Beef and Growing Cattle SW

Exhibition space at the West country‘s first major beef event is virtually sold out!

Three years ago, this historic market town was at the epicentre of the devastating outbreak of foot and mouth in Devon in 2001.

Now symbolically, through Beef & Growing Cattle, Hatherleigh is helping to spearhead a renaissance in quality beef production in the South West, bringing together the farmer, processor, beef buyer and the consumer, encouraging everyone to buy regional and local.   

By Sept 29, this dynamic, one day business event will be full to capacity providing a unique opportunity to source, compare and find out more about the South West beef industry in virtually every aspect of quality beef production.

An impressive line up of 250 prime beef cattle will be sharing the limelight with over 100 local, regional and national businesses, with a wide cross section of products, machinery and services.  

Over 11% of the national beef herd and 25% of the national dairy herd is located in the region.

The South West is blessed with a natural landscape and milder climate ideally suited to raising cattle – which is why the event is proving such a sellout and attraction to companies keen to do business at this dynamic event.

The organisers, National Beef Association South West, are hoping to attract around 2,000 producers and beef buyers including butchers, hoteliers, publicans, restaurateurs, food service, supermarkets and convenience stores, as well as meat buyers for schools, hospitals and the defence industry – all keen to find new sources of quality beef and learn more about the way cattle are produced.

Several high profile speakers, all of whom are  passionate about beef and buying locally and regionally to boost to the South West economy, will be speaking in the main forum  including Lord Haskins Government Adviser, Robert Forster National Beef Association, Richard Phelps Southern Counties Fresh Foods and Barrie Williams Editor of the Western Morning News.

Visitors can also find out more about all the different beef breeds with fourteen breed societies taking part displaying pedigree beef and cross bred cattle.

Experts will be eager to give advice on the types of breed to meet the opportunities of the traditional and modern UK beef markets.

Herd societies taking part include the South Devon, Red Devon, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, British Blonde, British Limousin, British Belgian Blue, British Charolais, British Simmental, British Gelbvieh,  British Piemontese, British Bazadaise, Salers and Red Poll.

There will be butchery and cookery demonstrations featuring master butcher Steve Turton and other demonstrators, the Smithfield Rib of Beef competition, a Moorland Challenge competition for suckled calves, carcase displays, Farmers Market, Young Farmer’s Stock Judging, good food, a jazz band and fascinating farm walks on the day before to see the commercial and pedigree beef units of the show president Lord Clinton and a commercial dairy beef farm at Meeth. 

Organisers are hosting an informal social event the evening before and also encouraging visitors to come and stay and make a short break of their visit.

Beef & Growing Cattle South West on Wednesday 29th September is sponsored by Meat South West, Eblex, Southern Counties Fresh Foods, Nat West, Dectomax, Mole Valley Farmers, Keenan – and supported by Farmers Weekly and Western Morning News.