Beef

A lack of suitable abattoirs is one of the top three greatest barriers to growth for farmers and smallholders selling rare and native breed products.

The case for a network of local abattoirs has been well made, including in a recent report by The Prince’s Countryside Fund, but it may not be a realistic proposition, according to a retail butcher.

John Gent was announced as the winner of the inauguralDavid Thomlinson Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Borderway Agri Expo event.

Heifers led the supreme judging as the Borderway Agri-Expo event returned to Carlisle for the first time since 2019.

Genetic contact tracing to identify the source of a bTB outbreak could be another tool in the armoury for managing the disease, scientists have claimed.

With the red meat industry under the microscope on sustainability, Alex Black spoke to Dawn Meats’ Sarah Haire about their environmental commitments and why it was so important

Limousin bulls sold to a 9,000gns high, achieving an average of 5,085, up 433 on the year for 10 more sold with a clearance rate of 81 per cent.

Careful management of suckler cows at this time of year can pay dividends for the future. Veterinary surgeon, Joe Henry, of Black Sheep Farm Health, Rothbury, offers some advice.

SIMMENTALS met a top call of 18,000gns with the 57 bulls averaging 5,961, up 372 on the year for five more sold and with a clearance rate of 58 per cent.

Lowther females led the bidding in the Beef Shorthorn female section for Charles Lowther, Askham, Cumbria, with 11,000gns and 10,000gns bids for two maiden heifers.