Stockjudging

Last night the "North West Regional Association of Shorthorn Breeders" (trips of the tongue, doesn't it?), held a stock judging event at Strickley. We try to visit two farms a year, one for stock judging and one for a Herd Visit. They're both a chance to show off your magnificent stock or to be nosey (depending on which side of the host/visitor fence you are). About 30 Shorthorn breeders aged from about 10 to 80+ got the chance to place two classes of Strickley Shorthorns (cows and heifers - six in each) in the right order. But what is the right order? Judging can be subjective but generally judges are looking for the same thing and to create a benchmark for an event like this, we invite a Master Judge. We were very grateful that Wendy Young from the Churchroyd Herd was able to come over to Strickley. She placed the cows in order, and assigned the number of points between each one. Traditionally the cows are numbered A, B, C, X, Y, Z - and the points difference overall must add up to 10. These results are then put on a key sheet, against which the competitors entries are judged. We had picked out 6 cows and 6 heifers and everyone had a good chance to look at them and place them in order. The cards were then collected in and while most farmers looked round the rest of the stock, our secretary Jenny collected together all the cards and worked out the winners and losers, while I went to put the kettle on and carry the supper out onto the kitchen table.

It can be difficult to judge your own stock, as it's possible to know too much about the animal and not judge purely on appearance on the day, but last night James got it right, and his assessment almost matched the judges, scoring a very high mark. Rightly or wrongly his entry was judged to be unfair, and he had to be content with being the Virtual Winner, while the real honours went to Shaun Dixon. James said that either Wendy got it right, or he knew what cows Wendy would like.

The next time the cows are lined up to be judged will be at the Royal Lancashire Show, and hopefully they will shine just as well.