ORGANISERS of Bowes Agricultural Show are expecting a bumper display of shorthorn cattle as the breed celebrates the 200th anniversary of its first herd book.
Between 40 and 60 beasts from the North of England Beef Shorthorn Club will be on exhibition at the show on Saturday, September 10, in a variety of classes including cows, heifers, bulls and young handler.
A spokesperson for the show said: “What is particularly poignant about the North of England Beef Shorthorn Club selecting Bowes Show for this special event, is that the shorthorn breed of cattle evolved from Teeswater and Durham cattle found originally in the north of England.
“The shorthorn breed of cattle has evolved over the last two centuries from cattle originating from Yorkshire and Durham.
“In the late 1700s, Charles and Robert Colling improved the breed using line breeding techniques.
“In 1822 George Coates published the first Herd Book containing 710 bulls and 850 cows, thereby becoming the first pedigree herd book for cattle in the world.
“Overall, the shorthorn is an ideal breed for the production of a choice high quality beef with its suitability for extensive, sustainable and organic farming systems and its proven marbling and early finishing abilities.”
The importance of the Shorthorn breed in the development of other cattle breeds has been highly significant and shorthorn genetics have been used worldwide in the development of over 40 different breeds.
Schedules for all the classes taking place in the show will be available in paper copy and to download from the Bowes Show website in May.
For more information visit: bowesshow.org.uk/200-years-of-beef-shorthorns.
