Recipe for the best in Scotch steaks

NORTH and North-east exhibitors claimed the four top awards yesterday at the Tesco-McIntosh Donald Scotch steak competition.

The McIntosh Donald rosebowl and 1,000 prize went to Kincardineshire farmer Jim Watson, who finishes 1,000 cattle a year on his 600-acre farming enterprise based at Pityot, Muchalls, Stonehaven.

His winning steak was from a Limousin cross heifer which weighed 366kg deadweight and classified -U4L for conformation and fat cover. It was bought as a store animal at a Stirling sale and finished on a traditional ration of silage, home-grown barley, minerals and a small amount of bought-in concentrate blend in the final stages.

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Steaks from 12 sirloins selected from an initial entry of 170 cattle were judged by an expert panel following a cook-off.

A Charolais cross steer weighing 335.8kg deadweight and classifying R3 produced the steak which won the reserve award of 500 for Charlie Neish, Bowbutts, Strachan, Banchory. Limousin crosses claimed third and fourth place.

McIntosh Donald managing director Alan McNaughton said tenderness was the most important characteristic of meat for consumers, even before flavour. "The most tender beef is from younger cattle and we are looking at ways of encouraging producers to market their animals under 24 months of age."

Edward Scott, of Linross, Glamis, took the honours in the ABP steak competition on the Asda stand. His winning steak came from a 14-month-old Limousin cross bull grading U+2 with a daily liveweight gain of 0.85kg.

Runners-up were Watson brothers, Croftgarry, Aberdour; third was Gill & Company, Brucefield Portmahomack.

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