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WINTER 2016 /17 EDITOR Chris Mallon National Beef Association Mart Green Tyne Green Hexham Northumberland NE46 3SG 01434 601005 chris@nationalbeefassociation.com

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SUB EDITOR Barbara Huddart

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CHAIRMAN David Thomlinson

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

03

CONTENTS

contents

CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT

CHRIS MALLO

N

CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT

BY CHRIS MALLON CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION

2016 was a year of change with a surprise result leading to a different Prime Minister and the UK heading to a new world out of the EU. Though we are surrounded by uncertainties the beef industry has to see this as a time of opportunity with an eye on exports and the other on ensuring domestic beef consumption is British.

Leaving the EU doesn’t mean we drop standards, we need to maintain levels which will allow exports but be a hurdle that imports need to reach before they get access to our market. The beef processing sector depends on migrant labour and any deal with the EU needs to ensure there is an allowance for unskilled as well as skilled migration.

The NBA wants an early commitment to farm support with indications of the directions it is heading in, an average 60% of farm incomes come in the form of EU subsidies and a report by Informa Agribusiness Intelligence estimates that without subsidies 90% of farms would collapse and land prices would crash. To ensure food security for the UK, confirmation of support post 2017 needs to be presented as soon as possible to take away the doubt that exists. We recognise the need to show public good in any package so we support environmental schemes, carbon capture payments but we would also like to see the industry being future proofed by capital grants, entrants schemes and investment in R and D.

In 2017 we would like to see the Grocery Code Legislation extended to cover and protect the primary producer. In 2016 the NBA pushed hard to show the unfair trading practices that beef finishers face when marketing their livestock, we have worked hard with Neil Parish MP Chair of the EFRA Committee to draw attention to short notice grid changes and the affect it has on values, the collusion of processors, the lack of competition in the market and the worthlessness of voluntary codes. The three yearly review of the GCA is soon to close and we hope that changes will be brought into legislation ensuring fair play from producer to consumer.

With the move from EU membership the NBA feel thought should be given to how we arrive at a price for finished cattle and the NBA are examining payment on meat quality and yield rather than the EUROP grid. Payment based on meat quality works well in the US and Australia and should at least be considered here. The political changes seen in 2016 show that nothing is written in stone and

as such why should how we are paid for finished cattle not be rethought?

The eradication of TB remains a priority for all involved in keeping cattle and it will remain so for many years to come, however it must be realised that after TB is gone we still want to have a viable cattle industry left behind. Movement restrictions, whilst needed, must allow the traditional movement of cattle from store areas to finishing areas and we believe strongly that AFU’s are an essential tool for the survival of TB hit farms.

In 2016 we welcomed the launch of BVD Free an initiative supported by AHDB, LAA, NFU, BCVA, NBA, breed societies, Holstein UK and many others. The initiative is a starting point in bringing England in line with Scotland and Northern Ireland in the fight to eliminate BVD, BVD is possible to eliminate and control on farms with testing, informed purchasing and vaccination yet not doing anything about it will cost around £50 per suckler.

AUTUMN ISSUE COMPETITION

WINNER 04

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

Congratulations to the lucky winner of our Autumn Issue Competition, A Tonne of Rumenco Maxx Cattle Booster worth over £1000 was won by Mrs Deborah Powell, PH & SE Powell, Worcestershire.

TO ENTER THIS ISSUES COMPETITION PLEASE SEE PAGE 29.

WINTER 2016

NEWS

BEEF EXPO

KEY INDUSTRY EVENT

Returning to the Midlands for the first time in many years, the 2017 NBA Beef Expo provides British breeders and producers with an excellent platform to showcase the quality of their cattle, and visitors can expect to see some of the finest examples of British breeding from all corners of the UK. As the event will be the first of its kind post Brexit, there will undoubtedly be a focus on what this means for British farmers in terms of opportunities moving forward.

A major feature of the event is the National Commercial Cattle Show (NCCS) which will see farmers from the length and breadth of the UK showing the very best cattle from their herds, all hoping for a share of the overall prize fund.

Alongside the NCCS, visitors have the opportunity to browse in the region of 120 commercial and educational trade exhibits, as well as specialist Breed Society stands. NBA Beef Expo is a nucleus for knowledge sharing and networking. Trade exhibitors will highlight, through displays and demonstrations, the latest industry trends and developments as well as nutrition and genetics. Applications are now open for businesses, traders and breed societies wishing to attend the 2017 event.

Now a firmly established feature on the schedule at NBA Beef Expo is the Future Beef Farmer Challenge which was launched back in 2015 for beef farmers aged 36 and under. Entrants can take part as an individual or as a team and the winner of each section is presented with a trophy. The competition challenges entrants’ knowledge of the beef sector at both a practical and scientific level, which is fundamental to the future strength and success of the industry.

As in previous years, the highly anticipated farm tours will take place on Wednesday 17th May giving people the opportunity to gain an insight into how various beef enterprises are managed. The NBA, as part of the event, will also be hosting a range of seminars and workshops held by various industry professionals.

Chris Mallon, Chief Executive of the NBA commented: “Plans for NBA Beef Expo 2017 are certainly in full swing and we are very much looking forward to welcoming farmers and exhibitors to the event in May. Following the UK’s Brexit decision this year, this will be a key focus as we offer support and help British producers who may have concerns surrounding this.

