Cheshire farmers on the mysterious world of livestock showing

From guinea pigs to Shire horses and everything in between, it's a privilege to get up close and personal with such carefully bred creatures. Pedigree animals have their own kind of magic.

We hear a lot about the pressures farmers are under, with climate change, the demand for low-cost food, and supermarkets stretching margins to breaking point.

Yet many take time out of their busy working lives to transport their animals  halfway across the country at great expense, all for the prospect of winning a blue, red, or yellow rosette. What’s it all about?

Isla Gibbon is a herdsman at a dairy farm, and one of a handful of Cheshire farmers to rear pedigree Beef Shorthorns, which she does in her spare time at Marston Hall Farm, which she calls home.

Isla Gibbon of Marston Hall Farm with her pedigree Beef Shorthorn calf (Image: Newsquest)

The 18-year-old said: “I love my Beef Shorthorns. They have the oldest herd book – that’s the pedigree - of all the breeds. It goes back more than 200 years.

“They’re such a versatile cow, very hardy, and they're wonderful mothers.

“For me, showing is more about pleasure. We all know each other in the cattle tent, and we all help each other out. Honestly, we have a whale of a time.

"I know for a lot of farmers, they see it as an important part of their business.

Hereford cattle, renowned for the quality of their beef, awaiting the judge's decision at the 2024 Royal Cheshire County Show (Image: Newsquest)

“It’s about building a reputation as a breeder, and once it’s built, getting the message out they're open for business. 

“Also, there’s no getting away from the fact some farmers are big show-offs.

“For them, there’s an element of letting people how much money they’ve been able to spend on this or that cow or bull. The shows give them an chance to do that. It's not too hard to spend £20,000. 

“But me - I just love cows.”

Paul Gerrard (left) with wife, Becky, and son, Thomas, with one of their prize British Blues (Image: Newsquest)

Asked whether showing was business or pleasure, Paul Gerrard, who owns the Antrobus Herd, said 'it's a bit of both’.

He keep a 160-stong dairy herd of Holsteins at Morris Farm, as well as around 20 British Blues for beef, which he says are 'more of a profitable hobby’.

He added: “Showing can be pretty hectic and non-stop, but it’s a chance for us to show people we take great pride in what we do, which is a pleasure.

Isla Gibbon's two-week-old Beef Shorthorn calf (Image: Newsquest)

“At the same time, the shows are your shop window. Building up your name and reputation is what it’s all about.

“Having your rosettes on show in the tent all helps down the line.

“It’s surprising how my much the animals enjoy coming to the shows. Mine absolutely love it.

“They get a real spring in their step, and the judges really do notice. It makes a difference, I can tell you.”