National primestock show and sale

UK - Pure-breds took the top honours in the cattle section at the National Primestock show and sale held at Staffordshire County showground on Saturday and Sunday, while live pigs made a return to the event after an absence of almost 20 years. KATIE LOMAS reports.
calendar icon 24 November 2006
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Entries were up in the Farmers Guardian-sponsored carcase hall and for the fifth consecutive year, the champion award in the pork section went to A.G. Kirton and Son, Bewdley, Worcester.

There was also a third consecutive win for David and Linda Wadland, Aston Le Wells, Northamptonshire, in the lamb carcases.

The champion ticket in the pork section went to a 60.3kg pure Pietrain gilt carcase with 12mm of backfat.

Judge, Richard Hobday, who has a butcher’s shop in Derbyshire and owns a pedigree herd of Galloway cattle

and flock of Texel sheep, described the carcase as “an excellent, modern gilt with a beautiful eye through its loin and a pleasing covering of fat.” It achieved £1.72/lb and went to Messrs Machin, Waterhouses.

The Kirtons keep 20 sows and sell all their pork direct to local butchers and wholesalers. They also have a herd of 130 cows, including 80 pedigree Limousins.

The reserve went to Steve Loveless, Bridport, Dorset, who was also judging this year’s live pig classes.

The 54.9kg Large White carcase had 9mm of backfat and the judge said ‘this native carcase has nicely filled out legs and loin.’ It sold at £1.40/lb to Parkin Butchers, Goole, north Humberside.

Mr Hobday also judged the lamb carcase section and chose a Beltex cross Texel ewe lamb from David and Linda Wadland as his prize-winner.

Mr and Mrs Wadland have a flock of 350 Beltex cross Texel ewes and were also showing in the live classes. The carcase, weighing in at 30.4kg and graded S1, was described by Mr Hobday as “excellent, with a well-filled hind which continues down along the lamb into the loin.” The hammer fell at £10.56/kg and went to Balmoral Hotel, Moffat.

Source: farmersguardian.com

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