Suffolk pedigree beef cattle farmers are over the moon after scooping top awards on the first day of the county show.

Natasha Mann of Iken Hall farms near Woodbridge lifted the Lincoln Red crown with heifer Yarn Hill Acora.

Beccles farmer Nicola Chapman's heifer Waveney Velvet took the Belted Galloway title.

And John and Jenny Rix - who keep a pedigree Charolais herd at Nayland - scooped the Any Other Pure Beef Breed's top title with their bull, Wissington Trent.

East Anglian Daily Times:

Stockman Darren Knox, who looks after the Wissington herd, was delighted - as was John Rix.

"We are very pleased," said John.

Judge Joshua Brigg said: "He came in and said: 'Look at me,'" he said. "He's long. He's got the fleshing where you want it, he's got the width. Only being a young bull he's really growing. He's got a terrific future."

Overall, the quality of the competition was very good, he said.

Natasha Mann - who was there with Tom Slowen who helps her to show animals - scooped the top prize last year but wasn't expecting it to happen again. 

"It's just fantastic, isn't it? I didn't expect it this year. We did very well last year but then we had a senior bull last year whereas this year we have only got two youngsters."

As well as 55 Lincoln Red cows plus all the followers, the Manns have also started keeping some shorthorns.

Judge Ian McNee said: "She's nicely fleshed, very correct, full in the lines, got depth to it, just what you need.

"To be perfectly honest it stood out fromt he moment it came in the ring."

Nicola Chapman, whose farm is based at Burgh St Peter just over the border but grazes her animals on Suffolk Wildlife Trust sites in the Waveney Valley, was delighted.

East Anglian Daily Times:

"It's hard to believe it's happened. It's good - happy, happy days," she said.

Judge John Corrie said: "She's a really nice example of what a Belted Galloway should be. While they are a beef breed, with a Belted Galloway there's a lot of other things you have got to look at for example the belt has to go all the way around.

"She's got a lovely head on her and she's carrying herself well and she moves nicely - she's going to make a really good cow."