Alfords dominate AgriLive beef championships

The same exhibitor taking both awards is a race occurrence in Smithfield’s history, and the Alford family celebrated by buying both winners back for Christmas trade through their butchery business – Stilmans Somerset.

Taking the top prize was Hanky Panky, a 12-month-old steer weighing in at 592kg, that judge Neil Caul of Dundee, Angus, said ‘took my eye’ from the first time he entered the ring.

By the Limousin sire Bailea Oberon, out of a British Blue cross Simmental, Hanky Panky was bred by Andrew Anderson of Elgin, Moray, and bought by Mr Alford for in September from Aberdeen for £4,000.

Reserve champion was Lady Gaga, a 15-month-old, 600kg heifer out of a Limousin dam by the British Blue Netherwood Umpire. She was bred by Trefor Jones, Llanllyfni, Caernarfon, and bought by Mr Alford at Ruthin in the spring, again for £4,000.

Like Hanky Panky, she was also shown successfully at the English and Scottish Winter Fairs, although it was a different heifer that he won the Scottish reserve championship with.

On Saturday afternoon Mr Alford paid £5,000 and £5,800 respectively for his champion and reserve, which are destined for the three butchers shops he runs in addition to the farm at Cullompton, Devon.

The next generation of the Alford family also made its mark at the show, with daughter Charlotte winning reserve. That was with Poker Face, the January-born Limousin cross that was champion calf at the English and Welsh Winter Fairs and reserve at the Scottish.

Beating the Alfords into second place was Alister and Elizabeth Vance from Newton Stewart, Wigtown, with Bees Knees.

The March-born Limousin cross was bred by the MacArthur Brothers of Nairn, Inverness, and bought by Mr Vance for 1,850gns when he was judging the Stirling calf show and sale in September. Bids on the 375kg steer ran to £1,900, which was not sold.

Mr and Mrs Vance also won the prize for best exhibitor-bred animal, for Kaiser Chief, a 13-month-old Limousin cross weighing in at 516kg. The steer later sold at 227p per kg.

The pure-bred champion was the 20-month-old Aberdeen-Angus Cherrybank Elrick, bred by George and Aileen McFadzean of Perth, out of Calfward Flyer D075 by Cherrybank Edwina F236. The 606kg steer sold for 400p per kg to the Donald Brothers of Pitlochry.

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