Bellas about to put the blues in their place

Sponsored by The Meat Joint, Antrim the British Blue Calf Show starts at noon sharp followed by the Young Handlers Competition, again generously sponsored by the same quality butchery business.

Sarah Bellas, Jonathan’s wife, will judge The Meat Joint Young Handlers event and present the prizes at this farming family fun event that grows in popularity every year.

Sponsor Colin Harbinson proprietor of ‘The Meat Joint’ in Antrim also farms and has a reputation for providing extra special steaks. “The ideal beef animal for discerning consumers is the crossbred heifer out of a Limousin cow and sired by a British Blue bull,” commented Colin, who sources beef from his own and neighbouring family farms.

Serving the public daily Colin and colleagues have no doubt that ultimate beef breed, the British Blue, has a key role to play in adding value to beef cattle from dairy and suckler herds.

The annual NI British Blue Calf Show encourages younger livestock enthusiasts to compete with calves they have reared themselves and growing numbers means a prompt start by 12 noon is vital advises club secretary Harold McKee.

With British Blue cattle dominating the recent Royal Welsh Show, both in the show ring and in a major steak competition, demand for bulls to use on suckler and diary herds continues to strengthen.

For further details of the NI Blue Cattle Club Calf Show and Young Handlers Championship at Moira Arena on Saturday, August 15 telephone 07711 483078.