The Miss Dairy competition, a great moment for Lozère cow breeders

Tendresse GP, du Gaec Pic, sacrée Miss Suprême. MIDI LIBRE – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Miss brune, Sweedy, du Gaec du Coulagnet. MIDI LIBRE – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Miss simmental, Sublime, by Gaec Brémond. FREE MIDI – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Miss prim’holstein, Soraya, co-owned Perrin, Coulagnet, Fages, Domenichini, Runel, Rivières (Chastel-Nouvel). FREE MIDI – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Miss abondance : Tidyle GP, du Gaec Pic. MIDI LIBRE – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Soixante élevages étaient réunis à la grande halle d’Aumont-Aubrac (Peyre-en-Aubrac, Lozère), ce samedi 20 avril 2024.

All day, Saturday April 20, 2024, the cows paraded through the ring of the large hall of Aumont-Aubrac (Peyre-en-Aubrac, Lozère), well prepared. It was a question of seducing the eye of the judge to obtain the title of Miss Dairy Lozère 2024, then, for the big winner, that of Miss Supreme.

Five races in contention

The five main breeds of dairy cows present in Lozère were in the running for this competition organized by the Comel (Organizing Committee for Livestock Events), with the Chamber of Agriculture, the Lozère breed unions and several partners: montbéliardes, brunes, prim’holsteins, simmentals and abundances. In total, more than 150 animals from around sixty farms in the department.

Jean-Charles Vionnet, breeder in the Jura, is a judge for Montbéliardes. FREE NOON – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

The candidates presented themselves by section, that is to say by age, before a judge specializing in each breed. Plumb, udders, mobility… This screened specific criteria to evaluate the best dairy cow based on the characteristics of its breed. The winners for each section were then chosen, the best udder of each breed, and the Miss Dairy of each breed. All this, to the applause of the public, with background music and suspense maintained before the verdict by judges who are also room attendants.

The Miss Dairy 2024

The following have been designated Miss Dairy 2024: in abundance, Tidyle GP, from Gaec Pic (Monts-de-Randon); in prim’holstein : Soraya, co-ownershipé Perrin, Coulagnet, Fages, Domenichini, Runel, Rivières (Chastel-Nouvel); in brown, Sweedy, from Gaec du Coulagnet (Chastel-Nouvel); in Montbéliarde, Tendresse GP, from Gaec Pic ; in simmental, Sublime, from Gaec Brémond (Peyre-en-Aubrac).

Among them, the technicians of the Chamber of Agriculture designated the Miss Supreme: Tendresse GP.< /p>

Beyond the results, the breeders were above all gathered to share a great day. "We must promote dairy breeds, insisted the president of the Chamber of Agriculture Christine Valentin. In Lozère, there were many milk producers fifteen years ago, then the number decreased. But there remains a strong core, and youth. We must support them." Passionate farmers: "Milk is on duty morning and evening, every day of the year."

Supporting dairy producers

A ton of milk sells for around 430 euros. "Four or five years ago, it would have been a good price, concedes Christine Valentin. But with the increase in costs… In Lozère, we have very invested milk producers, we have very good herds. It’s high end."

The batch of Montbéliardes from Margeride Ouest receives a prize. FREE MIDI – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

And for the young breeders of tomorrow, who came to lend a hand to prepare and parade the animals, it was the opportunity to become more experienced in the ring, in the field and in the field. rsquo;like Adrien Julhan, the son of the operators of the  Gaec des Mille Vues (Saint-Germain-du-Teil). At almost 17 years old, enjoying the atmosphere of the competitions, he presented Rockstar, a brunette who had already entered the ring at the Salon de l’agriculture in Paris.

Adrien Julhan proud to present Rockstar, from the Mille Vues breeder. FREE MIDI – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

"This meeting is one of the events that we, breeders, do not want to miss, confides Maxime Savajol, from Gaec du Coulagnet (Chastel-Nouvel). It's on the agenda! We come to have a good time with friends. We like competitions, they’re a change from everyday life. And that creates emulation."

The Gaec Martin and de La Borie, rewarded for Eprouvette and Effrontée. FREE MIDI – STEPHANIE BOULOIR

Effrontée and Eprouvette, champions

Two cows of the Montbéliarde breed were distinguished for their career as milk producers. Both exceeded 100,000 kg of milk produced in eight lactations. Éprouvette, from Gaec Martin (Grandrieu), produced exactly 101,487 kg. ; Effrontée, from Gaec de La Borie (Saint-Étienne-du-Valdonnez), 101 102 kg of milk. Champions!

This day was also an opportunity to award the Technilait trophies.

Many breeders were there with their families, the youngest practicing leading the cows. A mixture of concentration, stress and pride.

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