A calf bred and reared in the north of the island has topped the table for all British Holstein heifers.
Fabrick Shotglass Bacardi, owned jointly by John Maddrell, of Kerroogarroo Farm, in Andreas, and Brian Brumby, of Ballakillingan Farm, in Lezayre, has reached number one in the top 20 heifers aged under 36 months.
The results, based on genetic evaluation, were confirmed in this month’s edition of The Journal For Holstein and British Friesian Breeders.
Describing the moment they saw the results, John said: ‘We were really pleased. We had already been informed over the phone so we were looking out for it. But until it’s in writing you never know.’
Partly due to the financial climate, John and Brian started buying embryos two years ago from the top cows from across the United States and Europe.
They then implant the embryos into their own cows.
Their first calves were sold last year across Europe – including at sales in France and Germany.
Fabrick Shotglass Bacardi, was born in February.
Hair samples sent to the United States were used to establish her profitable lifetime index – an indication of her expected milk production and quality of her progeny.
Her rating of £602 was well above the second placed heifer at £572.
Fabrick Shotglass Bacardi will be sold at auction by Harrison & Hetherington in Carlisle in December. A full page advert for the auction in the journal features the heifer.
John said he hoped she would sell for a ‘five figure sum’ but said there was never any guarantee how well animals would sell.