County show casts spotlight on breeds with new sections
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Livestock has always been the heart and soul of the Devon County Show since it started back in 1872 and will continue to remain its principal raison d’etre
THE Devon County Show is set to welcome a number of new breeds to its livestock rings this year.
A total of four categories across the cattle, pig and sheep sections have been introduced to the competition schedule for the 2024 renewal of the Devon County Agricultural Association’s (DCAA) flagship event, due to take place from May 16-18 at Westpoint.
Now with their own classes and joining hundreds of other breeds already judged over the course of the three days will be Red Poll cattle, Kunekune pigs and Kerry Hill and Llanwenog sheep.
Commenting on the new classes, Becky Hurd, competition co-ordinator, said: “Livestock has always been the heart and soul of the Devon County Show since it started back in 1872 and will continue to remain its principal raison d’etre. Agricultural shows like us have a responsibility to support and celebrate this type of farming, and to recognise the extraordinary effort the farmers put into producing their animals.
“Equally, we have a responsibility to ensure that breeds which are lower in numbers nationally are given the opportunity to thrive. Casting the spotlight on some of these breeds at the Devon County Show is a positive step towards securing their future.”
No longer on the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) Watchlist thanks to the hard work of the Red Poll Cattle Society, Red Polls will be gracing the Devon County Show for the first time in its 150-year history. A dualpurpose beef and milk breed, the Red Poll is docile in nature and thrives on low input management systems as an efficient converter of forage, requiring little or no additional feed.
The majority of Red Polls in the UK are used as suckler cows but a number of milking herds still exist, with cows giving an average yield of 5,000 litres at 4.2% butterfat and 3.5% protein.
Two new native breeds will be introduced to the sheep section: Kerry Hill and Llanwenog. The Kerry Hill breed originates from the hills around the small town of Kerry, on the English/ Welsh borders. Once extremely numerous, numbers since declined and the Kerry Hill was until recently included on the RBST Watchlist. However this striking sheep, with its characteristic black and white face and legs, is now making a comeback – thanks mainly to its attractiveness to small holders.
Meanwhile the Llanwenog, which is considered to be ‘at risk’ by the RBST, is a productive and versatile Welsh breed. Derived from the cross of the Shropshire with various local black faced hill breeds, the Llanwenog is naturally polled and characterised by its thick white fleece, black head and ears and a tuft or topknot on the top of the head. Known for their prolificacy and having few lambing problems, they are popular breed for supplying farm shops and the meat has an exceptional reputation.
Over in the pig section, organisers are delighted to invite entries for a new Kunekune class. As the smallest domesticated pig, Kunekunes are delightfully placid and friendly in character, thriving on human company. Their ease of management and ability to live almost entirely from grass makes them a popular choice for small holders.
To enter the livestock competitions, please visit www. showingscene.com/events/devon-county-show-2024may-2024. For further information about the show and to buy advance tickets, visit www. devoncountyshow.co.uk.