The future of dairying was on display at this year’s Dairy Show with outstanding cattle, new developments in technology and advice on changing policy.

The interbreed championship saw some of the best cattle from around the country pitted against one another, with last year’s reserve taking the top spot. The award went to the Elwyn, Cherly and Anwen Thomas from Carmarthenshire for their junior cow, Noremead Baxter Kansas. Reserve went to the Llewellin family, for their homebred intermediate cow, Riverside Tequila Hazelnut.

Alan Lyons, head of shows, said: “The quality of cattle on display was phenomenal. The turnout this year really proved how dedicated the dairy industry is to producing world class animals.”

For the first time in over 10 years, the Jersey Cattle Society hosted its national show. The quality of animals impressed breed judge Robert Jarrell who flew from Ontario to attend the event. He awarded breed champion to Riverside Tequila Hazelnut.

The English Guernsey Cattle Society also hosted its national show with a fine display. Champion Guernsey went to M & C Greenslade from Devon for their senior cow Blacknor Cracker Iceberg Diana.

The dairy industry is very much supported by the veterinary profession and the awarding of the fifth Dairy Industry Vet of the Future at the show, proved that new vets are incredibly dedicated to the future of dairy. The award went to David Melleney from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School for his dissertation on, ‘Can milk fat to protein ratio indications from a robotic milker predict sub-acute ruminal acidosis’.

The two runners-up impressed the judges with their projects, raising important questions for the industry to address. Sarah Boulding from the University of Liverpool, addressed ways of diagnosis caustic bacteria in mastitis through gene sequencing. While Jess Reynolds from the University of Nottingham presented a project on the impact of Johnes disease on productivity.

The show also hosted a number of seminars looking at subjects from digital dermatitis and its increasing spread, to herd health and antibiotic resistance. While in Speakers’ Corner, topics such as labour, milk prices and Brexit were tackled by Michael Oakes, NFU dairy chairman, John Allen, at Kite Consulting and Farmers For Action’s, David Handley.

The show attracted more than 6,000 visitors through the gate and Mr Lyons said: “The turnout really proved that the industry is banding together with the intention of firmly putting the dairy crisis behind it and is now focusing on efficiency and sustainability.”