Trade stand applications forms are now available to complete online on the NBA Beef Expo

18.05.17

NAEC, STONELEIGH PARK, CV8 2LZ

website, www.beefexpo.co.uk, where further detailed information can also be found.

ADVERTISE WITH THE OFFICIAL NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE. OUR SPRING ISSUE FEATURES THE NBA BEEF EXPO 2017 PREVIEW TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CONTACT THE NBA ON 01434 601005 OR EMAIL nbamagazine@nationalbeefassociation.com

DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: FRIDAY 31st MARCH 2017 THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

TRADE STAND BOOKINGS NOW OPEN ONLINE Helen / Sharon: 01434 601005 Heidi: 07393 463225 beefexpo@nationalbeefassociation.com

WWW.BEEFEXPO.CO.UK WINTER 2016

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61.2%

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

GUEST EDITOR

CHRIS DODDS

GUEST WRITER CHRIS DODDS

For those in the livestock industry, 2017 is a milestone year as it marks 200 years of livestock markets in the UK. Today, just as then, they provide an important trading platform for the livestock industry, with the English and Welsh markets selling in excess of £1.7 billion livestock during 2015, which consisted of 1.4 million cattle, 10 million sheep and 155k pigs.

Although there has been ‘trading’ of livestock for thousands of years it was in 1817 that Andrew Oliver opened the first purpose built auction mart facility in the Scottish Border town of Hawick. Our members’ businesses have been a cornerstone for open, transparent and competitive trade ever since.

At the time of the inception of the live auction mart system it was said that:

Livestock auctions brought about much needed financial stability to breeders and feeders by providing a means of ascertaining the value of their livestock and guaranteeing payment of the full price.

I would suggest that this statement is as true today as it was back in 1817.

Livestock markets throughout the UK had a busy Christmas show season, with some of the country’s finest cattle being presented at their local auction mart Christmas sales, which highlights the important part the auction mart system plays in promoting the high quality animals that are bred and produced on our farms. Markets have always been seen as a valuable ‘shop window’ for producers. Looking to the future, it will become even more important for our breeders and feeders to highlight and promote the quality of livestock that is produced in the UK when looking at new markets within Europe and around the world. Clearly the decision for the UK to leave Europe demonstrates that we will need to promote our industry even more in the future to secure that valuable and much needed market share.

Although Brexit will undoubtedly bring challenges for all sectors within agriculture, there will be great opportunities and I believe that we need to

be positive and develop these opportunities in a way that delivers a sustainable industry for future generations. Discussions on this very subject are taking place within the UK livestock Industry Brexit group, which I Chair, and it is heartening to see the industry working together, with such a forward thinking attitude, when brought together in such a forum. Meetings have already been held with George Eustice MP, in London, a meeting has been arranged with the Scottish Ministers for Thursday 19th January, and our group has been part of the ongoing discussions taking place within the Welsh Assembly Government, in Cardiff. During these initial discussions four main areas requiring immediate consideration were identified as being Trade, Farm Support, Regulation and Labour. The group are looking for a transition period, for as long as necessary to protect the domestic livestock sectors, to be agreed well in advance – and for a level playing field with free access to the EU market.

BRITISH WHITE CATTLE SOCIETY This issue's cover image is sponsored by British White Cattle Society. Super sucklers ideal for use with a terminal sire, bulls will give heifers of any breed an easy first calving British White Cattle Society, Meadow View, Kelby, Grantham, Lincs NG32 3AJ Contact: Breed Secretary Ruth Mawer Tel: 01400 230142 Email: brtwhitecs@aol.com IMAGE CREDIT: BRITISH WHITE CATTLE SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

07

TB COMMITTEE UPDATE

TB committee update REPORT BY BILL HARPER THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION IMAGE CREDIT: DEVON CATTLE BREEDERS' SOCIETY

The NBA’s TB committee has gone into action

The second exception is when an infectious

mode during the last year with many of its

badger gains access to a feed store and

members playing leading roles in the roll out of

contaminates the feed with urine which is then

TB control badger cull areas. Members have led

fed to the cattle, this has been the route of

through being directors of cull companies and have

infection with some of the largest outbreaks we

helped plan areas and train contractors. Now as we

have seen.

see more areas coming on stream for 2017 we will see real progress as new areas come in alongside

We are always indebted to retired DEFRA vet Dr.

existing 4 year cull areas to provide much better

John Gallagher who we believe has the greatest

boundary control, the movement of badgers across

level of understanding of the practical issues

boundaries hinders progress so the more areas

surrounding TB and condensed his experiences

that touch each other the better.

and knowledge in a paper entitled ‘TB; Do we have a Control policy?’ published by the BCVA

We have been challenged recently by a section

in 2009. In his paper he clearly states where

of DEFRA staff on the issue of cattle to cattle

the ISG (Independent Scientific Group) got

and cattle to wildlife transmission, these civil

their calculations wrong influencing the final

servants could be called cattle blamers. To

conclusion and he demonstrates that cattle to

counter this position we have looked at two

cattle transmission is extremely rare. Please

situations, firstly if cattle to cattle was a major

contact the NBA for a copy of this work; it is

route of transmission we would see incidence of

extremely revealing and interesting.

