Latest news with #AntrimShow2025
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Prospects for Sheep Trade Very Strong at the Moment Breeder
The fall-off in lamb numbers and growing consumer awareness of the costs required to produce high quality meat will drive sheep trade over the coming months, in the views of a leading Scottish breeder. Dye Clark, from Lanark in Scotland, who judged the sheep classes at Antrim Show 2025, told Agriland: 'I think the prospects for sheep are very strong at the moment. 'The trade is dong very well. And it can only get better. We just need to keep the meat coming from lambs with a natural fleshing ability. "Getting as much performance from grass is also important. Production costs are expensive enough without having to feed meals.' The latest Kantar data is confirming that UK lamb retail products saw a 4.1% increase in spend, driven by a 4.7% increase in average prices paid, as actual volumes purchased declined by 0.6% year-on-year. Total primary lamb cuts saw a 2.9% volume increase in the 12-week period, primarily driven by lamb roasting joint performance. This saw a 12.8% increase in volumes, due to higher volumes purchased per trip and a boost in shopper numbers. Lamb steaks also saw slight growth (+0.3%), driven by a rise in product buyers. Processed lamb volumes saw a 3.4% increase this period. Burgers and grills drove this performance and saw a 3.9% volume increase, driven by a rise in volumes purchased per trip and number of buyers, likely influenced by a shift to warmer weather. Total lamb numbers have fallen throughout the UK and Ireland by about 4% over the past 12 months. A number of factors have been identified as driving this process. These include a fall-off in the number of young people coming into the sheep farming industry, linked to a perceived poor work/life balance at specific times of the year. AHDB is predicting that lamb volumes will be down 7% in 2025, year-on-year It is hoped that a strengthening of commercial lamb markets will help to reverse this trend during the period ahead. The UK market has also seen bumper lamb imports so far in 2025, with volumes up 10% on the year from January to May. This aligns with seasonally lower domestic production for the UK at the very start of the year, and improved access for southern hemisphere product under free trade agreements with both New Zealand and Australia.
Agriland
31-07-2025
- Sport
- Agriland
Elite Texel Hogget Secures Antrim Shows Sheep Inter Breed Title
The sheep inter-breed championship at Antrim Show 2025 was won by Alastair Gault, from Ballyclare in Co. Antrim with an outstanding Texel hogget ewe. Gault told Agriland: 'She had previously won Ballymoney's sheep inter-breed title at the beginning of the summer. 'The plan is to breed from here next year.' Dye Clark, from Lanark in Scotland, judged the sheep classes at Antrim Show 2025. He said that his champion had all the attributes of the Texel breed. Clark added: 'The standard of all the sheep taking part in the show was outstanding.' Antrim Show traditionally hosts the final of the Northern Ireland Shows Association (NISA) Dairy Cow of the Year Championship. The event represents a unique opportunity to profile the performance of Northern Ireland's best dairy cows during the mid-summer period. This year's championship has surpassed itself with regard to the quality of the cows taking part. But at the end of the day, it was up to the judge – Canadian native and dairy classifier of note, Lynden Bustard - to tap out his champion. He chose Potterswalls Bontima Dawn, the elite Jersey cow owned and bred by the Fleming family from Seaforde in Co. Down. The judge characterised his champion as a truly elite Jersey cow. 'It was hard to fault her at all,' he added. 'Adding to her attraction is the fact that she has calved five times. So it's a case of combining fertility with production capacity and true style.' 'The overall quality of the cows taking part in the championship class was extremely high with any of the cows having the potential to peform well in any dairy class held throughout the UK and beyond." The dairy inter-breed reserve champion at Antrim Show 2025 Meanwhile, the standard of competition in the beef rings at Antrim Show 2025 was equally keen, with a large entry of cattle scheduled for all events. The beef inter-breed championship was won by the tremendous Limousin cow Deerpark Shakira entered the show ring with her bull calf at foot. She was bred and exhibited by the Mulholland family from Co. Antrim. Antrim was the latest in a series of inter-breed titles won by the young cow during 2025. Judge Cyril Millar commented: 'There was a tremendous entry of cattle entered for all the classes at Antrim this year. 'The winning cow had real show presence. And the fact that she had the calf with her added to the impact.' The Mulholland family is confirming that Shakira will be retired from the show circuit at the end of the 2025 season. After that, anyone wishing to view the cow can do so on-farm. She will be maintained at the very heart of the Mulhollands' herd breeding plans for the future. Ballinalare Farm Nikita with winning connections at Antrim Show 2025 But the winning of the beef inter-breed championship at Antrim turned out to be a very close run thing. Cyril Millar admitted that the Simmental champion and inter-breed reserve is another young cow with a tremendous breeding future. Ballinalare Farm Nikita entered the show ring with her twin calves at foot. Bred and exhibited by the Wilson family from outside Newry, she too looked tremendous throughout the day.
