St. Merryn Annual Beef Carcase Show 2007

Date: Wednesday, December 05, 2007

The sixth annual carcase show at St Merryn Merthyr Tydfil attracted more than 180 entries. A total of 23 awards were made in six carcase categories. The prestigious Champion Carcase went to F.C. Garlic and Son of Herefordshire while the equally prestigious Producer of the Year Award when to Mr & Mrs Raymond also of Herefordshire. Tesco’s Producers Clubs manager Alice Pattinson presented the awards.

Livestock Director John Dracup said it was good to see so many people attend with many familiar faces coming back again to support the show.
“Each year we face new challenges” he said. “Last year we had a difficult year but who could have predicted what we have been through this year: two outbreaks of foot and mouth disease, rising feed prices, bluetongue and avian flu.”
Mr Dracup thanked producer club members for their patience and tolerance while the company dealt with difficult issues and changing legislation as they arose. Bluetongue has been the most challenging to deal with in maintaining an ability to continue delivery of stock to the abattoir.

“Every year I say that the carcases are outstanding, the best of the best, and the following year they excel even more.”
The judge for the St Merryn Show was Michael Rees-Thomas of HCC/MPW. He said it was a privilege to judge. “The heavy heifers were the best of any I have seen anywhere to be honest. I think St Merryn producers are doing a tremendous job.”
He went on to praise St Merryn plant staff. “Standards of slaughtering here today were absolutely amazing” he said. “The carcases were really well dressed. I applaud the standard of work achieved.”

As well as viewing a wide range of top quality dressed carcases and touring the Merthyr plant to see all the modern production facilities Club members had the opportunity to learn more about meat cuts. Boning halls training officer Steve Bastian said “A body of beef was selected. One side was butchered as a carcase side and displayed. The other side was cut and displayed as a jigsaw puzzle of the various cuts that can be obtained from a side.” A total of 30 cuts went on show.

* Photograph shows FC Garlick & Son receiving the champion carcass trophy from Alice Pattison Tesco Producer Club Manager & John Dracup, St. Merryn Livestock Director *