TB reactions increasing during the winter housing period. The real situation is the opposite with

With this in mind, we were horrified when DEFRA

cattle herds reacting in the autumn after grazing

told us after we completed this years culls that

contaminated grass and then spending the next

AFU’s (Approved Finishing Units) with grazing

4-6 months removing the reactors in reducing

would lose their licenses if they were in the cull

numbers at each 60 day test, bearing in mind that

areas as there was a perceived risk of cattle

you only get 75% of the reactors at each test so

spreading TB to wildlife, we countered this

statistics tells us that if 20 cattle have ingested

decision vigorously as we had no notice and did

TB bacilli and it has colonised an organ, you will

not accept the risk given everything Dr Gallagher

get 15 reactors at the first test followed by 3 or 4

had clearly set out.

at the next test, with the last 1 or 2 being picked up at the next test.

We could see no net gain in stopping the AFU’s with grazing as the cattle in the orange markets

There are two exceptions which must be

and in integrated rearing schemes would have

mentioned which are a cow which contracts

to graze somewhere, we are still opposing this

TB in the udder to such a level that her milk is

change and are getting signals that DEFRA are

infectious and she tests negative because the

prepared to negotiate. We are grateful to Neil

antibodies have given up and she is known as

Parrish MP again for helping to get our case heard.

Anergic i.e. unresponsive to the test despite being full of TB in her udder. This has caused some

To conclude, we would urge more members to get

serious outbreaks in young stock having been

involved, there is much to do and more help is

given the infected milk.

needed.

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

REGIONAL COUNCILS CONTACTS NORTHERN DAVID THOMLINSON - CHAIRMAN Carlisle CA1 2RS Tel: 07802 675799 Email: david@thomlinson.co.uk HELEN DOBSON - SECRETARY/TREASURER Hexham NE46 3SG Tel: 01434 601005 Email: helen@nationalbeefassociation.com MIDLANDS JOHN BELL - CHAIRMAN Northamptonshire NN11 5NP Tel: 07188 890320 Email: jjmeatgod@btconnect.com SOUTH WEST BILL HARPER - CHAIRMAN Devon EX22 6RZ Tel: 01409271376 Email: harpersholdings@btinternet.com VICKY SMITH - SECRETARY Exeter EX5 4LZ Tel: 07773 340008 Email: natbeefsw@gmail.com WALES CONTACT HEAD OFFICE Tel: 01434 601005 NORTHERN IRELAND OISIN MURNION - CHAIRMAN Co Down BT24 4SR Tel: 02841 765082 Email: oisinmurnion@yahoo.co.uk CHARLES CURRAN - SECRETARY Co Down BT34 4RH Tel: 07732 470762 Email: homesteadblondes@btineternet.com SCOTLAND NEIL MCCORKINDALE - CHAIRMAN Argyll PA34 4UU Tel: 01852 316282 Email: scammadale@hotmail.com DUNCAN TODD - SECRETARY Kilmarnock KA3 2TN Tel: 07734 812704 Email: duncan@agment.co.uk WINTER 2016

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

07

BREED SOCIETY NEWS

BREED SOCIETIES NEWS

HEREFORD CATTLE SOCIETY

from Mr N & Mrs L Holdsworth, Stratford upon

by the Cogent AI sire Romany 1 Lawbreaker RE L23,

Avon, Warwickshire, N Griffiths, Penkridge,

has an eye muscle area and intramuscular fat EBV’s

Staffordshire with Grifford 1 Neddard and breed

in the top 1% of the Breed.

The Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Association (HCBA)

stalwards DE, ED & AL Jones, Caersws, Newtown

Christmas Calf Show at Shrewsbury Mart lived up

with Dendor 1 Nimrod.

to its billing of the largest show of Herefords in

DEVON CATTLE BREEDERS’ SOCIETY

Europe with another superb line up of top quality

Moving on to the heifer calves, the packed show

calves. Taking the limelight was Haven Neptune

ring were treated to six very large classes of well

The NBA Beef South West Show at Exeter is a hugely

from EL Lewis & Son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire. This

presented Hereford heifers - a joy to be hold. The

important showcase for beef farming in the region. One

13 month old calf, who is in the top 1% for 200 day

first heifer in to the ring, as she was the oldest

of the highlights of the Show is the Young Bull of the

weight and has Terminal Sire and Self-replacing

heifer at 15 months of age in the show, was

Year competition where two bulls, nominated by their

indices in the top 10% of Breed, is out of Haven

Normanton 1 Enoki 4th from TD & WT Livesey,

breed society are put forward to compete in Native and

Shela 27th and by Haven Kingpin.

Normanton, Leicestershire. This beautifully

Continental classes.

balanced and powerful heifer took her class and It was a great day for the famous Haven Herefords,

subsequently the Grand Female Championship

Red Ruby Devons were represented by Eastyard Fitzroy

a herd who has been breeding Herefords

sponsored by Ballard, Dale, Syree & Watson.

2nd, (DCBS Young Bull of the Year),bred and exhibited

continuously since 1822. They were awarded the

She then went on to be awarded the Reserve

by Mike and Danni Cowell, of Ashreigney, Devon, and

red ticket for the first class of the day by Judge

Supreme Championship. “Enoki 4th, who is

Cheristow Poldark, bred and exhibited by Eric and

John O’Connor, Clouncagh Herefords, Co. Limerick,

another Champion with a great set of Performance

Michelle Heard, from Westward Ho, Devon.

the Best Group of Three by the Same Sire – Haven

Recorded figures, was later sold at the Designer

Kingpin. In Reserve were another well-known local

Genes Sale for 6,000gns.

herd, Free Town Herefords from RA Bradstock &

Judge, Mr Steve Edwards from Leicestershire, spoke about the importance he placed on good locomotion

Partners, Tarrington, Herefordshire with three

The Reserve Grand Female Championship went to

and balance in bulls, so it was testament to the breed

smart matching animals sired by Mara Humorous.

