with his prize winning Southdown
lamb at Cultra 2005.
The Rare Breeds Survival Trust's 20th Annual Show and Sale is offering a two-day programme to delight visitors this Saturday and Sunday (19th & 20th August).
It is set in the grounds of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra and Clare O'Shea, PRO for Northern Ireland, says: "No show and sale was held in 2001 due to the foot and mouth outbreak, but this is an important milestone to mark the work the Trust has achieved during its 21 years."
This year's show (which includes cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry and horses) will provide an opportunity for breeders from across Northern Ireland to showcase what has been achieved.
The extensive range of livestock on show from early Saturday morning is just an example of how many farmers have helped preserve some of the rare breeds.
The gates open at 9 am on Saturday and showing starts at 9.30 am - this is when the bulk of the business takes place. Over 300 poultry entries are sure to attract a great crowd and the auction of many of the exhibits starts at 11 am.
Roy McCracken from Tyrone has been the auctioneer at the show and sale for
manyyears. "Each year we're encouraged by the enthusiasm of the buyers and
the sellers and we as auctioneers are pleased to be involved in helping to
promote and expand the traditional breeds.
"With conventional agriculture suffering tough times at the moment we see
opportunities for many of the traditional breeds in niche markets in the modern
food chain.
"The sale at Cultra provides the platform for many young breeders taking
their first step into the world of pedigree breeding and showing - we believe
it will continue to play an important role in the future of agriculture
here."
Livestock showing will take place throughout Saturday, and the sale of cattle and sheep is from 1 pm. Many breeders use the sale as an opportunity to disperse pedigree animals such as Dexter and Irish Moiled cattle, while some cross breed animals are also available on the day.
This year the sheep section has over 200 purebred animals for show and a smaller number of animals for sale. Pedigree ewes, rams and lambs will be available. There will be almost 100 crossbred female sheep for sale.
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| Maurice Pogue, Brookeborough, with his prize winning Southdown lamb at Cultra 2005. |
Sheep convenor Ross Mowbray says "this just shows how the old breeds still have an important role to play in the production of lamb as a finished Northern Ireland product."
The pig section will showcase many of the breeds available for sale throughout the year, and breeders will be on hand to assist with any queries visitors might have.
Much of the work could not be achieved were it not for the dedication of the Northern Ireland Support Group, its committee and the staff of the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum. This year the Trust has to thank old and new sponsors for their support: CNI Monaghan, the new sponsor for sheep classes and derby, while Macnean Farm provides sponsorship for the pig classes and derby.
Ulster Bank continues to sponsor the cattle derby, while Allen and Page and Strangford Incubators provide support for the poultry exhibitors. Their continued support means each year the Trust can raise public awareness of the importance each of the breeds has in the agricultural marketplace.
Thomas Cole sought to expand his interest in rare breeds by attending the event in the early 90s. Although he did not develop his flocks of sheep from purchases at Cultra he recalls the excitement of the auctions then when he started with crossbred ewes.
Pedigree stock soon followed and he now has four breeds of sheep and is converting from commercial cattle to rare breeds.
He recommends collecting red rosettes in the showing classes: "The first year that one of my rams was picked out as Best Opposite Sex to the Champion rates as the best day of my showing career," he says.
Country crafts still play an important part in the two-day event. Sandra Byrne, craft and merchandising convenor with the Northern Ireland Support Group, says: "Each year the range of craft and food products grows; it's a valuable opportunity to highlight the range and diversity of products on the market in Northern Ireland."
A display of fleeces and the photograph competition provides an opportunity for people to show off their animals in a different way. Spinners will be on hand to display the art of spinning.
Downtown radio is doing an outside broadcast from the event on Saturday (12-3 pm) with Candy Devine.
The event continues on Sunday and gates open at 12 noon. The rare breed animals are on display and there's family entertainment from rare breed pig racing to carriage rides and even sheep dog handling display - featuring ducks!
This weekend's show is the second year Clare O'Shea of Belleek and Gavin Goodman of Belcoo have been involved in the Northern Ireland Support Group.
Last year Clare was events co-ordinator and Gavin was PRO; this year they have changed roles and Clare is PRO while Gavin is secretary.
"People keep telling us that with each year of experience the job gets easier," said Clare. "But with growing entries the workload keeps getting bigger. Not that I mind - it's great to see new people getting involved in rare breeds but even better when they're willing to get out there and show."
Gavin added that it was "great to be involved with people willing to put such time and effort into furthering the cause of rare breeds, which culminates each year with the Cultra Show & Sale."
Clare farms with her father Frank in Belleek where they keep Dexter cattle, Tamworth, Berkshire, Saddleback and Gloucester Old Spot pigs, along with a herd of suckler cattle.
Gavin and his wife Fidelma breed Tamworth pigs, and have the largest herd in Northern Ireland. They also maintain an interest in a small flock of Soay and Jacob sheep.
Maurice Pogue from Brookeborough has been showing his Southdown sheep at Cultra for the past five years.
As one of the first breeders in Northern Ireland, Maurice says "they
are a great finisher, they do especially well as a cross bred animal giving
good finishing weights.
"The society's slogan the breed that makes ends meat is certainly true and
there's been a great demand for the finished product in recent years. This has
provided an opportunity for the many new breeders in Northern Ireland."
From Co. Fermanagh local newspaper, 17th August 2006
For results of Cultra show, click here
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