looks at them and knows whether they need more food or less."

Reserve was a middle white boar from Steve Richardson of Sale, Cheshire..

The British Pig Association Pig of the Year was also chosen yesterday, from a line-up of young pigs selected at smaller shows all over the country.

It was a year-old saddleback boar brought by business and life partners Will Edwards and Amanda Thomas of Newbridge, South Wales, who run a caravan business for a living.

Their runner-up was also a hobbyist, barrister Edward Bailey of Launceston, Cornwall, with a saddleback gilt.

Interbreed champion in the sheep was a charollais ram, a former Royal Highland champion, bought at Worcester by a syndicate of breeders, Peter Vaughan of Herefordshire, Paul Quick of Devon and Geoff Probert of Worcestershire. It was, they said, his first and last outing before being put to work.

Reserve was a Swaledale ewe from veteran Yorkshire showman and farmer John Bradley, and wife Jean, of Pen y Ghent, near Skipton.

In the Beltex classes Kevin and Rachel Buckle from Kirby Stephen took top honours in the championship, against an entry level vastly increased upon last year.

The couple have numerous wins at the show with the Beltex and have a strong commitment to the breed, Mrs Buckle being the Beltex Sheep Society secretary.