Angus beats Red Polls in the carcase competition

Native breeds carcass competition run by Bramfield Meats and Suffolk Food Hall: Stevie Robson, Sam Woor, Oliver Paul, Jamie Harris, Charlie Mills (Image: Archant)

The native breeds carcase competition, run by Bramfield Meats, Halesworth, and Suffolk Food Hall, at Wherstead, near Ipswich, was won by Andrew Brown of Hardwick Farms.

Two Red Polls from Giles Crisp of Uggeshall Farms and Paul Rackham of Manor Farm Bridgham came a close second.

The annual contest is open to pure bred British cattle reared in East Anglia, and uniquely involves judging at three different stages - on the hoof (farmers’ assessment), on the hook (butchers’ grading) and on the hob (chefs’ taste test).

Charlie Mills, wholesale manager at Bramfield Meats, said: “The exceptional quality of entries this year, which included Angus, Longhorn, Red Poll and Hereford cattle. The real enjoyment and benefit for farmers, butchers and consumers is seeing the differences in the same animals during the three stages of this competition.”

Native breeds carcass competition run by Bramfield Meats and Suffolk Food Hall: rib from the winning carcase (Image: Archant)

He added: “It’s great to be enjoying the skills of farmers, butchers and chefs from across the region on a plate.”

This year the final taste test and announcement was made at the Suffolk Food Hall during a St George’s Day beef spectacular which involved presentations from Mr Mills, Jamie Harris, a Food Hall butcher, and Stevie Robson, head chef at The Cookhouse.

Mr Mills said the winning Angus heifer was “an exceptional animal from the outset and proved itself to have well rounded qualities, right through to eating stage”.

Robert Paul, of the Suffolk Food Hall, said: “It was a pleasure to receive such a calibre of entries this year and, with a Longhorn winning last year, it is apparent that there are many variables which determine the quality of beef in East Anglia.”