Podehole wins Nationwide Beef Shorthorn herd competitors

The Podehole herd of Charles and Sally Horrell has been named the winner of the Beef Shorthorn Society’s inaugural Nationwide Herd Competitors, which was launched as a part of the breed’s two hundredth anniversary celebrations.

The couple, from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, seen their herd win after being judged by George Somerville, a former supervisor at Glenkiln, Dumfries and Galloway.

The competitors, sponsored by Pedigree Gross sales on-line livestock auctions, pitted the winners of the regional herd competitions in opposition to one another for the primary time.

Regional winners from the 2021 competitions have been assessed by Somerville over the summer season, with the decide commenting on the distinctive high quality he noticed in each herd he visited throughout the UK.

“The depth of breeding evident in all of the herds was distinctive and the standard of cows I noticed was super and bodes effectively for the way forward for the breed in each nook of the nation,” Somerville mentioned.

“In each herd I visited, there have been nice examples of the bred and plenty of, many cattle I’d be completely satisfied to have in a herd.”

He recommended all breeds, however mentioned that the “Podehole herd stood out as essentially the most full and balanced herd of all these I visited”.

Different finalists included Main John Gibb and Catriona Gibb’s Glenisla herd, Scotland; Stuart and Gail Curries Beautry herd, Northern England; LEP Farms’ Meonhill herd, Southern England; Brian and Eryth Thomas’ Frenni herd, Wales and Alfie and James Shaw’s Glebefarm herd, Northern Eire.

The awards occasion

The presentation of the award was made on the Society’s improvement day, which was hosted by Society president, Charles Horton, at Hannington, Wiltshire.

The occasion was attended by greater than 60 members and included 5 workshops centered on key elements of breeding and herd administration.

Members have been in a position to take heed to Bella Maine of Larkmead vets talk about pelvic measurement in heifers and different elements of herd fertility.

Jim Barber demonstrated ultrasound scanning to attendees in relation to efficiency recording and the advantages it brings.

There have been additionally talks on cow classification by Mike Deakins, and steering on cattle choice for slaughter by Daniel Slade of Thame Market.

Beef Shorthorn Society operations supervisor, Clive Brown, mentioned the occasion had been an enormous success with members coming from far and extensive so as to add the their data base.

“These occasions have been an enormous success and enabled members to return collectively and each be taught and socialise with like-minded individuals from throughout the nation,” he mentioned.

“As ever, the camaraderie and shared perception within the breed has shone by means of and that’s sire to face the breed in good stead going ahead.”