Gearing up for Beef Expo competitions
MOST BEEF producers pencilled Beef Expo 2005 on Wed, June 8 in their diaries long ago and as details become available – including a number of competitions – it”s looking like an event not to miss.
This year”s event at Builth Wells, Powys, the first national beef event staged in Wales, will be the chance to catch up with the latest technical and political developments from across the UK.
Added interest will be created this year with the inclusion of a new national suckler cow competition, sponsored by Virbac, with 4000 in prize money. Cows will be judged with a calf at foot which must have been born between Oct 1, 2004 and Apr 30, 2005.
Entries will be split into seven classes depending on the calf”s sire, with championships awarded for the best cow with a calf by Continental sire and the best cow by a native sire. Classes and championships will be placed by leading Scottish commercial suckler herd owner John McIntosh. Entries close on May 6.
In addition, there will be an open stockjudging competition with 1000 prize money and a Young Farmers Club stockjudging competition with 2000 prize money. Visitors will also have a chance to try their hand in an estimated dead weight and grading competition and the Royal Smithfield Club is running a beef ribs competition at the event.
But for those who prefer to look rather than take part, mixer wagons, grain crimping and rolling machines will be demonstrated on the day.