JUST CHAMPION . . . Thomson, Roddick and Laurie’s Shawhill Leroy was named overall Shorthorn Junior Champion at the prestigious national Stars of the Future Calf Show
PICTURE COURTESY OF www.macgregorphotography.com
Thomson, Roddick and Laurie’s Shawhill Leroy was named overall Shorthorn Junior Champion at the prestigious national Stars of the Future Calf Show at Stirling auction mart on Saturday.
The title followed on from his taking the National Beef Shorthorn Calf Show championship at the Borderway Agri-Expo in Carlisle on November 3, his first show outing.
Auctioneer John Thomson and son Matthew, working with head herdsman John Dick, run a 100-strong Shorthorn herd, including about 40 pedigree cows, between Newlands Farm, Eaglesfield and Shawhill, Annan.
Mr Thomson said: “We have been pleased with the potential of this calf all along. He looks the part and is a great example of the breeding we have been working on for years.”
March-born Leroy’s grandparents include renowned Canadian bull K-Kim Freedom and noted Canadian cow Braebank Dewdrop.
His sire, the home-bred Shawhill Henderson, was reserve overall beef Shorthorn champion at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2015. His dam, Shawhill Dewdrop Jasmine, is by high index bull Glenisla Zetor.
The Shawhill herd has had considerable show success since it was established ten years ago.
Mr Thomson said: “The Shorthorns have done very well with us. We chose the breed because we saw a trend for a comeback for the native breeds and Shorthorns are wonderfully quiet beasts and easy to handle.”
He hopes Leroy will be shown at national events next year, including the Great Yorkshire and Royal Highland shows.
Thomson, Roddick and Laurie also had success at the Stirling event with 15-month-old heifer Shawhill Rosebud Kool, who was named reserve champion in the Senior Shorthorn Section on her first show outing.
The Stars of the Future Calf Show is Scotland’s leading exhibition of top quality pedigree beef calves.
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