CUMBRIA Farmers collect first prizes at the Shetland Cattle competition.

Crook based farmers Ruth Dalton and Andrew Walter, last week collected three first prizes at the inaugural Shetland Cattle On-line Show.

Their breed, Ustaness Xerxes won the senior bull class, while his daughters, Whinpot Frost (Heifer, not in calf) and Whinpot Mary III (Heifer calf) picked up red rosettes too.

Ruth said: “Shetland cattle are ideal for conservation grazing and regenerative farming systems. They are small, thrifty, and hardy and grow well off a pasture-based system. They have a super temperament and the beef produced is second to none."

Ruth and Andrew started with Shetland cattle back in 2010.