Two leading Scottish Beef Breeders have been invited to judge The National Beef Association’s (NBA) Beef Expo 2015’s National Spring Spectacular Show, to be held in East Yorkshire for the first time ever.

Both Perthshire-based, Wilson Peters will judge the Native, Continental Classes and Supreme Championship, and Craig Robertson will judge the Baby Beef Champions and Young Handlers classes.

Being held at the York Auction Centre, NBA Beef Expo is one of the biggest beef showcases of the year, and an integral part of the British Agricultural calendar. With 15 classes, featuring in the region of 130 head, the National Spring Spectacular Show is a platform to highlight the very best of British Beef Cattle. Included are classes for Native, Continental, British Blue and Limousin-sired heifers and steers, bullock and heifer purchased at public auction up to £1,400, baby beef classes, two young handlers’ events and an auctioneers’ handler challenge.

Exhibitors from the length and breadth of the country will compete for a placing and a share of the £5,000 prize fund.

NBA Beef Expo 2015 chair, Richard Tasker is delighted to have two such eminent industry figures accept the invitation to judge at this year’s Spring Spectacular as he explains: “Both Wilson and Craig are very well-known breeders and exhibitors in the cattle-showing world and as such bring with them a wealth of experience. All of the exhibitors in the NBA’s National Spring Spectacular Show make a huge effort and commitment to prepare and show their livestock. The quality of stock is always second to none and I know that the two judges will have a tremendous showcase to judge from and a difficult task to choose the winners.”

Wilson Peters, judging the Native, Continental classes and Supreme championships is originally from Forfar. He has been a Farm Manager for 15 years at the 4,500 acre Monzie Estate. Rising from 400 to 2,500 feet, this is primarily hill land, and he is responsible for a herd of 240 Suckler Cows, mostly Limousin and British Blue Crosses. Wilson is also responsible for a flock of 500 sheep. Bulls are purchased at either Carlisle or Stirling, while one or two females are also purchased at Stirling, with the remainder being home bred. Store cattle born the previous spring and autumn are sold at United Auctions at Stirling at one year old. The Estate also enter calves with showing potential at the show sales at Caledonian Auctions in Aberdeen.

Wilson himself has his own small herd of commercial stock which are renowned in the showing world. At the 2013 the Scottish Winter Fair Ingliston, his 20-month-old Limousin cross heifer was crowned supreme champion amongst the cattle and with a different Limousin cross heifer, he was commercial winner at the Royal Highland Show the same year. Wilson has judged at a number of shows from Orkney in the North to the Royal Welsh in The South, and tells us what he will be looking for on this, his first, visit to Yorkshire on the judging circuit: “It is a great honour to be invited to such a major show, and I am really looking forward to seeing what you know will be the cream of the crop. Firstly, I will be looking for a good correct animal with real showy attributes, a modern day carcase, and I would like to see animal that is fairly fit.”

Craig Robertson, of Newton of Logierait near Pitlochry will judge the Baby Beef classes and Championships. He farms with his father John a herd of 170 Limousin and British Blue cross cows, crossed back to the Limousin bull. His stock is sold through United Auctions at Stirling with the Show calves being entered either at show sales in Aberdeen or Stirling. He has won the Aberdeen Spring Show four times during the last 5 years, and he was the 2002 Smithfield Winner.

Aged only 26, he has been a regular young handler of cattle on the show circuit. He tells us: “I have judged widely in Scotland but this is the first time in England. It’s an occasion that I am really looking forward to. In the baby beef classes I’ll be looking for a calf with plenty of style and correctness.”

Craig is keen to see young handlers entering and succeeding, he continues: “It is very important for the younger generation to get started. You will meet people in the beef sectors and through showing, you can make a lot of contacts, and it is the first rung in the beef farming ladder. These are our farmers of the future.”

With farm tours, competitions, seminars, demonstrations and the latest technical developments and innovation in the industry, it is anticipated that over 7,000 beef farmers will attend the 2015 NBA Beef Expo Event.

There will also be in the region of 150 commercial trade stands featuring pedigree and commercial livestock, breed associations, cutting edge technology and representation from the younger generation.

The closing date for entries, which is strictly limited, is April 13 2015. For further details, visit www.beefexpo.co.uk or contact Julie Sedgewick, NBA National Spring Spectacular 2015 Co-ordinator on 01325 314650 or email juliesedgewick@btinternet.com.

For sponsorship and trade stand enquiries contact the event organiser, Euan Emslie, on 01430 441870 or email euan@nationalbeefassociation.com