B Birch & G Brindley, Weston, Staffordshire with 13

society’s policy of inspecting all Devon bulls prior to

Haven Herefords then took the Best Pair of

month old Sky High 1 Dainty Duchess. This stylish

registration that Mr Edwards found his Native Young

Bull Calves owned by the Exhibitor with fellow

heifer, who is out of Shraden 1 Duchess L581 and

Bull of the Year Champion and Reserve in the two

Herefordshire breeders PJ & AC Allman, Greenyards Herefords in second place. It was the story of the day for Greenyards Herefords with a string of second and third placings in some very competitive classes.

RA Bradstock went one better in the Best Pair of Heifer Calves owned by the Exhibitor with another Herefordshire breeder G Blandford, Bosa Herefords in second position.

Following seven very strong bull classes it was Haven Neptune who took the Grand Male Championship sponsored by The Hutchinson Partnership. Standing Reserve was stablemate Haven Northstar another top notch bull calf by “Kingpin”. Nine month old “Northstar”, who is out Haven Curly 124th, has an excellent range of EBV traits with many in the top 10% of the Breed.

Haven Herefords dominated the bull calf section with three bull calves in the final line-up for John O’Connor’s consideration. Also in the class winners line up were Dendor 1 Nonu from Miss H Whittaker, Halifax, West Yorkshire, Pebworth 1 Naughtyboy

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

NEPTUNE IS OUT OF THIS WORLD - AS HAVEN HEREFORDS DOMINATE THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CALF SHOW Supreme & Grand Male Champion Haven Neptune from EL Lewis & Son, Dilwyn, Herefordshire

WINTER 2016

For your free article to be featured in the next issue please email your copy and any images to nbamagazine@nationalbeefassociation.com

BREED SOCIETY NEWS

BREED SOCIETIES, DO YOU HAVE ANY NEWS, YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PUBLISH?

SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY

CELEBRATING 125 YEARS SINCE ITS INCORPORATION

The year 2016 marks 125 years since the South Devon Herd Book Society was incorporated, and the breed has plenty to celebrate as it continues to expand across the country, bringing its benefits to beef farmers who previously knew little about this gentle, high performance breed.

The Society was founded on 2nd November 1891 when it was recognised by the Government as an official body. The first Annual Dinner and Meeting of the Society was reported in the Western Morning News of 5th January 1892, and this report hangs in today’s offices of the Society at Westpoint, Exeter.

To mark the 125th anniversary the Society held a Dinner for members and guests at the Cotswold Water Park Hotel in Cirencester in October, which was the evening before its Autumn Show & Sale at Cirencester Livestock Market.

“The breed has seen great changes since it was first granted

NBA BEEF SOUTH WEST YOUNG NATIVE BULL OF THE YEAR 2016 - EASTYARD FITZROY 2ND Devon bulls, placing Eastyard Fitzroy 2nd in first position and Cheristow Poldark, second. This was some achievement for both the Eastyard and Cheristow teams given such a competitive class where all native

pedigree status, and has adapted very successfully to changing market requirements to become what it is today – a truly commercial beef type, with exceptionally quiet temperament, growth, and quality carcases consistently grading as U’s and R’s,” said Caroline Poultney, Breed Secretary. She continued,

SOUTH DEVON

HERD BOOK SOCIETY

“The breed has tremendous mothering ability, and will fit into hybrid as well aspure bred systems with ease, bringing with it all its fabulous beefy characteristics produced from grass.”

breeds were represented.

The Society is looking forward to the publication of a history of The Devon Cattle Breed Society’s policy on bull

the breed, which is being compiled by Dartmoor writer Mr Colin

inspection has been in place for 10 years and can be

Pearse, who has collated a vast array of material including some

credited with driving improvement in all aspects of bull

previously unseen photographs and unpublished recounts of

conformation, with a particular emphasis always being

the breed’s evolution, and this will be one for any South Devon

placed on feet, legs and locomotion.

enthusiast or breed historian to have on his bookshelf.

Breed Secretary, Catherine Broomfield, “Red Ruby Devon bulls are in good shape – both literally and metaphorically. Our commitment to inspection of every bull prior to registration has seen year-on-year improvement in conformation as well as consistency of breed type. Added to that, the beef industry has clearly lost its appetite for ultra-large carcass weights and now requires a carcass of around 380kgs deadweight. That’s a headache for beef producers with larger suckler cows, typically from continental breeding where the size of cattle being bred makes it impossible to finish at the new lower weight specifications. The Devon bull is a really easy solution for beef producers to adjust to meat buyers’ changing criteria with minimal disruption to their existing production systems. The Devon bull is the ideal terminal sire to put to continental cows in order to produce easier-fleshing, smaller framed progeny who will achieve the new target carcass weight from minimal supplementary feeding.”

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

11

INDUSTRY UPDATE

BEEF RESEARCH

AT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH We aim to provide evidence that grazing systems can provide high quality nutritious food without increasing the environmental footprint of agriculture.

IS BEEF PRODUCTION BAD FOR THE PLANET AND HUMAN HEALTH? The perceived negative impact of red meat production on the environment and human health appears to be constantly in the news, so does red meat have a part to play in future sustainable food production? Recent reports have implied that red meat, particularly beef, is one of the most damaging food commodities on the planet in terms of water usage, carbon footprint and nitrogen use inefficiency.

