Competition and the weather is heating up as day two of Balmoral Show brings more competitors to the cattle, sheep, and horse rings with their eyes firmly set on a coveted rosette.
The Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS) president, John Henning told Agriland that there have been strong entries for the livestock events this year.
Henning said: “A total of 3,000 animals have been scheduled to participate in the various livestock events over the four days of Balmoral 2025.”
“Balmoral Show is a tremendous shop window for farming and food in Northern Ireland,” Henning said.
“What’s more, the general public are offered a tremendous opportunity to view the different animal breeds from a uniquely advantageous perspective: the myriad completion locations that make up the Balmoral show grounds.”
Balmoral Show 2025
According to the RUAS president, the organisation is committed to delivering high quality educational opportunities for farmers while also giving consumers the chance to learn more about the way in which food is actually produced.
“We totally commit to making education fun,” he added.
Separately a leading Salers’ breeder attending this year’s show has indicated that suckler cow numbers may well start to increase throughout the UK and Ireland.
According to Stirlingshire-based Malcolm Pye, this will be in response to the continuing rise in beef prices.
Pye said: “But I don’t think that we will see an increase in the actual number of herds.
“Rather those already in sucklers will commit to increasing cow numbers.
“The investment involved for former suckler herdowners to come back into the sector may well prove prohibitive.”
Pye is judging the Salers’ classes at Balmoral Show 2025. Speaking at the end of the event’s first day, he noted the high standards of the cattle presented to him.
He said: “Salers’ dams make perfect suckler cows. They have tremendous locomotion, good feet and legs.
“The animals can thrive in all terrains: they are easily fleshed.
“The Salers’ breeding stock entered for this year’s Balmoral Show are of an excellent standard.”
Pye came to Balmoral 2025 with the wind in his sales – a bull from his Rednock herd broke the breed record price at the recent Stirling sale.
The animal in question sold for 20,000 guineas.
Competition results:
Aberdeen Angus classes
Champion: William Porter
Reserve: Willam Dodd
Junior Champion: Denamona Herd
Reserve: Fintan Keown
Perpetual Challenge Cup
1st: William Porter
2nd: William Dodd
Best animal entered in the Aberdeen Angus herd book
1st: William Porter
2nd: William Dodd
The JW Carson Memorial Cup
1st: William Porter
2nd: William Dodd
The JD Templeton Memorial Trophy
1st: Denamona Herd
2nd: Denamona Herd
The Drumlister Trophy
1st William Dodd
Tyrone Crystal Pairs’ Championship
1st: Fintan Keown
2nd: William Porter
Senior cow class
1st: William Porter
2nd; William Porter
Cow/heifer in milk class
1st: William Dodd
2nd: Lucy Rodgers
Maiden heifer class
1st: Fintan Keown
2nd: Fintan Keown
Senior bull class
1st: William Porter
2nd: Andrew Fletcher
Junior bull class
1st: Denamona herd
2nd: Denamona herd
Pairs’ class
1st: William Porter
2nd: William Porter
Salers classes
Champion: Stephen Maginn
Reserve: J & EA Elliott
Junior Champion: Ballykeel Salers
Reserve: Ryan and Russell Kelly
Cow class
1st: Stephen Maginn
2nd: J & EA Elliott
Heifer with calf at foot class
1st: J & EA Elliott
2nd: Pearse O’Kane
Maiden heifer class: senior
1st: J & EA Elliott
Junior heifer class
1st: Ballykeel Salers
2nd: J & EA Elliott
Senior bull class
1st: Stephen Maginn
2nd: Ryan and Russell Kelly
Junior bull class
1st: J & EA Elliott
2nd: Ryan and Russell Kelly
Pairs’ class
1st: Stephen maginn
2nd: J & EA Elliott
Hereford classes
Champion: Dorepoll Herefords
Reserve: Ciaran Kerr
Junior Champion: Ciaran kerr
Reserve: Dorepoll Herefords
Champion female: Stephen Cherry
Reserve: Dorepoll Herefords
Champion polled Hereford: Dorepoll Herefords
Reserve: Ciaran Kerr
Champion Male: Dorepoll Herefords
Reserve: Ciaran Kwerr
Limousin classes
Champion: Deerpark Limousin
Reserve: Kieran McCrory
Junior Champion: Kieran McCrory
Reserve: Mya Alexander
Champion junior heifer: Kieran McCrory
Reserve: Mya Alexander
Champion female: Deerpart Limousin
Reserve: Kieran McCrory
Champion Junior Bull: P & S Murphy
Reserve: Sammy Clyde
Male Champion: P& S Murphy
Reserve: Sammy Clyd
Charolais classes
Champion: Robert McWilliams
Reserve: Harry Heron
Champion Cow: Robert McWilliama
Reserve: Eoin McGovern
Champion heifer: Robert McWilliams
Reserve: WD & JA Connolly
Champion female: Robert McWilliams
Reserve: Eoin McGovern
Simmental classes
Champion: Alan Wilson
Reserve: WD & JD Hazelton
Junior champion: WD & JD Hazelton
Reserve: Andrew W Clarke
Champion female: Alan Wilson
Champion bull: JL & CJ Weatherup
Reserve: Gavin Hayes
British Blue classes
Champion: Croob Blues
Reserve: Joshua Arrell
Junior champion: James and Scott Boyd
Reserve: Croob Blues
Bull class
1st: James and Scott Boyd
2nd: James and Scott Boyd
Junior heifer class
1st: Joshua Arrell
2nd: Croob Blues
Senior heifer class
1st: Croob Blues
2nd: Joshua Arrell
