Cumbrians feature among Border Charolais Club Pfizer suckler awards 08/10/05

The Border Charolais Club/Pfizer suckler herd of the year award has been made to Greystoke Castle Farms whose Charolais cross calves from its 280 cow herd based at Greystoke, Penrith headed the large herds section and were highly commended for their outstanding consistency of quality.

photo courtesy of www.jennifermackenzie.co.uk

The overall runner up award went to the best small herd owned by Andrew Sutton of Netherhouse Farm, Longsledale, Kendal. Both winners receive British Charolais Cattle Society bull vouchers, Pfizer's DectomaxT Pour On, Carrs Billington Calltech blocks and a cash prize from Scottish and Northern Charolais Breeders and the Shepherd's Inn, while Greystoke Castle Farms' manager, David Lawton will be presented with the Lynedraw Silver Salver. He also collects the award for the leading stock bull, Maerdy Toyota.

Tom Bell, of Hallbankgate, Brampton was runner up in the large herds section, while the same position in the small herds section went to Andrew Jefferson, Aspatria Hall, Aspartia.

Support is gaining further momentum for the initiative, the fifth of its kind to be jointly staged by the Border Charolais Club and leading animal health company, Pfizer. The herd entries which came from throughout Cumbria and Northumberland were judged by twice previous winner, Willie Longlands, of Rusheylaw, Wark, near Hexham.

"Each of the entrants was rearing well grown calves Charolais cross calves," says Mr Longlands. "However it was Greystoke Castle Farms' herd which was the definite winner; it was outstanding. The herd was well managed and comprised volumes of consistent quality calves, some of which had added value show potential; they demonstrated good growth potential and tremendous conformation."

Border Charolais Club secretary, Nora Jefferson comments: "We are very pleased to have achieved such enthusiastic support for the initiative which has once again rewarded and encouraged all those in the region who are using Charolais as their herd's terminal sire to produce calves with that superior weight for age accompanied by quality conformation."

Pfizer's Mark Brady says: "Pfizer is delighted with the number and quality of the suckler herd entries to the competition, and of course is pleased for the winners who will find that Dectomax Pour-On can offer long-acting parasite control late season and housing in a single treatment, and lice free cattle all winter."

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