However, these headlines often neglect the vital role that red meat can play as part of a healthy balanced diet and also the role of livestock in the wider landscape for food security. Beef cattle are ruminants and as such rely on their gut microbial population to aid the conversion of dietary nutrients into animal products e.g. meat. In doing so, the microbial population is responsible for the production of methane and ammonia which contribute to the carbon footprint and poor nitrogen use efficiency of beef production.

One option to reduce emissions and improve efficiency is to feed cattle high energy and protein diets e.g. cereals and soya. However, whilst this may result in lower emissions on the farm, their production uses land which could otherwise be used to grow crops for human consumption and increases emissions off-farm via the use of fossil fuels to produce fertilisers and transport feeds.

So how can ruminants provide high quality nutrients without increasing their environmental footprint?

The same microbial population that produce methane and ammonia also allow beef cattle to convert feed not suitable for human consumption, such as crop by-products and grazing, into high quality nutritious meat. This means that land unsuitable for arable crop production can still be used as a vital source of human food through grazing. However, such grazing systems need to be carefully designed to reduce the need for fertiliser application and to also balance energy and protein release in the rumen to minimise methane and ammonia loss. To tackle this complex area of research Rothamsted Research, with funding from the Biotechnology and Bioscience Research Council, have created the North Wyke Farm Platform, a ‘Model Farm’ to experimentally test grazing systems to maximise productivity (meat/ha), quality (nutrients/ha) and reduced emissions into the atmosphere and water.

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

NORTH WYKE FARM THE FARM PLATFORM NATIONAL CAPABILITY IN DEVON, TESTING PLATFORM – GRAZING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF ALTERNATIVE GRASSLAND SYSTEMS SYSTEM RESEARCH The Farm Platform National Capability is the world’s most highly instrumented beef and sheep farm. Split into three, 22 ha ‘farmlets’ the Farm Platform is, for the first time ever, able to simultaneously measure at a whole farm scale the sustainability of alternative approaches to livestock production from the Farm Platform makes this data freely available grass. The current treatments being tested are: to farming and research communities to help shape permanent pasture, improved through the use of future policy and further evidence the case for inorganic fertilisers; increased use of legumes, greater sustainability in both UK and international replacing nitrogen fertilisers with sown legume livestock production. Access to the data is via the and grass mixtures; and planned reseeding, testing North Wyke Farm Platform data portal which is innovative grass varieties with desirable traits. hosted at: www.rothamstedresearch/farmplatform.

Each farmlet is run as a separate beef and sheep BUT IS MEAT GOOD FOR US? enterprise comprising of 5 catchments or fields, It is true that red meat does have a high proportion hydrologically isolated from one another using of saturated fatty acids (ca. 40%), a consequence of French drains, which allows water leaving the the gut microbes which convert dietary unsaturated fields to be captured and analysed for nutrient fat to saturated fat. However, red meat is a low fat and sediment losses. In addition, greenhouse gas food, comprising less than 5% fat, meaning that emissions from soils, livestock data, soil condition, intake of saturated fat is actually comparatively low. and farm management records are collected for Compare this to the considerable health damage each of the farmlets to produce a key set of metrics that has been done in recent years through the from which the relative sustainability of the three reckless consumption of refined sugar and partially systems can be calculated (Table 1). hydrogenated vegetable oil in sweetened beverages Metric Units and convenience foods.

Animal Performance

Kg weight gain/d

Carrying Capacity

Kg weight/ha

Quality Nutrients/ha Nutrient and Soil loss to water

Kg/ha/day

Green-house gas emissions

Kg CO2eq/kg Product

Animal Health and Welfare

Veterinary Costs (£)

Biodiversity

Species/ ha

Inputs (Fertiliser, Machinery, Labour) £ Outputs (Meat)

We are regularly told to eat more oily fish due to the high content of beneficial omega-3 polyunsaturated fat which are essential for maintaining a healthy metabolism. However, as a nation our diets still contain a relatively low proportion of oily fish – so where can we get a natural, dietary source of omega-3? Beef!

£

TABLE 1: FARM PLATFORM SUSTAINABILITY METRICS

By measuring and understanding these metrics we can design ways of managing the system to balance trade-offs, e.g between green-house gas emissions and carrying capacity, to drive systems towards greater sustainability from an environmental, social and economic perspective. As a National Capability,

Keep up to date with the latest research at Rothamsted Research North Wyke As our research progresses we hope to prove that the image of grazing livestock in our landscape is not only aesthetically pleasing but can also make a considerable contribution to a healthy and sustainable future food supply. www.rothamstedresearch/farmplatform

WINTER 2016

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13

SCOTTISH BEEF EVENT 2017

BORDERS VENUE

FOR SCOTLAND’S BEEF EVENT 2017

Scotland’s Beef Event 2017 is to be held in June on a well-known mixed beef and arable farm in the Scottish Borders running 400 Aberdeen-Angus commercial suckler cows with all progeny finished on the farm.

