Livestock farmers were out in force today for one of the most hotly-contested seasonal shows in the region.
Stanfords’ Colchester Christmas Prime Stock Show drew beef cattle and sheep owners from a wide area as producers battled it out for top spot in their respective categories, with the winning beasts taking pride of place at the auctions afterwards.
The overall champion in the cattle contest went to a Limousin cross owned by Rita Parker of North Burlingham, near Norwich. The great grandmother, there with great grand-daughter Evie Lanham, said she was “chuffed” at the win. Meanwhile, in the sheep pens, victory went to a small pair of Beltex lambs bred and reared by the Ketley family at Fingringhoe, near Colchester.
The pair of lambs was snapped up afterwards by judge and Ipswich butcher George Debman for £140 each, while cattle judge and Colchester butcher John Coleman bought the winning beef animal for £3.90 a kg.
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