The event to be held at Hexham mart on Thursday, May 22, 2014 has attracted a record number on exhibitors for the National Spring Spectacular Show which boasts a prize fund of £6,000.
In addition to the show cattle, 22 breed societies will be bringing in the region of 200 animals to showcase the very best in pedigree and commercial beef breeding.
This year’s event will also include a strong international element, with missions from Norway and Canada joining a delegation from Northern Ireland to find out more about the high quality animals and genetics currently making up the best of the British Beef industry.
Education will play a vital role throughout the event, both for working beef farmers, visitors and young people. This year’s Young Show Stars Challenge for competitors aged 14 to 23 will bring together nine teams including young people from Canada to compete in classes preparing, presenting and parading cattle, plus stockjudging.
The importance of the British Beef industry will be demonstrated to more than 100 school children attending from five schools in the Tynedale area in a specially tailored education programme running throughout the day.
Beef Expo is also a venue for networking and knowledge-sharing and a number of special events have been organised with a special focus on beef from the dairy herd.
Seminars will also be held on knowing the health status of your herd and maximising your cattle’s potential, highlighting this year’s theme of ‘British Beef feeding our nation’. Farmers will have the opportunity to find out more about best practice for better returns at 140 commercial trade stands displaying the latest cutting edge technology and the best in beef cattle genetics. Machinery demonstrations will also form part of the event including a showcase by Zetor Tractors.
The day before the main action at Hexham mart (May 21) will include tours of three very different Northumbrian beef farms. Willie Woodman will be hosting visitors at his Great Chesters upland farm and his lowland enterprise at Bradford, and John and Andrew Hunter will lead a tour of their farm near Elsdon.
Visitors will be able to find out more about preparing and cooking nutritious beef-based meals in a fun Ready, Steady, Cook-style contest which will pit auctioneers from the region’s top marts against each other.