In the interbreed team of four competition which was judged by John White, Midlock, the championship went to the Limousin team, with the Charolais following up in reserve.
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Then in the Hampshire Downs the winner was a shearling ewe from E, B and S A Jones, with a shearling tup from R and J McFarlane standing reserve.| Tweet |
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This December 2004-born daughter of Netherton Royal Sovereign A072, who is also the sire of 30,000gns Netherton Figo C244, is out of the former record-priced female Netherton Fleur Y298 who was sold for 20,000gns. | Tweet |
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As many of you may well already be aware last week's Royal Highland Show sheep section was dominated by talk of short tails and sheep possibly being excluded from the event for being inappropriately docked.
I resisted the urge to make mention of this matter until now so as not to detract from the achievements of last week's winners. But now the show is over it is perhaps appropriate to talk about the issue.
Every sheep arriving at Ingliston last week was, at some point, inspected by Animal Health vets who compiled a list of those sheep with insufficient tail length. By the end of their two days of inspection they had a list of 45 sheep from 25 exhibitors. So, all in all a fairly small minority of the 1600 entries. However, it won't surprise many of you to know that these sheep came from some of the biggest names in a number of high profile breeds.
Negotiations between the show, exhibitors and Animal Health resulted in those sheep on "the list" being allowed into the show rings, but with the warning that there would likely be an on-farm inspection in the coming weeks.
The upshot of all of this is that exhibitors at the Highland and a number of other shows have been warned that short tails will not be accepted at shows. As indeed they were earlier in the year in the pages of FW and other farming publications as the result of a press release from Animal Health.
I think the best tale (excuse the pun) I've heard this year is one class at a south west showing being recorded as "class dismissed" as the judges had been instructed not to award prizes to sheep with short tails - every sheep in the class had a short tail!
All in all it seems the rules, which have after all been in place for a good many years now, are being enforced a little more stringently than they have been in recent years. The simple answer then is that if you have a sheep with a short tail don't take it to a show or anywhere else it will be seen.
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This one, which one the NCC Park section is by Gilston The Midden and out of a homebred dam by Hownham Grange Monarch. She was picked by interbreed judge Sandy Fraser for her excellent top and gigot alongside her tremendous showring presence.
Standing in reserve was the Suffolk champion, Bailey BMW from Myfyr Evans. This shearling tup is by Cairness New Approach and out of a dam by Raeadr Rossi. He was bought as a lamb last year for 8000gns. Mr Fraser said he had a great top on him, but was maybe just to strong in the front leg for him, his gigot was just a shade lacking.| Tweet |
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Reserve was the Charolais leader, Olrig Dubarry from Andrew Morris. This one is the result of the purchase of an in-calf heifer at Perth in October 2007. The dam, Maerdy Alien, was bought for 1200gns and the sire is Maerdy Impeccable. She is one of 12 cows run in the
Olrig herd by Mr Morris.
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Reserve was the Simmental, Blackford Aristocrat from Anne MacPherson. He is a Kilbride Farm Strabane son. | Tweet |
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Reserve overall was the Holstein champion Parkend
Jacob Betsy, a Bilsrow Jacob daughter from Brian Weatherup. This heifer is currently giving
40kg a day having calved in December. Projected to give more than
10,000kg she was champion heifer at Ayr Show.
The Holstein champion also clinched the junior dairy championship, heading this class in front of the Ayrshire junior champion from Jim and Gilmour Lawrie. This was Brieryside Centurion
Cherry, a Brieryside Centurion daughter.| Tweet |
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Reserve in the Beltex was the female champion, a shearling ewe from Stuart Wood's Woodies flock. 
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In the Charollais classes it was a win for Herbie Kennedy with his shearling ewe, while reserve went to last year's interbreed winners Willie and Carol Ingram with their shearling ram.
Leading the way in the Hampshire Down classes was Norfolk-based Jim Cresswell with his shearling ewe and reserve here was myself and Chrissie with our aged tup which made the long trip up from Kent.
And taking the Swaledale championship was agricultural photographer Wayne Hutchinson with his three crop ewe and reserve was Arthur Slack with a shearling ewe.| Tweet |
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In the Galloways it was a win for Dennis Gall, with his cow Silverbell 3 of Gall-Way. This is by Blackcraig Krypton and out of Silverbell 12 of Corrie.
Reserve was J C Thompson with his bull Nancyboy, he is a Kirkstead Nancyboy son out of Kirkstead Nancy.| Tweet |
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