The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2013 - Issue 30 | Page 32

Paul harrison

Cream of the Beef Crop
Chris Berry talks South Devon cattle with Paul & Pam Harrison.
Paul and Pam Harrison
are one of the proudest
couples in Yorkshire right
now. They found out little
more than a month ago
that their pedigree herd
had scooped the South
Devon Herdbook National
Championship as Herd of
the Year 2013.
“We’ve been close before,”
says Paul. “Last year we came
third, but this is the icing on
the cake. It’s been a fantastic
year for us as we also had
female champion and reserve
overall at the Great Yorkshire
Show as well as successes
elsewhere.”
The herd award is a triumph
for Paul and Pam, who for the
past four decades have flown
the flag for the breed extolling
its virtues and building on
its reputation. Paul was also
responsible for setting up the
breed classes at Harrogate.
“I decided to go with the
South Devon breed because
they are very easy to manage,

32 Oct/Nov 2013 FarmersMart

exceptionally quiet and eat
better on roughage than
having to use costly mixes
and rations,” he explained.
“They are definitely becoming
increasingly popular and one
of their other major advantages
is their mild temperament.
“Originally we had black and
white headed Irish Hereford
heifers as suckler cows and it
was a case of what breed of
bull should we use. That was
when we opted for the South
Devon and we have never
looked back.”
Paul runs two herds: one of
South Devon pedigree cows
that runs to 45 head and the
other a commercial herd of a
similar number. Paul is happy
that the South Devon breed
is moving in the right direction
and is something that the
market now recognises as an
important element of the beef
industry.
“Every breed has to move
with the times and every native
breed has definitely moved

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