Youngsters shine in cattle contest (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Youngsters shine in cattle contest
3:09pm Friday 15th March 2013 in Farming
ROSETTES: Clare Cropper, overall show winner with her Limousin steer. Inset, Sarah Whitley, reserve champion with her British Blue bull calf
YOUNG Farmers took part in Gisburn Auction Mart’s cattle over wintering competition.
They bought cattle atthe mart in autumn last year, fed them through the winter, and offered them for show andsale onSaturday.
Clare Cropper, 21, from Long Preston, Skipton, was overall winner with a nine month old Limousin cross steer she bought for £640.
She achieved the best gross profit margin of £425, and won the award for the best male animal shown by a 17 to 27 yearold.
The winners also included Nidderdale YFC member Sarah Whitley, from Summerbridge, Harrogate. She picked up an array of awards with a British Blue cross bull calf she bought in October.
They included reserve champion, best live weight gain of 1.33kg per day, and best presented animal shown by a 12 to 16 yearold.
The best female animal shown by a 12 to 16 year old was hotly contested by a quartet of Settle College pupils, with Abigail Fawcett, 12, of Long Preston, coming first, ahead of elder brother Matthew, who was second.
Robert Capstick, 13, of Coniston Cold YFC, was third with his Limousin heifer, which gave him a gross margin profit of £330.
Jane Chapman, show and sale organiser, said: "The aim of the show was to encourage the next generation of farmers to buy and sell cattle through the live auction ring, and to gain experience and business skills in the art of showmanship in the tasks of selection, feeding and presenting animals for show and sale, and it certainly did that.”
