The Dairy Burke Trophy, the most prestigious inter-breed award competed for
in the UK’s national dairy showing rings, is to feature at the inaugural
National All Breeds Dairy Show to be held at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire,
England on 16 and 17 February 2010.
The National All Breeds Show has been created by Holstein UK by opening their
annual spring show to participation by all dairy breeds. The Dairy Burke will
be competed for under an initial one-year licensing agreement between the Royal
Agricultural Society of England and Holstein UK. The agreement has the blessing
of the Burke family who donated the trophy to the RASE in 1951 and it has been
competed for as the premier all-breeds dairy trophy since then – missing
only in 2001, the year that the Royal Show was cancelled for biosecurity reasons.
Welcoming the agreement, Henry Cator, RASE Chairman, said: “We are delighted
that this agreement will enable the Dairy Burke Trophy to continue as a perpetual
competition even though the Royal Show will be no more. The Burke will be competed
for in open competition between all dairy breeds – in the tradition that
has been upheld for so many years. The arrangement is initially for one year
as RASE has not yet finalised all its future event plans. However, both RASE
and Holstein UK will monitor the event this February and a statement about the
future of the competition will be made as soon after the National All Breeds
Show as possible. It is a pleasure for the RASE to be working in close partnership
with Holstein UK in this National event - this is what the industry needs and
clearly demonstrates the importance of the Dairy industry in the UK.”
The news was also given a warm welcome by Greg Ward, Chief Executive of Holstein
UK who said: “We are really pleased that the RASE and the Burke family
have considered the National All Breeds Show to be the most appropriate way
of continuing to stage this very prestigious award. The National All Breeds
Show promises to become a major event in the agricultural calendar, we look
forward to a broad attendance from both pedigree and non pedigree dairy farmers
from Britain and abroad, seeking out the best in breeding, feeding and management
for health, welfare and productivity. Adding the Dairy Burke to the mix is a
real bonus.”
For more information see www.nationalallbreeds.co.uk/holsteinshow/ and for
links to breed societies’ websites look at ‘Members’ at www.britishlivestockgenetics.com
[04/02/2010]