Charolais cross secures dual titles at winter fair
Charolais cross secures dual titles at winter fair
A new arrival in the
primestock show calendar,
the Royal Smithfield Clubs
winter fair, was received by
good entries, if not visitors.
James Garner and
Emma Penny report
JUST two or three points separated supreme champion and reserve at last weeks Royal Smithfield Clubs winter fair, with a Charolais cross steer taking the top prize in both hoof and hook competitions.
The winner, from John Price of Llwynberried, Llanigon, Hay-on-Wye, Herefordshire, was a rib longer than anything else on show, said live judge Michael Atkinson who reckoned the general standard of cattle was good.
"Most first, second and third placed cattle could all have been class winners," said Mr Atkinson, a beef buyer for the Cleveland Meat Company in Teeside.
Mr Prices 570kg steer, with a liveweight gain of 1.05kg a day, also took the supreme champion title at the abattoir, the award for the best Marks and Spencer Select Farm carcass – Mr Price also took reserve with another beast – and the combined live/dead award. The steer had a carcass weight of 396kg and killed out at 66.2%.
Bridgwater, Somerset, butcher and carcass judge, Paul Griffiths, added that it was an outstanding animal. "It did not contain a lot of fat, but the trade does not demand fat anymore; we are living in modern times and must produce what the market wants."
Reserve beast on the hoof, from J M and S M Rowlands, was runner-up in the combined live/dead award, but reserve champion on the hook went to J Hopwood and Sons Limousin cross steer.
In the live sheep classes Continental sired lambs were the pick, with Dutch Texel lambs from Eugen and Margaret Ritter winning both supreme and reserve titles.
Judge, Andrew Atkinson, from Kettlesing, Harrogate, North Yorks, said the quality of the Continental sired lines was excellent. "Lambs sired by native breeds struggle to compete with Continentals in terms of conformation and yield."
That proved to be the case on the hook, with W A and A J Windsors Texel x Texel x Rouge de LOuest taking top spot, and P J Houldeys Beltex X Texel taking reserve.
Judge, Glen Dolan, from Kepak UK said conformation was his main concern. "I tried to pick lambs with a level of finish which would suit retail butchers, supermarkets and the export trade. The champion is a high 2 or 3L, is well balanced and good in all cuts. The reserve is a good carcass, but the champions length tipped the balance."
RESULTS
Live
Beef J E Prices Charolais cross steer; res, J M & S M Rowlands Belgian Blue cross steer.
Suckled calf M J and J A Pinneys Belgian Blue cross heifer; res, John Yates Limousin cross steer.
Sheep P Ritter and Sons Dutch Texel lamb and res with Dutch Texel lamb.
Carcass
Beef J E Prices Charolais cross steer; res, J Hopwood and Sons Limousin cross steer.
Sheep W A and A J Windsors Texel x Texel x Beltex; res, P J Houldeys Beltex x Texel.
Pork Worsall Manor Farms Large White x Newsham N21, and res with Large White x Newsham 21.
Bacon G E Kirk and Sons Newsham XL x Large White x Landrace; res, Worsall Manor Farms Large White x Newsham 21.