The biennial event, organised by the Scottish Beef “The beef enterprise is integral to our mixed

enterprise is 350 acres of seed potatoes, mostly

Association, will focus on the efficient production

farming enterprise and is profitable in its own

grown on rented land. Potatoes are grown on

of beef on a mixed farm and will be hosted by the

right as well as utilising grass, home-grown

contract for the co-operative, Saltire Seed Ltd,

Stewart family at Fans, Earlston, Berwickshire, on

barley and straw and providing farmyard manure

and stored, graded and dispatched from Fans to

Thursday, June 8.

for our arable operation,” said Mr Stewart.

customers in England, Europe and further afield.

A local organising committee, under the

“It is an honour to be asked to host this event and

chairmanship of Sion Williams, farm manager

we look forward to working with the SBA and the

at Bowhill Estate, with representatives from the

organising committee to provide an interesting

farming, trade and research/advisory sectors,

and worthwhile day

has been established to run the event. Main

for visitors.”

sponsor will be Clydesdale Bank and the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for the Rural

Fans is a tenanted

Economy and Connectivity, Fergus Ewing, has

farm on the

been invited to perform the official opening.

Mellerstain Estate and base for an

“Fans will be an excellent venue for Scotland’s

extensive farming

national beef event,” said Mr Williams. “It is a

enterprise which

fantastic set-up to see in operation and a shining

takes in the farms of

example of a commercially run beef cattle

Caldside and Gordon

enterprise from start to finish. It will provide

East Mains.

an opportunity to see how an efficient suckler cow enterprise adds value to an arable/potato

The suckler cows are

enterprise as part of a mixed farming unit.”

all home-bred and the herd has been built

Mr Williams said he looked forward to seeing

up over the last 25

advancements available to make the industry

years from the original

more sustainable, especially with the economic

suckler herd of beef x

pressures currently on the industry due to

dairy cows. There are 14

changes under the Common Agricultural Policy

Aberdeen-Angus bulls and one Charolais bull on

Full details of sponsorship

and Brexit.

the farm and the herd has been closed for many

and trade stand

years, with only stock bulls purchased.

opportunities available

“We are grateful to the Stewart family for

from the event organiser:

accepting the association’s invitation to host this

“We now have a more consistent type of cow

important event for the beef industry in Scotland

as we have more control breeding our own

which is sure to attract a huge attendance of

replacements and fertility and general health has

beef farmers and industry professionals from

been improved significantly,” says Mr Stewart.

throughout Scotland and the north of England,”

Cows are calved in April and May and wintered

Ayton

he said.

inside on straw, silage and barley. All calves are

Berwickshire

wintered on silage and barley and males left

TD14 5QX

The farm is run by Douglas Stewart and his wife,

entire. Bulls are finished on an intensive cereal

Kelda, father, Graham, and children, Holly and

diet at around 15-16 months of age.

Archie. Stocking comprises a commercial suckler

Ms Natalie Cormack Dairy Cottage Tower Road

01890 781 006 07712 623669

herd of 400 Aberdeen-Angus cross cows, which

Cropping comprises 101 acres winter oats, 403

are put to the Aberdeen-Angus bull, with all

acres winter wheat, 244 acres winter barley

natalie.cormack@btconnect.com

progeny finished on the farm.

and 135 acres spring barley and the other main

www.scottishbeefassociation.co.uk

14

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

SCOTTISH BEEF EVENT 2017

We are grateful to the Stewart family for accepting the association’s invitation to host this important event for the beef industry in Scotland which is sure to attract a huge attendance of beef farmers and industry

The Fans, Earlston, Berwickshire TD4 6BD (Courtesy of the Stewart family)

0 Admission £1 e Under 16’s Fre Main Sponsor

Commercial herd of 450 Aberdeen-Angus cross cows Farm Tour • Trade Stands • Beef Breed Exhibits • Practical Demonstrations • Seminar

www.scottishbeefassociation.co.uk/events

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

13

ANIMAL HEALTH

WHY DRY COW RATIONING MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE

DR MARY VICKERS SENIOR BEEF SCIENTIST AHDB

Now that most spring-calving suckler cows are dry and on winter rations, thoughts should turn to calving time. The main focus of feeding suckler cows during the dry period should be to ensure they reach the correct body condition for calving. Nutrition of the cow before calving has major effects on her subsequent performance.

Four simple tools will help producers achieve

While the foetus is continually growing

well as pregnancy. Due to this and the fact that

this:

throughout pregnancy, over 75% of its total

heifers tend to have a lower quantity and quality

weight gain will take place in the last trimester

of colostrum than cows, there is an argument

1. Cows should be body condition scored at

of pregnancy. Not only does this increase

for supplementing heifers and young cows with

housing and grouped accordingly to enable

nutrient demand, but it also reduces the

additional protein during the four weeks before

different feeding rates.

capacity of the rumen and cow’s appetite.

calving.

2. They should also have been pregnancy

Consequently, many cows can lose body

scanned to avoid keeping any empty cows

condition during this period, when the aim

Anecdotally, a number of farmers have reported

and, if done early enough, this will also allow would be to maintain the target BCS during the six weeks pre-calving.

the prediction of calving date.

positive results from a slight increase in feeding rate during the three - four weeks before

3. Silage, haylage or hay should be analysed to

calving, but it does rely on cows being grouped

ensure the diet is formulated to provide the

Limiting feed to reduce calf birth weight during

correct balance of nutrients.

the last month of pregnancy can do more harm

4. Weighing cows will help predict feed intake

than good. It can reduce cow fertility and

Feeding straw alone to dry cows is not advised

and also calculate their productivity in terms

colostrum quality, cause problems for the calf

as it does not contain enough protein to

of weaned calf weight relative to her own

and reduce the cow’s stamina at calving.

