Elaine Timmis, with one of the family Herefords at the show

A Shropshire family who have entered their 90th year of farming are bucking the trend during the credit crunch with their herd of prize-winning cattle.

Hazel and Mike Timmis, from Baschurch, near Shrewsbury, proudly showed off nine of their Hereford cattle – a breed which has stood the test of time for well over 200 years.

The family’s farming heritage started in 1911 when Hazel’s great-grandfather William Everell began breeding his herd of Hereford cattle on a farm at Shrawardine Castle –  and his legacy lives on today.

Mr and Mrs Timmis and their daughters, Melissa, 24, and Elaine, 22, breed the cattle at Moor Farm in Baschurch, even selling fresh produce in the farm shop.

Mrs Timmis, 52, said interest had grown in the breed. “Hereford cattle are easy to manage, docile and they don’t cost much to look after because they feed mostly on grass,” she said.

Five of her herd came top of two winning groups in the Hereford classes and Mrs Timmis said competition was stronger than last year when bluetongue prevented breeders outside the county from entering.

“My daughter is the fifth generation of our family to tend to the herd and my eldest daughter is expecting a baby, who is soon to be the sixth generation,” she said.

“We’ve been coming to the West Mid Show for as long as I can remember and I have a particular love for the show. There’s always a good atmosphere and there’s something for everyone.

“The future is looking bright for this breed. With the costs going up we can handle this breed with very little labour, which is a terrific advantage in this current economic climate.

“It also produces the best beef out of any other breed and we will continue to come to this show for years to come.”

By Charlotte Hester