Bits and Pieces
Uploaded August 2004

The year is already racing away and the show schedules are starting to drop through the letterboxes. I do hope that we will see more of you out showing this year, I know for some, last year was made a virtual no go again by our friends at DEFRA. Hopefully it won't happen this year, but do check with your local office because it seems that different DEFRA's have different ideas.

We had an extremely productive and interesting A.G.M. at David and C a role's on Sunday 29th and I must say a huge thank you to both of them for the effort and the wonderful lunch and drinks that were provided. I for really enjoyed the excellent food and I don't think there was much left for the dog's tea that night.

Please remember that this year the Gillhouse Trophy runs from the beginning of May through to the end of October to allow us to take all of the shows in for the whole year, remember also that we are adding in September and October shows from last year this time only so points are not lost from those shows in 2003. Anybody who is not sure how this competition runs please ring me and I will explain.

Viki has asked me to remind you about the new format for The Pig of the Year, please take note because it allows more pigs forward at the final giving the Traditional Breeds a better chance than ever.

Ian and Maggie Todd have informed me that it was a Berkshire boar of theirs that went to Holland on Export. Smallicombe Peter Lad is going to be used along with some Tamworth boars on commercial white sows to improve the flavour and texture of the meat. They have also been shown some test results on a Berkshire boar that was exported to the U.S.A from their herd some years ago. It has come top of the tests done on Berkshire boars used for AI in the U.S.A. for its meat quality. Semen from this boar is being used in New Zealand on pedigree Berkshires.

We must also congratulate lan and Maggie on their success at the Good Food Show their sausages took overall the overall Champion sausage.

We are going to be running a raffle this year as it is the "Berkshire year" at Hatfield this year (see minutes of A.G.M.) so if you can sell some tickets please ring me or see me at any show and I will let you have some. And any more offers of prizes would be much appreciated.

Please note that the Royal Welsh Show are holding Berkshire classes for the first time this year so it would be nice if we could support them and make it an ongoing thing.

Sharon Barnfield, Editor