The livestock industry is gearing up for its leading autumn show at Carlisle’s Borderway mart. 

Now in its ninth year, next week’s Borderway Agri Expo is Harrison and Hetherington’s flagship event, attracting 12,000 visitors.

Taking place on Friday, October 30, it will bring together the best of pedigree and commercial showing classes with expertise from leading breeders, commercial farmers, manufacturers and distributors.

Having grown year-on-year, the 2015 event will attract exhibitors from across the UK, with 840 livestock entries in the sheep and cattle classes, five breed society shows and 165 trade and society stands.

Operations director David Pritchard said: “Borderway Agri Expo offers opportunities to meet and talk things over as well as to come together and find out about key developments happening within the livestock industry.

“It has gained a reputation as being a leading livestock showcase and once again we are delighted that we have both a record number of livestock entries and trade stands.

“The calibre of stock entered is from some of the finest herds and flocks in the country all competing for our prestigious awards.”

The event also attracts major sponsorship. Among those attending will be Andy Higginson, chairman of main line sponsors
Morrisons.

Commenting on the importance of the Borderway event to the red meat industry, Mr Higginson said: “As one of the biggest direct buyers of British produce, we think Agri Expo is really important in bringing farming businesses together and showcasing the quality of UK livestock.

“Customers are still watching the pennies and despite the improvement in the economy they are still very careful about how much they spend. So we need to give them beef at a price that is predictably good value.

“We are therefore bringing in more fixed price products to help customers manage their money and we are seeing beef sales slowly improve.”

Mr Higginson added: “People are also becoming more conscious about the fat levels within beef and we are seeing many health-conscious customers more attracted to lower fat beef products.

“In general, customers still want British beef and they see it as a mark of quality, however, the Sunday roast market has been declining for some time and we all need to take responsibility to reinvigorate sales of stewing beef and joints.”

The event’s eagerly contested sheep and cattle classes will see exhibitors compete for a total prize fund standing at £15,000.

This year there are 26 classes in the National Suckled Calf and Primestock Show, which includes baby beef, continental and native breed classes. The National Prime Sheep Show features 20 classes for continental and traditional breed sheep and has its own supreme champion award.