THE fifth national Great British Beef Week which began yesterday (Thurs) – St George’s Day – has Yorkshire beef production at its heart.

Not only is York producer and Ladies in Beef founder member Rosey Dunn the chosen ‘face’ of the celebration of farm assured beef, but students from East Yorkshire’s Bishop Burton College are also in the spotlight.

The college is celebrating the launch of its new breeding programme for prime Hereford beef cattle, and the students were invited to help launch the week and highlight the skill and care that goes into producing one of the nation’s favourite meats.

Mrs Dunn said: "Great British Beef Week is all about the quality of the food our livestock farmers produce.

"But behind that success story is an army of dedicated people who take pride in everything they do from farm to fork. Our county has a fantastic reputation for beef so it is very reassuring to see so many young women committed to taking on the challenge for the future."

The week coincides with news that the number of beef breeding cows had dropped by more than 200,000 in the last 10 years –100,000 in the last three years.

Mrs Dunne said the decline was worrying, but that it was good to see the industry responding with initiatives such as the new herd at Bishop Burton. A recent survey of meat-eaters also still put beef at the top of the nation's menu.

The YouGov poll commissioned by Ladies in Beef established steak as the nation’s favourite beef dish (29 per cent). Roast beef was second with 23 per cent of the vote and Spaghetti Bolognaise third at 14 per cent.

Three times more 18-24 year-olds picked steak over a roast – 35 per cent versus 11 per cent – and 23 per cent opted for Spaghetti Bolognese. In contrast more than a third of people aged 55 and over opted for a roast.

Mrs Dunne, who has produced Red Tractor assured beef with her husband and son for 15 years, said: "Getting such positive feedback from consumers is fantastic for the local beef industry. As a Red Tractor farmer I was delighted to be chosen as the ‘face’ of this year’s Beef Week – all the more so as it’s allowed me to put a spotlight firmly on Yorkshire production."