DAIRY farmer Phil Stevenson has just enjoyed one of his most successful years to date.

Not only did his Liverton herd win 13 show trophies, but he was also national president of the Ayrshire Cattle Society.

As such, he has just played host to the society's national conference, which attracted more than 90 delegates from all parts of the UK.

"It was a very, very successful conference," said Mr Stevenson, of Blue House Farm, Liverton, in the North York Moors National Park.

Two things particularly stand out during the year - one was winning the dairy interbreed title at Stokesley Show and the other seeing 80 Ayrshire calves at Stoneleigh in the All-Britain Calf Show.

One class featured 27 Ayrshires. "It was the highest of any breed and the top quality and professionalism of these young people was something to behold," said Mr Stevenson.

"Afterwards when I was talking to other breed representatives they all gave very positive comments about what we have to offer the dairy industry as a breed."

Indeed everywhere he has been people have spoken enthusiastically about the Ayrshire.

His year of office involved four visits to Ireland, where he saw some great cattle and enthusiastic people. "But everywhere you go in the Ayrshire world, people are happy," he said.

His experience of visiting one of the biggest agricultural shows in Belgium convinced him that British stock certainly had nothing to fear from Continentals.

"We did not see any higher quality milk producer at that show," said Mr Stevenson. "I really do think British breeding has a lot to offer the Continent, and we are trying to get in there."

The Ayrshire Cattle Society is fortunate in that it has a lot of younger members. "There are a lot of very talented 20-35-year-olds and my aim is to make sure we keep the breed going," said Mr Stevenson. "They have a genuine love of the cow and we must work hard to make sure these people have a future."

He finds it worrying that, in general, the average age of the dairy farmer is 54, with few young people interested in getting involved. He believes politicians must really start to think about what that means and find ways of improving the situation.

Mr Stevenson's father, Geoffrey, 81, first became a tenant at Blue House Farm 55 years ago. "He's just attended his 109th rent audit; he's only ever missed one and that was for a funeral," said his son.

Today Phil Stevenson farms with his wife, Sue, and youngest son John, 19, who is the stocksman.

The couple have another son, Rob, who has just started work with Russells of Kirkbymoorside, and a daughter, Ruth.

The farm covers 180 acres, with a further 30 acres rented. It is chiefly grass, although an area of cereals is grown for whole crop.

The Liverton herd has about 100 milking cows and 90 young stock. The cows average just under 6,000 litres, mainly on grass forage, and the plan is to increase cow numbers to 120. The cows have to work mostly from forage; only a small amount of cake is fed.

Three cuts of silage are taken. The first and second cut is taken off 80 to 90 acres, with the third cut from 40 acres, depending on the growing season.

Cow numbers virtually doubled in the two years from the end of foot-and-mouth.

"Foot-and-mouth affected us in that we could not move animals as we wanted to," said Mr Stevenson. The inability to move lambs to slaughter when they were ready had cost him £1,000 because of their size and the fallen price.

The herd is pure, with all the young stock kept. However, after foot-and-mouth Mr Stevenson supplied some in-calf heifers to help previously black and white cow farmers in Cumbria to re-stock.

"They wanted a long-lived, easily-managed cow," said Mr Stevenson. Longevity is one of the Ayrshire's main attractions.

Delegates at the conference who visited the Dowager Lady Normanby's herd at Lyth saw Ayrshire cows in their eighth, ninth and tenth lactations.

The Liverton herd also has long-lived cows and one carrying her ninth calf.

Mr Stevenson recalled a speaker likening the black and white to a Formula One racing car, which needs lots of attention, and the Ayrshire as a rally car. "A wheel can fall off but she will still get you there!" he laughed.

The Liverton herd was founded with five Ayrshires which Mr Geoffrey Stevenson bought from Fryup. Today some of its best cow families include Pearl - which won two competitions last year and a Yorkshire Milk Records competition trophy - Rebecca, Black Poker and Udderway.

Semen from some of the best Ayrshire bulls is used, including the breed's world number one, McCornick Nelson. "He is the main seller from Cattle Services Ayr, the society's semen company," said Mr Stevenson, "He is going into Scandinavia, Finland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Canada and probably America."

Some Canadian bulls are also being used to give a little more size, including Anderlins Willyboy. Stretton Triple Price from the Ayrshire young bull scheme has also proved a good choice, as has the herd's own stockbull - KnowElvis - which was bought in Scotland.

The Ayrshire Society's semen company has seen sales rise by 35pc in the last two years. A significant proportion of sales have been to black and white herds wanting something hardier, longer lasting and more economical.

"Ayrshires do not peak like Holsteins but you still have them five, six lactations or more down the line," said Mr Stevenson.

To mark the end of his year as president the society prevented Mr Stevenson with a piece of fine engraved silverware.

Although his term of office has ended, he is still very much involved. "When you are invited to be president, it is a four-year spell," said Mr Stevenson. "You begin as junior vice-president, then become vice-president, president and past president, so you get continuity. The beauty of it is that it is a team effort, that is the critical thing."

The conference was held at Gisborough Hall Hotel and, apart from Lady Normanby's and Mr Stevenson's own herds, delegates visited Richard Fife's organic herd at Great Langton, and Paul Langthorne's buffalo herd at Brompton, near Northallerton, which greatly impressed them