maintain rumen function. Research has shown

weight.

according to calving date.

this will negatively affect colostrum quality and A recent review commissioned by AHDB Beef &

fertility. Rumen microbes require at least nine

For many cows that have come off grass in

Lamb investigated the effect of dry cow nutrition

per cent crude protein in the dry matter so a

good body condition, of score 3 or over, this

on the cow and subsequent survival and

high protein feed should be fed with straw

means they will need to lose weight gradually

performance of her calf. This found that young

such as pot ale syrup or rapeseed meal, ensuring

before calving time. Being able to group cows

cows which are thin may benefit from additional

all cows have access to it. If the cows are fat

according to body condition will help manage

protein, depending on the quality of the forage

then the protein content of the supplement

feeding better. Thin cows and heifers due to

available to them. Similarly, heifers, especially

needs to be higher so that less can be offered

calve for the first time should get preferential

those calving at two years of age, need to have

while still meeting overall protein

feeding. If cows still have calves at foot and are

adequate protein and energy for growth as

requirements.

due to calve in the spring, then make plans to wean the calves at least one month before calving to ensure

1. TARGET BODY CONDITION SCORE

there is enough colostrum for the new

calf. If these cows are thin then they

Calving 2.5-3.0

should be weaned as soon as possible

to allow them to regain body

Service 2.5

2.5

condition.

Housing/weaning 3-3.5

2.5-3

Body condition score (BCS) at calving

2. NUTRIENT GUIDELINES FOR A MATURE 650KG SUCKLER COW

has a critical impact on the

Suckler-calving herds

Autumn-calving herds 3

(3.0 for first & second calvers)

Dry matter intake

Energy

Crude protein

number of reasons. Cows in the

(kg/day)

(ME MJ/day)

(CP % in dry matter)

correct BCS at calving (2.5-3.0) will:

Early lactation 12-14

120-130

11-12

• calve more easily

Late lactation 9-11

85-95

11

• start cycling sooner after calving

Dry

75-80 9

productivity of suckler cows for a

10

• get in-calf again more quickly • have increased pregnancy rates

Table 2 provides a general guide only and the exact diet specification required will depend on many factors

• have good quality colostrum

such as cow condition, weight loss allowed, date of turnout in relation to bulling, etc.

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

FEATURE Winter dry cow rations should always contain a suitable vitamin and mineral supplement to cover any potential deficiencies. Strawbased rations in particular require careful supplementation, as do cows out-wintered on brassicas. As calving approaches then a bolus or specific dry-cow mineral should be provided at least a month before calving, including selenium, vitamin E, magnesium and iodine to promote cow and calf health and vigour.

In any herd there is likely to be a range of body condition scores across the cows. Any cows calving at less than BCS 2 should be fed preferentially to increase their condition from calving. While this cannot compensate for the lack of body reserves, it can partially improve their fertility.

Energy requirements of a freshly calved cow are nearly double those of a dry cow, so having a supply of good quality feed available at this time is crucial. Every effort should be made to avoid body condition loss between cows calving and getting back in calf. This means first calvers and thin cows need supplementation if housed post-calving and then preferential grazing after turn-out.

Changes in the diet or stress around mating can cause early embryonic death. Avoid any major ration changes between six weeks before and after the service period.

Table 2 (left) provides some guidance on the changing nutrient requirements of a suckler cow during her production cycle. The advice of a nutritionist is recommended to ensure rations are balanced to take account of the composition of available feeds and the type of cows in the herd.

For more information on Feeding suckler cows and calves please refer to Beef BRP manual 5, available from the BRP section of the website www.beefandlamb.ahdb.org.uk or telephone 024 7647 8834.

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

17

NBA UPDATE

SOUTH WEST BEEF REPORT

BY BILL HARPER CHAIRMAN , NBA SOUTH WEST

This past autumn has seen tremendous activity by members of the South West Beef Council split into two main areas, many of the group presented the annual South West Beef event at Westpoint arena in Exeter, an outstanding entry of cattle saw competition fierce and worthy winners which have gone on to compete with the best in the country.

With good support from the agricultural trade and

Dr. Phil Hadlee, AHDB who explains the process

There is a lot of work involved but if everyone pulls

a key note address from the Rt Hon Neil Parrish MP.

of qualification; completing the story is 2 Michelin

together we will have a system that is inclusive,

Chairman EFRA committee and good contributions

Star Chef, Martin Blunos who cooks and describes a

legal, effective and so important that as we go

from Paul Westaway, AHDB. Director and Chris

Westcountry Beef PGI steak in his own unique style.

forward our cattle and our industry is not blighted

Mallon, NBA Director. The message was clear from

The DVD is being sent to all processors who are

when looking for market opportunities both at home

all our speakers, our industry is going to change,

qualified to sell Westcountry Beef PGI to help them

and abroad.

we need to be ready, make ourselves as efficient as

sell our beef here and into export markets. Many of

possible and prepare as an industry to contribute to

our committee took leading roles in the roll out of

We were pleased to host the NBA policy meeting

the make up of the Brexit inspired new agriculture

TB control badger cull areas, this work is challenging

in November and had a very good debate with

set up.

and not for the faint hearted but if farmers can be

Chairman, David Thomlinson, and Director, Chris

persuaded to work together to reduce the population

Mallon, on a range of relevant subjects including

The event also featured the launch of Meat South

of badgers in highly infected areas the disease can be

Brexit, TB, trading practices, Red Tractor and AFU’s.

