First-rate shop window for sheep

25 November 2000



First-rate shop window for sheep

by FWi staff

THE Royal Smithfield Show is the perfect showcase for British lamb, according to Northumberland sheep producer John Campbell.

A seasoned exhibitor at the Royal Smithfield Show, Mr Campbell s believes producers must demonstrate the standards that underpin British sheep production.

Mr Campbell runs 1100 commercial ewes, 75 pedigree Suffolks and 35 pedigree Texels at Chathill, near Alnwick, and is showing 16 lambs this week.

Hes been exhibiting at Earls Court since 1985 and says the standard of competition gets higher with every show.

As well as pure Texel and pure Beltex entries, Mr Campbell has four pens of lambs entered for the butchers live/dead section.

“The live/dead is one of the most fiercely competitive,” he said.

“To produce entries for this section we used to lamb in May but this year we decided to go all out and lamb later with Smithfield in mind.

“Managing lambs born in mid-summer for late November showing is not easy, but thats what this show is about. Its the ultimate test for any stockbreeder.”