Agrifest delivers quality in spades as event returns
WESTCOUNTRY farmers proved their credentials as producers of first class primestock at Agrifest South West 2022.
The event, organised by the Devon County Agricultural Association (DCAA), saw exhibitors and traders come together at Westpoint Exeter last Wednesday to celebrate the region’s principal livestock sector.
As well as cattle and sheep, Agrifest also hosts the increasingly popular steak and burger contest and this year’s renewal received record entries. Following a rigorous tasting process, Strawberry Fields Farm Shop in Lifton claimed the supreme championship for their speciality burger, made with beef from the shop’s own Red Ruby Devon and South Devon suckler herd and featuring an innovative cheese centre.
At the end of a long day of cattle judging, the supreme primestock championship saw Michael Kirby claim the highest honours with his British Limousin heifer, Dizzy.
A February 2022-born daughter of Trueman Idol and out of Koojan Foxylady, this well fleshed heifer booked her place in the final stage of the competition after winning the bred and fed championship for Mr Kirby, based in Milton Damerel near Holsworthy.
Commenting on his champion, judge Neil Lloyd from Hereford described Dizzy as a “pretty special animal” and one that he “would like to take home”.
Reserve supreme went to R J Wright & Son from Somerton in Somerset with their May 2021-born heifer, Ruby, while the best opposite sex champion was awarded to Paul and Lin Calcraft from Payhembury, Honiton with their March 2022-born steer, Mickey.
After enjoying success at the Liskeard Primestock Show, Oliver Penellum from Trispen, Truro picked up the best native prize here with his Beef Shorthorn-sired and January 2022-born heifer, Roxy.
Dominating the pedigree calf classes were Michael and Melanie Alford who took the continental, native and overall supreme titles home to Blackborough near Cullompton.
Judged by South Devon breeder Mark Thomas, whose Treguddick herd is based in South Petherwin near Launceston, the Alford’s firstly won the native championship with their January 2022-born Aberdeen Angus heifer calf, Foxhill Demonte Y163. A daughter of the 2017 Stirling sale champion Linton Gilbertines President S021, Demonte went on to become the show’s overall supreme pedigree calf.
Standing in the reserve spot was the Alford’s continental champion, British Limousin heifer Foxhillfarm Touchofclass. A February 2022-born embryo transfer from the homebred cow Foxhillfarm Ivy and sired by the renowned Derrygullinane Kingbull, Touchofclass has a Beef Value of LM42 which puts her in the top 10%
of the breed.
Agrifest also sees the judging of the prestigious Young Bull of the Year. Having been presented with a firstrate selection of junior males, Mr Thomas gave the championship to Patrick and Sheila Greed’s majestic British Limousin Killerton Soliver, a local winner hailing from Rewe near Exeter. An imposing February 2021born son of Goldies Jeff and out of the homebred cow Killerton Olive, Soliver has double F94L myostatin and a Beef Value of LM50 which is in the top 1% for the breed.
He will now head to the British Limousin Cattle Society’s bull and female show and sale in Brecon on Friday.
In the prime lamb classes, judge Aled Groucott from Gwent awarded his supreme to the continental champions, a pair of pure Beltex lambs exhibited by Robert Garth and Sarah Priestly from Bentham in North Yorkshire.
Taking the native championship back to Newquay in Cornwall was Adrian Rundle for his pure bred Hampshire Down lambs, shown on the day by his son Richard.