SOCIETY NEWS
Secretary's Report We continue to see our Breed taking a greater share of the beef market in this Country, the population of both Pedigree and Commercial Herefords increasing year on year. At the World Conference held last Spring we reported on the progress made by the Breed since the previous Conference held in Canada in 2012. During the intervening four year period we were able to show how the Breed had grown in popularity by using the following figures:Calves processed by the Society over this period had increased by 23% (6,900 in 2012 – 8,500 in 2015); Membership by 13% (1,190 in 2012 – 1,345 in 2015) and all current indications would seem to confirm that this growth is to continue. One of the greatest achievements has been the Breed’s influence on the commercial population of Hereford cattle. At the end of 2015 the British Beef Industry experienced an increase in the population of beef sired calves compared to the previous year (the first rise for many years) to a total of 1.75 million. The increase, whilst modest, totalled 30,500 additional calves by beef sires of all Breeds, the Hereford accounting for over 50% of this increase. Based upon Government figures, this increase alone required the use of at least an extra 400 Hereford sires i.e. 1 bull to 35 cows. The improved demand for the Hereford has been very much market led by the beef processing and retailing industry seeking out quality beef with a well-documented provenance that can be marketed under a unique Brand name. Today, three of the Country’s leading Supermarkets actively promote the sale of quality Hereford Beef and an increasing number of independent retailers and restaurateurs doing likewise. We have also seen the processing industry implementing changes to their specification for finished cattle with an emphasis on the finished weight of the beef carcase now wavering somewhere between 260 kgs. and 380 kgs., a weight suiting such breeds as ours, with the added ability of being finished at such weights on low cost forage systems. There has also been a swing within the export market and retail sector demanding primal cuts that are not too large and steaks that are of a size that can be cut to an adequate thickness without being too thin and therefore having the ability to market a quality product potentially at a lower price. It is an accumulation of all these factors that has helped to move the Breed forward in an upward direction and no doubt will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. We will, however, have to be extremely careful that we do not become complacent as demand for our Breed continues to increase. Breeders must be more vigilant than ever in ensuring that they concentrate their minds on marketing the best of the Breed and not take advantage of the improved demand to market second rate stock. A further factor that we will, over the next year or so have to address will be the effect upon our Industry created by “Brexit”. I am not going to try and predict the outcome of “Brexit” but I strongly believe that we have the ability to capitalize on the outcome whatever it may be. We have a Breed capable of meeting all the needs of economical
4 HEREFORDS
4 HEREFORD BREED JOURN AL 2012
David Prothero, Breed Secretary
production of Quality Beef, playing upon all the strengths we know the Breed has such as easy calving, easy management and docility and all based upon a grass finished animal. It will be important as the margins tighten that producers seek out the type of animal that can produce a “high end output” from a “low base input” and it is without any doubt that in the case of the Hereford such results can be achieved. Looking at an overview of the last year, we saw numbers of cattle sold at our main Sales increase with more or less total clearance of the females being offered and an 80%+ clearance of the bulls. On the Show circuit during the Summer the Hereford continued to dominate, outnumbering all other breeds at the major Shows. A great year for Inter-Breed successes including winning awards at the Great Yorkshire, Royal Bath & West, Royal Three Counties Shows and, most notably, taking the Overall Beef Championship at the Royal Highland and Royal Welsh Shows, a double that I believe has never been achieved by our Breed before – congratulations go to all concerned. On the subject of our younger enthusiasts, we saw the inaugural UK Hereford Youth event taking place during the Spring organised by our very own Emma Smith of “Classic Herefords” and hosted by the Livesey family, “Normanton Herefords”. A second event being held in the Autumn hosted by the Allman family, “Greenyards Herefords” and H. Weston & Sons Ltd., “Bounds Herefords”. Reports on both events will be found elsewhere within this Journal. We extend our thanks to Emma for her enthusiasm in organising these events and to the various hosts for their support. Further dates are to be announced for similar events taking place during the coming year and we urge everyone to come forward and support this UK Hereford Youth initiative and make it the best youth programme in the Country. Whilst on this subject I know that all involved appreciate the backing of the Society’s Council for the events organised by Emma and their sponsorship of our younger enthusiasts including three who