Cattle contest finale proves something of a drag

The housewives, drawn from the crowd, are invited to meet and learn about a selection of beef and dairy breeds and name the one they like best after the experience.

The Limousin handlers wore the sort of exuberant drag which only servicemen and young farmers still indulge in. The British Blonde team dressed to the theme A White Show Coat and a Pink Carnation, while The Highlanders broke out the tartan and shortbread. The South Devon team came as The Wurzels and drew attention to their bull’s credentials with a strategic ribbon.

The housewives voted for the handsomely marked Beef Shorthorns, which were presented by a team led by Mark Severn of Barkisland, Halifax. He said: “We told the judges they were a good native breed, very calm and docile and fantastic in the field, and making a comeback thanks to Morrisons picking them up, so shoppers can support us by going there.”

One of the judges, civil servant Heather McLaughlin of Hull, said she had voted for the Beef Shorthorns because they were all from a line with Heather in their names, and added: “Pure favouritism, I admit.”

Brenda Hamshaw, a cleaner from Morley, voted Longhorn because she liked their old-fashioned looks and their colour. Kimberley Smith, a student at Bishop Burton College, voted Holstein “because they were friendliest and because I like milk”.

While they were deliberating, commentator Mike Keeble told spectators of the signs of change he was seeing – first, a resurgence of native breeds, marked by the fact that Herefords were the biggest entry in the cattle section for the first time for many years, and secondly, a “reddening” of the dairy breeds, through crossing of the long-dominant black and white Holsteins with native breeds. Towergate Insurance of Harrogate sponsored the event.