Golden Girl Geri

The Gold Cup is arguably the most coveted award in the breed. Combining elements of production, inspection and management, the trophy is regarded as an award for all-round excellence. This year the trophy was presented to Shaun Dixon and Grace Holliday at this years National Show for Shaunlea Geri 9, quite possibly the youngest cow to receive such an accolade in the history of the competition. The Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1926, largely through the efforts of the President of the Dairy Shorthorn Society for that year, the late Mr J L Shirley. The diplomas are awarded in respect of cows, registered in Shaunlea Geri 9 the Coates Herd Book, which breed four calves at separate calvings and complete three lactations of 305 days or less. She must have produced a 6,000kg average with a minimum total of 7% Fat and Protein combined average, and a minimum average of 3.2% Protein over three consecutive lactations within a period of three years and four calendar months. This year’s Gold Cup winner, Shaulea Geri 9 VG89, calved her fifth back in March having produced a life time yield of 51,134kg with butterfat peaking at 5.42% fat and 3.83% protein. She is certainly one super milking machine housed in the Marleycote herd of G G Baynes. Sired by Marleycote Dilemma whose dam was the Marleycote Songstress 8 EX91, a multiple Gold Cup winner in 2014 and 2012 and having produced an astounding 124,005kg lifetime yield. Shaunlea Geri 9 is following in her foot steps stacking up her accolades as she is currently the top PLI cow in the breed, a spot which she has retained for two years, making history as the highest Dairy Shorthorn cow recorded at PLI672. This year is the first time Shaunlea Geri 9 was eligible for the Gold Cup, she averaged 10,066kgs across her first, second and third lactations with a combined fat and protein of 8.24% topping the league table with an impressive 2464 total combined solids. Shaunlea Geri 9 is back in calf with her sixth, due in March next year to Cotonhall Joyland and has already recorded figures which will qualify her for next years Gold Cup. Her average daily yield since first calving, including dry days is an astounding 32,6kgs daily and she has only ever had eight straws of semen for six pregnancies demonstrating that the Shaunlea Geri 9 not only produces in the parlour but is a cow that consistently shines in every area. The Geri family are prolific breeders at Shaunlea, showing that solid genetics really are the foundation for breeding great cows. This is a family that Shaun and Grace understandably have huge faith in, to consistently breed top quality animals in both type and production, Shaunlea Geri 9 has five generations of VG or EX behind her. Shaunlea Geri 9’s mother Shaunlea Geri 6 ET VG88 by Hylite Barbwire-Red was UK Dairy Day Champion in 2017. Whilst her grand dam Strickley Geri 15 EX93, a Drisgol Watzon daughter produced six successional daughters that have been shown and placed first or second. This includes Shaunlea Geri 10 who remained unbeaten in the show ring in her lifetime and son Shaunlea Gangster who has progeny placing in the top three at this years All Breeds All Britain Calf show and UK Dairy Day 2022 Champion Marleycote Olive 27 VG88. Golden girl Shaunlea Geri 9’s son, aptly named Shaunlea Gold Rush was taken on by Shorthorn Sires UK, selling out of sexed semen incredibly quickly. At home she has three young daughters; one was born in 2019 by Llandovery Vipor, one born in May 2021 by Apples Absolute Red and this years daughter by Cotonhall Galaxy made her debut at All Breeds All Britain calf show. There is only great things in store for these youngsters with such a top class pedigree behind them. Huge congratulations to Shaun and Grace on such an outstanding achievement. The enthusiasm and passion to breed quality Shorthorns is second to none and may this be the first award of many.