An Aberdeen-Angus cross steer came out top in competition with 300 entries of all beef breeds at Scotland’s 25th annual Premier Meat Exhibition at Scotbeef, Bridge of Allan, on Saturday 18th November.
Overall champion was a 372.5kg carcase from smallholders, S Ewart and Sons, Easter Dounie, Ballintuim, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, who have exhibited at the show for 24 years. Their winner, bred by P Cooper and Partners, Goval, Forfar, Angus, classified U+3L and killed out at 60.1%.
Judge, Richard Moore, formerly with Linden Foods in Northern Ireland, said the champion was exactly the type of carcase which was ideal for the retail trade, whether traditional butcher or supermarket.
“I was looking for carcases with a little bit of fat cover to ensure good eating quality,” said Mr Moore. “The overall show of carcases was outstanding but a few were just a little too lean.”
The award in Scotbeef’s Aberdeen-Angus beef finishing competition, based on the management of the beef enterprise on the farm, the suitability of finished cattle for M&S and assessment of the beef by a tasting panel, was awarded to J F Johnston and Son, Taphill, Morpeth, with J Rhind and Son, Woodend, Kinloss, Forres, taking reserve spot and third place going to H R Mowat, Brick House, Orkney.
The Farmer of the Year award for regular consigners to Scotbeef went to Emslie Partners, Little Barras, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire, who supply Scotbeef with 40 Aberdeen-Angus cattle a week 52 weeks of the year with 90% meeting the M&S specification.
The National Meat Exhibition is organised by the Scottish National Fat Stock Club and sponsored by M&S.