Woodbridge cattle farmer wins top prize at prime stock show

Geoff Freeman, of Poplar Farm, Bredfield, near Woodbridge, was delighted as he took the top cattle prize at livestock auctioneers Stanfords' annual Christmas prime stock show in Colchester on Tuesday (December 5).

Meanwhile in the sheep rings fellow Suffolk farmer - Chris Reeks of Newmarket - was equally thrilled as his animals swept the board.

Geoff's champion home-bred Limousin cross fetched a high price as it was sold at auction for £2,490 - or £4.20/kg - to John Coleman - a retail and wholesale butcher based at Boxted.

Overall, there was a sense of optimism at the show, with livestock farmers reporting a good year for the sector. Feed prices - which went sky-high after the invasion of Ukraine - had now settled down and prices for their animals were good.

Farmer Sandy Holmes, who keeps around 300 cattle at Beccles, said: "The weather has lowered the price of the corn and we have had more straw. Last year a lot of it was burned or singed, the price of diesel was up and the price of molasses was up."

This year with enough silage she didn't need to buy in molasses and was feeling optimistic. Less meat was getting through from the Continent - which meant firmer demand for British meat.  "The only thing that's gone up is the vet's bills," she said. 

Sheep farmer Tom Buck of Dereham - who keeps around 1500 sheep - agreed that the weather this year has been good for the livestock sector. "There's plenty of feed about. Prices have been good all the way through," he said.

Beef farmer Geoff runs his 120-head beef cattle operation in partnership with neighbouring farmer Lee Byam - who scooped the supreme championship last year with one of his animals.

The 75-year-old has been farming for about 60 years - and coming to Colchester's weekly livestock since the Campsea Ashe market closed in the mid-1990s. He first won a supreme prize back in 2018.

In recent years he has seen feed and mineral costs double - and questioned how small businesses like his could carry on. "The subsidies have all gone. That could kill us," he said.

"Some people think land should produce food and some people think land should be pretty. I think land should produce food."

Although he is keen to keep trees and hedgerows on his farm as he sees them as essential for the welfare of his animals, he felt the government had got the balance wrong in paying for environmental work over producing food.

"If I turn my farm into trees and rubbish I could sit at home in luxury. It just seems to have gone over the top," he said.

"The government are paying a fortune for it. Land is for people to live off in my opinion." But he added:  "There's nothing wrong with conservation."

Judge George Debman - who runs a butcher's shop in Ipswich - described this year's champion as "an exceptional animal, full of meat and this time of year that's what butchers want".

He described Geoff's small-scale operation as "the best beef farm in my opinion in Suffolk".

George was a supporter of the market because he knew the farmers and where the meat came from, he said.

"This is the only market like this left. It's very important to the meat industry it continues," he said. 

Chris Reeks of La Hogue Farm Foods was celebrating an historic day for his sheep - which he keeps on the Euston Estate, near Thetford.

He took the overall championship award with a pair of Texel cross sheep, the reserve prize and - or the first time in living memory at the show - his sheep took all three classes of Texel, Charollais and Suffolk cross sheep.

Chris said he was "absolutely thrilled and surprised" at his show success - but said it was "lovely". He has 3,000 sheep on the estate after starting his flock 12 years ago.

The winning sheep fetched £200 each when they went under the hammer. They were snapped up by Ron Riley of Chelmsford.

It was Chris's second supreme prize at the show, having previously won about four years ago.

"They are home-bred and raised," he said. "I'm obviously thrilled that I have taken both the champion and reserve. I also won with my native breeds - so a clean sweep. 

"I have been coming here for 12 years which is how long I have been in business. It's a huge honour to win because it's one of the most historical prime stock shows in the country."

Chris has been running La Hogue Farm Shop for 22 years. The opportunity came up to rear sheep at Euston after the previous sheep grazier retired 12 years ago. The farm shop - which now includes a 300-cover restaurant - is now hugely successful, he said, and employs 45 staff.

"I took the opportunity then because I wanted to produce my own lamb for the farm shop."

Sheep judge John Coleman said the winning pair was "well finished" and in good proportion. There was no waste, and the animals were well-presented, he added.

John, aged 78, continues to be actively involved in his butchery operation, which employs about 30 people. He started it 57 years ago when he was 21.