East Anglian dairy farmers said they were 'over the moon' after taking top prizes at the National British Friesian Show.
The grand championship at the show in Carlisle was won by Oakalby Hilton S Ruth 82, a cow bred by ES Burroughs and Son at the Oakalby dairy near Beccles, which completed a clean sweep by also winning the reserve champion and 'honourable mention' categories.
Margaret Vale, who runs the business with her brother David Burroughs, said: 'It is a once-in-a-lifetime result. There was some good competition out there and there are not many British Friesians who show, so it made us feel even prouder.
'It just proves we must have some good animals here. I don't know if there's any secret to it, we just try and breed from the best animals over the years and we try to improve every time – although it does not always work.'
The junior championship was won by Gemini Patrol Rosie Red 2, owned by Willow Liveries, in Shipdham near Dereham, shown and bred by T and A Barrell.
Ava Barrell and her son Tim were forced to sell their 400-strong Gemini herd last year after the collapse in milk prices, but their prize-winner was one of a handful of cows and calves retained by the farm.
'I am absolutely over the moon,' said Mrs Barrell. 'She has been a favourite of mine ever since she was born. I am so happy she was bought to stay on the farm. I kept the ones which I thought were the good ones.
'I was so proud of her – she looked so good in the ring.'
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