By Maureen Hodges

Last updated at 12:24, Saturday, 09 March 2013

An agricultural showcase has brought an international flavour to Carlisle.

Tom Crawford

Thousands of visitors from all over the world, including Vietnam, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, North America and Switzerland, are expected to attend the two-day event.

The second Borderway UK Dairy Expo expects to build on the success of last year’s world-class event.

Leading auctioneer’s Harrison & Hetherington, which is hosting the event, is expecting up to 10,000 visitors. The event is expected to bring a major financial boost to the city.

Operations director David Pritchard said visitors are staying at local hotels and guest houses, as well as using local services.

“So the event will generate income not only for Borderway but also across the region,” he said.

A dairy competition for young enthusiasts was among the highlights on the first day.

More than 50 youngsters, aged 10 to 26, entered the competition, which put their cattle-handling and clipping skills to the test.

“This is a local, national and international event. We had young people from Sweden and Holland competing,” said Heather Pritchard of H&H.

“It has grown from last year. It is more international. Last year we had a young person from Spain who won the clipping competition,” she added.

The clipping competition, which was judged by Monique Rey, one of Switzerland’s most famous breeders, was a timed event.

Each competitor had to demonstrate that they could clip an animal to a show-ready state.

There are more than 300 livestock entries from across Europe and the prize fund stands at £15,000.

Featured breeds in today’s dairy classes include Holstein, Jersey, Ayrshire, red and white, brown Swiss, dairy shorthorn, and British friesian.

Last night saw the Global Classic sale which had some of the best dairy genetics come under the hammer.

Today is devoted to the show classes featuring animals from the most prolific cow families in the world.

Dairy farmer Stephen Morley said it was his first time at the show.

The Southwaite farmer had brought along two of his Petteril Holstein cows.

“This show gives us an opportunity to compete at a high level,” said Mr Morley.

First published at 11:15, Saturday, 09 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk