A BEEF Shorthorn range will be available in supermarkets for the first time after Morrisons launched its new products.

The full range of steaks, salmon-cut and topside joints will be available to buy in the Malton branch of the supermarket.

Morrisons and the Beef Shorthorn Society have been working together since 2010 to develop a supply chain because of "the excellent eating quality and full traceability offered by the Shorthorn breed".

Jodie Bolland, Morrisons livestock and farming development manager, said: "To achieve a consistent supply of great quality beef, Morrisons is sourcing beef Shorthorn animals from farm assured holdings with excellent standards of animal welfare, traceability, and nutrition to produce beef of consistent eating quality.

"We pay a premium on all cattle sired by a registered Beef Shorthorn and supplied to the supermarket's own meat processing company, Woodheads, from its approved farm assured finishers.

"Beef Shorthorn is globally renowned for its eating quality, characterised by marbling which influences its consistent great taste – tenderness followed by flavour."

Beef Shorthorn Society's Milly Fyfe said: "This breed has a long and distinguished history having evolved over the last two centuries from Teeswater and Durham cattle originally found in the North East of England.

"Native breeds came under increasing pressure in Britain following the invasion of Continental breeds throughout the 1960s and 1970s, however after three decades, they found themselves back in vogue, and Beef Shorthorn has witnessed a major turn-around.

"Breeders have carefully selected for specific maternal performance traits and at the same time retained the Beef Shorthorn’s native characteristics; consequently Beef Shorthorn is enjoying resurgence and meeting market demand primarily as a functional suckler cow."

The Morrisons range will include The Best British 21 Day Matured Dry Aged Shorthorn Sirloin Steak which recently won two gold medals in the World Steak Challenge staged in London.