This year’s NBA Beef Expo’s National Spring Spectacular Show announce record entry levels.
Taking place in York for the first time ever, NBA Beef Expo 2015’s National Spring Spectacular Show (NSSS) has announced that livestock entries are now full to capacity at 152 head of cattle. The event, which is a key day for the British Beef Industry, will take place at York Auction Centre on Thursday 21st May.
With 15 Classes and an overall prize fund of £5000, this year’s NSSS boasts 27 new exhibitors from all four corners of the UK. Chairman and Director of York Auction Centre, Richard Tasker, said: “The number of livestock entries we have received this year is testament to the popularity of this major beef industry event growing year on year, and the hard work of the show organiser Julie Sedgewick and her team. NBA Beef Expo is now recognised as a truly important networking experience within the industry to both attend and show animals.”
The event, which brings together the very best in British commercial and pedigree cattle, equipment, knowledge-sharing and show classes, has two leading Scottish Beef Breeders from Perthshire judging the NSSS this year. Wilson Peters will judge the Native, Continental Classes and Supreme Championship, and Craig Robertson will judge the Baby Beef Championships and Young Handlers Classes.
Beef Expo also sees the launch of The Future Beef Farmer Challenge. Initiated by the NBA, this is a team and individual contest to test the skills, knowledge and abilities of young beef farmers. It is run in association with EBLEX, the Charolais Cattle Society, XL Vets and Thompsons of York. Entrants in the competitions will face four challenges where they will be asked to demonstrate their knowledge of breeding and genetics, cattle health, nutrition and cattle selection for slaughter.
As in previous years another highlight of the NBA Beef Expo, alongside the NSSS, will be the farm tours. The tours take place on Wednesday 20th May. The three farms being visited have been specifically chosen to highlight the diversity of the beef industry in Yorkshire. These include: the Millington Grange Estate, home of the famous Millington Limousin Herd; JSR Farm’s Givendale Herd and home to the Beef Improvement Group’s Net Efficiency Unit; and GD Stephenson & Sons Ltd near Market Weighton, a 200 commercial Suckler herd of Limousin Cross, Salers Cross and South Devon Cross cows.