Fermanagh bull is best in Europe

By Martin Cassidy
BBC NI environment correspondent

A bull called Sauvignon is the toast of Fermanagh after winning Europe's premier agricultural event, the Paris Show.

Sauvignon has proved to be a big hit at many agricultural shows Enlarge Image

The five-year-old Limousin bull was exhibited by Crawford Brothers from Maguiresbridge, who are the first United Kingdom cattle breeders to win the top beef rosette in Paris.

The returning champion is now set for the Balmoral show in May, where he will help attract interest from cattle breeders from across Europe.

Orders have already been received from artificial insemination companies in nine countries and Sauvignon's owners say his Paris win should reap rich dividends in semen sales.

The bull arrived in Paris a hot favourite after winning the Royal show in England last summer.

Sauvignon was also the overall male champion at the Royal Welsh show and the Limousin champion at the Great Yorkshire show.

But owner Raymond Crawford says the win at the Paris show tops the family's 40-year show career, describing it as "a dream come true".