TODAY Harrison & Hetherington has announced an outstanding line-up of judges for this year ’ s Borderway Agri Expo . Judging the main cattle classes is farmer , butcher , and former Borderway Agri Expo winner Michael Alford from Collumpton , Devon . The sheep classes will be judged by sheep farmer Allan Wight of Crawford , South Lanarkshire , and the Baby Beef class will be judged by Argyllshire farmer Duncan Semple .

Taking place on Friday 28th October , with a prize fund of in excess of £ 15,000 and attracting both exhibitors and visitors from across Britain , Borderway Agri Expo has earned itself a reputation as one of the UK ’ s most prestigious autumn livestock shows . Each of the judges has been chosen because of their expertise , knowledge , and experience of judging some of the very best animals in the showring . This year is set to be no exception to previous events , where selecting winners from such a tremendous exhibition requires an exceptional eye for detail .

Last year the show returned to the calendar following a break due to Covid , and unquestionably was one of the greatest shows to date . On announcing details of this year ’ s judges , Harrison & Hetherington managing director , Scott Donaldson , said : “ Last year showed just what an important event Agri Expo is to the industry and , as such , it is vital we have a line-up of judges of the highest calibre to rank the phenomenal animals that pass through the ring in every class .

“ Agri Expo really does attract some of the finest livestock the UK has to offer and judging these animals is a challenging task . There is no doubt that this line-up of judges are all experts in their field and I would like to take this opportunity to thank

Duncan Semple

them for agreeing to join us at Carlisle in October .”

With two Bordeway Agri Expo Championship winners , Main Cattle Judge , Michael Alford has been in the meat trade for 40 years and alongside farming owns an abattoir and butchery in the south of England . He has two farms that supply the abattoir which finish around 300 cattle per year on an ad-lib feeding system . Michael also slaughters in the region of 500 pigs and 500 lambs per week for local butchers and his own shop . Alongside this , he runs a herd of pedigree Limousin and Aberdeen Angus cattle , as well as a flock of pedigree Charolais , Suffolk , and Texel sheep at Foxhill Farm , Devon . Michael has plenty success in the showring as an exhibitor , but latterly has taken more of a role in judging .

On being asked to judge , Michael said : “ In my opinion , without a doubt , Agri Expo has become the strongest fatstock show in the UK because it gets the strongest competition . It is well located and attracts tremendous stock from the four home countries , and it is a real

honour to be invited to judge the cattle classes this year .

“ I am looking for a show animal which is full of meat . It also needs to be in the correct weight range . I am a showman , so I want a bAllanced , correct , and showy animal , but it must have a finished carcase of a U or E grade with 3-4L fat cover . To me , the carcase is key , and of course personality .”

Baby Beef and Young Handler Classes this year will be judged by Duncan Semple , of Dippen Farm near Carradale in Argyll . Across 1200 acres of mixed farm , Duncan runs 80 suckler cows and 350 ewes . His cattle are primarily bought from Stirling or are otherwise home bred , and at present he has 15 pure Charolais and the rest are black Limousin cross cows . Despite not having attended Borderway Agri Expo in person , Duncan has had numerous calves show at the event , some of which have achieved success in the ring . Duncan has considerable judging experience and is looking forward to seeing what he knows will be a tremendous line up of young cattle .

Discussing his role , Duncan said : “ Unfortunately I was unable to judge last year , because of Covid , so I am looking forward to judging this year . It will be my first time in Carlisle – I ’ m probably one of the very few in the industry who has never attended Agri Expo – and so I ’ m very excited to be taking part . When judging , I ’ ll be looking for an animal which is presented correctly , walks correctly , and has a showy head . I am not looking for extremities : it is correctness that matters to me . I want to see a proper loin , and well fleshed calves must walk correctly .”

Commercial Sheep Judge Allan Wight is a pedigree producer from Midlock , in South Lanarkshire . A third generation farmer , Allan farms 6000 acres where he manages nearly 3000 predominantly Scottish Blackface ewes , as well as 50 pedigree Texels and 80 Blueface Leicester ewes . Allan also sells around 250 tups every year . Alongside his sheep , Allan has 50 head of commercial cattle . Allan has a wealth of experience judging a variety of stock

Allan Wight

at shows covering the length and breadth of the country , however , this will be his first time visiting Agri Expo .

On being invited to judge at Agri Expo , Allan said : “ I have previously judged a variety of breeds at shows all over the UK , but this will be my first time at Agri Expo . I am very much looking forward to the show as this is something a bit different for me which I have not done before . I am excited to see the diversity of stock in front of me , from breeding sheep to prime lambs .

“ On judging , I will be looking for correctness ; something which catches the eye . Pairs will really have to match too .”

Attracting thousands of visitors , Borderway UK Agri Expo is not only seen as a true celebration of the very best British Livestock , it is also an event for those within the livestock industry to share commercial , innovation and educational developments .

For further information , full details and entry forms , please visit : https :// borderwayagriexpo . uk /