Suffolk Show in Ipswich buoyed by rise in livestock entries

Despite transport and other costs soaring, farmers in the region and beyond showed their support by turning up to the show's home at Trinity Park, Ipswich, in larger numbers after a tentative return last year.

James Strachan, head steward in the cattle ring, was heartened by the big rise.

"We were up 50 entries this year with up to 300 cattle - that's really a testament to the show. 

"We like to make is as easy as possible - the reward from winning these big shows financially isn't what it was," he added.

However, people seemed keen to come, he said.

"They love the Suffolk Show," he explained. "It really is very prestigious."

The show's new livestock and equine secretary, Sophie King, hit the ground running and did an "amazing job", he said, after taking over the reins from her predecessor Liz Payne.

Red Poll Cattle Society secretary Ray Bowler admitted entries in his breed category were down from the pre-pandemic peak - but were rising.

"I think all the categories over all the breeds are down in numbers for various reasons," he said.

They had 18 Red Polls competing. "It's better than nothing but we have had 50 or 60 here pre-pandemic," he said. "The problem is it's becoming too expensive for people."

Costs from transport to housing were among the issues farmers now faced, he explained.

The dates for the Suffolk Show also clashed with the Staffordshire Show - and entries from the west - which has been at the epicentre of a TB outbreak over a number of years - had dried up because of disease worries, he added.

But overall there was a healthy turnout - and plenty of wins for the region. Judges praised the quality of the entries across the showground.

The very top awards - the dairy and beef cattle interbreed supreme titles - went respectively to John Smith of Clacton with Wigboro Outlay Beechnut - believed to be the first heifer to scoop the award - and a British Limousin heifer from Buckingham - Brockhurst Tranquility - owned by W J & H Mash Ltd.

Natasha Mann of Iken Hall Farms near Woodbridge swept the board in the inter-breed native breeds contest after her shorthorn heifer - Meonside Irania Rosebud Raven - came away with the supreme native breed champion title. Her Lincoln Red heifer Yarn Hill Acora took the reserve title. The shorthorn went on to be crowned overall reserve supreme champion.

Sarah Barnes of Farmer Barnes' Butchery, Hall Farm, Tasburgh, near Norwich, was delighted after scooping the Red Poll breed championship with their bull, Hopeham Leviticus.

Having started to keep the breed as a hobby, she now has a 136-head herd. "We are really excited to win both the male and female champion," she said, adding that the Suffolk was likely to be their only show this year as they weren't planning to go to the Norfolk.

Marion Fletcher, who was touring the showground as wife of show president Stephen Fletcher, also keeps Red Polls at their farm near Woodbridge.

"The winning animal is absolutely magnificent - a big boy, absolutely lovely and seems amazingly calm."

When Stephen bought her six Red Polls as a birthday present 20 years ago, she knew little about raising cattle but had really enjoyed learning about it, she said. 

In the British Simmental class, Sam Steggles of Norwich took the top prize with two-year-old heifer Denizes Eve's Beauty.

"I'm absolutely ecstatic," he said. "This is our first show for 25 years and it's just made my day," he said. His grandfather Russell imported the breed in 1973. Despite him selling the farm in 1981, all his grandson wanted to be was a farmer. His wife bought him an animal for his birthday and now he has 18, he said.

Judge Peter Burgess said it was "a very correct heifer, very well presented" and "a very good example of a modern Simmental".

In the Any Other Dairy Breed category, Matthew Cawston of CR Cawston of Woodton, near Bungay, took the top prize with senior Jersey cow Bluegrass Chieftains Blackberry.

"It's really nice to win after all the hard work," he said. The farm milks just over 110 Holsteins and Jerseys. Judge Ross Murray said she had "great dairy form".

A delighted Nicola Chapman of Burgh St Peter had cause to celebrate after her Belted Galloway heifer Waveney Velvet took the breed crown. "It's hard to believe it's happened," she said. While her farm is just over the border in Norfolk her cattle graze Suffolk Wildlife Trust sites in the Waveney Valley.

John and Jenny Rix - who keep a pedigree Charolais herd at Nayland - scooped the Any Other Pure Beef Breed's top title with their bull, Wissington Trent - to their delight and that of stockman Darren Knox.

A Limousin cross heifer raised by Will Ketley scooped the commercial beef title. Judge Joe Warne described it as an "absolutely fantastic beast all the way through".

Will, of  of Toppesfield, near Halstead, said it was "very pleasing" to be back at the show. "We were here last year. We won last year so it's good to get one on the bounce. It's good to support the show. It's a fantastic agricultural show which hangs onto its agricultural roots with cattle all part of it. 

"We do it predominantly to take the cattle out but also with the kids hopefully they will follow in our footsteps and continue. It makes all the hard work worthwhile.

"We have always done it and hope we always will."