05/06/2026
Qualifying begins for dairy cow championship
Last Saturday’s Ballymena Show marked the beginning of the local show season in Northern Ireland, and also the first of the qualifying rounds for the 2026 Thompsons/Northern Ireland Shows Association Dairy Cow Championship. And despite the heavy showers, the showgrounds at Ballymena Market welcomed a large crowd of spectators and boasted a strong turnout of dairy stock, which made for some stiff competition in the dairy ring.
Selecting the Ballymena qualifiers this year was judge Colin Laird, who runs the Blythbridge Holstein herd in Peebleshire, Scotland.
Colin’s first qualifier was the Ballymena Interbreed Champion, Mostragee Vinny Lauren 3 VG87, from the Henry Family’s Mostragee herd, Stranocum. Lauren comes from a long line of prize-winning cows, including her granddam Robinview Atwood Vicky who was crowned Thompsons Dairy Cow of the Year back in 2019. Lauren’s triumph in Ballymena follows a very successful Balmoral Show, where she picked up the Holstein Championship and Dairy Interbreed Championship titles. Her growing list of show successes also include the 2025 Ballymoney Show Dairy Interbreed title, and at the 2024 RUAS Winter Fair, Champion Junior Heifer, Champion Holstein Heifer, and Reserve Interbreed Heifer awards. She was also nominated All Britain Junior 2-year old in 2024. Calved since mid-January, the second calver is currently averaging 57 kg/day at 4.35% butterfat and 3.05% protein. As a heifer, her production topped 11,200kg at 5% butterfat and 3.26% protein.
The second Ballymena qualifier was the Reserve Interbreed Champion, Panda Strike It Rich Red EX96, from the Slatabogie Herd of Alan and Leanne Paul, Maghera. Still going strong, this senior cow was a finalist back in 2022 after picking up the Reserve Interbreed Championship at Ballymena as a third calver. Now five months into her sixth lactation, she is currently averaging 62kg/day at 4.2% butterfat and 3.3% protein. She is projected to top 16,000kg for the lactation.
The junior qualifying spot at Ballymena was picked up by Mostragee Hardy May, also from the Henry Family’s Mostragee herd, Stranocum. May was runner-up Junior two Year Old at Balmoral Show last month. Just over three months calved, she is currently averaging 43kg/day at 4.26% butterfat and 3.16% protein.
Thompsons would like to congratulate all the Ballymena qualifiers on a very successful day, and wish them all the best for the Final at Antrim Show on Saturday 25th July.
Good luck to all exhibitors heading to Ballymoney Show and Lurgan Show Lurgan Shows this weekend, we will see you there!
The full report from Ballymena Show will be in tomorrow's Farming Life 👍
