UTV’S RARE BREED CONTINUES WITH EPISODE 7 ON THURSDAY
Rare Breed – A Farming Year was once again the most watched programme in Northern Ireland at 8.30pm last night with over 134,000 viewers tuning in, equating to a 28% share of the entire NI viewing audience.
Rare Breed – A Farming Year continues on Thursday at 8.30pm UTV where our farmers continue to enjoy the unbelievably good weather into July. Several featured families attend the Omagh Show. While stock gets shown, Victor gets fit and does a bit of modelling on this side! And beyond the show, scallions get harvested, apples get treated for sunburn and a few familiar faces from 2018 Rare Breed series pop up!
The WILSON family from LISNASKEA are competing in the National Hereford Championships at the OMAGH SHOW. Robbie says of his heifer, “She loves getting a wash, loves getting out for the day, a bit like ourselves!” Unfortunately the heifer plays up in the ring and Robbie misses out on a rosette. David has better luck with his bull that he’s had for four years, getting placed first.
In the sheep classes, RICHARD BEATTIE and his family from OMAGH are showing his Valais Black Nose for the first time. There are only a handful of breeders in Ireland so he’s glad the breed is getting profiled.
Young CAHIR McGILLIGAN from DUNGIVEN is showing lambs for the first time at Omagh. He’s really excited to be there, and his hard work pays off both in the Lamb class, and the Young Handlers Class.
VICTOR CHESTNUTT from BUSHMILLS is having an altogether different show!. In his capacity as Vice-president of the UFU, he’s helping to raise funds for the NI Air Ambulance charity, which involves a step challenge a bit of modelling on a catwalk! He says of that experience, “’Enjoy’ is one word, ‘endure’ is another!” But he assures us he’s enjoying the craic.
Away from OMAGH SHOW, ALEX LYTTLE is harvesting scallions at his farm near NEWTOWNARDS. The demand is high for salads in the good weather so he’s been irrigating the crop to ensure the growing conditions are good. Harvesting is all done by hand by high skilled team.
In ARMAGH, PAT McKEEVER is trying to prevent the apples from getting too sunburnt. Much as he’s letting Mother Nature control how the apples are faring, he explains that the smaller trees need a lot more water in the good weather.
RICHARD BEATTIE is back at Balmoral – he’s auctioning off some of his Valais Black Nose herd, and he’s out of his comfort zone as he’s showing in the ring with someone else doing auctioneer. Libby Clarke and Geoffrey Ringland from the last season of Rare Breed pop up at the event, with Libby taking care of PR for the event and Geoffrey buying some sheep! Richard’s happy that there will be more breeders in Ireland as a result of the sale.
UTV’s Mark McFadden narrates the series, sponsored by Dale Farm, Rare Breed – A Farming Year continues on Thursday 28th February 2019 at 8.30pm on UTV.
