A BULL bred by Margaret and Keith Plain in their Foxhole Herd of South Devons at Kinsham, Bredon, is helping put quality beef on to supermarket shelves.

Blade Farming South West aims to get 2,500 cows inseminated with South Devon genetics with the aim of supplying the So Good range completely with South Devon cross calves from the dairy herd by 2008.

The company is working with partner Genus to get cows inseminated to Foxhole Menzies to ensure a quality calf is produced.

Blade business manager Gavin Isles said Menzies was chosen for his excellent conformation and natural calving ability. He said the bull had exceptional length and strength of loin with a growth rate that put him in the top ten per cent of his breed for muscle score.

Menzies is the two-year-old son of Mr and Mrs Plain's cow Foxhole Martha that won four breed championships and two inter-breed championships for them on the show circuit during the summer.