Charles and Sally Horrell’s Podehole herd once again was announced the winner of the Beef Shorthorn Society’s National Herd Competition 2023, having also won it last year.

Up against five other herds from across the UK who all respectively won their regional herds competitions in autumn 2022, it was down to judge, David Dickie from Dumfriesshire, to make the decision.

“I was looking for a herd with strong breed characteristics, in particular, cows that were milking well with good udders but still fleshy and making a job of their calves. I found the Podehole herd to be the most uniformed and credit must go to the Horrell family and stockman Roy for presenting a great herd of cattle for myself and Rosemary to judge.

“Building a herd of top-quality animals is a skill that can take years of patience and careful management and the other finalists, Chapelton, Glebe Farm, Jodame, Meonhill, and Holkin each set a great example for the breed. The standard within the breed is growing year on year and that hasn’t gone unnoticed when it comes to people investing, with numbers increasing each year at society sales and national and regional shows.”