West’s Westcountry PGI DVD which was paid for by

brought under control and the process of eradication

the NBA from the profit of last year’s South West Beef

can truly begin. The real benefits will come when cull

There is so much for us to do and we are pleased

event. The DVD features some wonderful farming

areas are bordering other cull areas and many other

that the NBA has joined the multi- organisation

systems and cattle that qualify for Westcountry PGI,

groups are in the process of recruiting members and

group that is working, independently from the

an introduction from Ed Green, MSW Chairman,

making licence applications.

NFU, on Brexit.

NEW DEVELOPMENT MANAGER FOR NBA We are pleased to announce Rosie McGowan has recently joined the NBA team as Development Manager. Her passion for beef production began at home on her family smallholding in Northumberland, creating a small herd of Dexters run on an out wintering system. These low maintenance hardy animals, renowned for their meat quality are sold on a box system through the small family run farm shop as well as to a local pub.

Rosie’s growing interest in the Agriculture industry and food production led her to Harper Adams University and a degree in Agriculture with Animal Science. Here she focused on beef production, working her placement year at 2 Sisters Food Group with involvement in the setting up and running of their calf-rearing scheme. Her final dissertation continued this theme and looked into high plain of nutrition milk replacer feeding regimes of dairy cross calves to supply the beef market. The project not only focused on achieving pre-weaning DLWG of >0.9kg/day, but the effect HPN diets had on calf health and how health was significant in calculating profitability. After graduating Rosie spent 3 months in America on two grass fed beef ranches in Arizona and Wyoming, understanding the differences between our systems before heading back to the UK to start her career with us at the heart of the UK beef industry.

Rosie says: "Having used the NBA website as a valuable resource throughout my studies and visiting the Beef Expo as a beef farmer I fully understand the value that the organisation has to offer the beef industry, especially at this uncertain time post Brexit. I am very excited to be working to promote the growth of the organisation, bringing on new members and recruiting a new generation of memberships on behalf of the organisation.

I look forward to meeting many of you in future regional events and the Beef Expo in May."

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

PERFORMANCE, DOCILITY, MILK, AND BEEF QUALITY

QUIETLY GOING PLACES!

The 8th NATIONAL SHOW of South Devons will be hosted by The Royal Cornwall Show, Wadebridge, Cornwall, 8th-10th June 2017 THE SDHBS IS DELIGHTED TO BE HOLDING ITS ANNUAL TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE CHAMPIONSHIPS WITHIN THE NBA BEEF EXPO AT STONELEIGH ON THURSDAY 18TH MAY 2017

SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY, WESTPOINT, CLYST ST MARY, EXETER, DEVON, EX5 1DJ telephone: 01392 447494 email: info@sdhbs.org.uk THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WWW.SDHBS.ORG.UK

WINTER 2016

17

ANIMAL HEALTH

VACCINATION

AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN BVD ERADICATION

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus is something that no one in the cattle industry can ignore. Great progress has been made as part of national eradication schemes in Scotland and Ireland. The launch of BVDFree England in 2016 and a Welsh scheme expected in 2017 means that all farms should be reviewing BVD as part of their herd health planning.

The BVD virus (BVDV) is very successful; a key

When you’re using a BVD vaccine, it is of major

part of this being due to its non-specific effects

importance that it’s used correctly to ensure that

and infection often goes under the radar. Poor

you’re getting the protection that you’re paying

fertility and calf health can be blamed on many

for. Making sure heifers are immune before

things but if BVD is present on a farm it will be

first service with many products involves giving

having a large impact, whatever else is going on.

a two shot primary course; there is research

BVD has serious consequences on profitability,

showing that in practice it’s often difficult to

with research showing that having the virus on a

ensure this is done at the correct time. Vaccines

beef farm costs around £40 per cow per year1.

also need to be regularly boosted at either 12 or 6 month intervals. See the key points box for

Another factor in the success of this virus is that

further information.

it is very infectious. Persistently infected or PI animals shed millions of viral particles potentially

There is now a BVD vaccine available in the UK

infecting every animal they come into contact with.

that only requires a single vaccination to provide 12 months of 100% protection from the birth of

These PI animals are key factor in the success of

new PIs, called Bovela, which can help to simplify

BVD and they are created by a clever trick that

this.

that BVD plays on the immune system. When a cow is infected in the early stages of pregnancy

The storage and handling of vaccines also needs

the calf inside her can become persistently

careful attention; most vaccines need to be stored

infected. Finding and eradicating these PI

in the fridge and may not work if exposed to

animals combined with preventing the birth of

ambient temperatures. So think about how you

new PIs by protecting pregnant animals through

transport the vaccine and how it is stored on

biosecurity and vaccination is essential for the

farm. Again see the key points box and images for

eradication of BVD.

further information.

Achieving complete biosecurity in cattle herds

Working closely with your farm vet will help you

is difficult, this is where vaccination comes

develop a vaccination policy that provides the

in, making sure that animals are immune to

protection you need to keep BVD out of

BVD. This is particularly important in breeding

your farm.

KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR VACCINATION: HAS THE VACCINE BEEN STORED AND TRANSPORTED CORRECTLY? (SEE IMAGE BELOW) HAS THE PRIMARY COURSE BEEN GIVEN AT THE RIGHT TIME? HAVE THE BOOSTERS BEEN GIVEN AT 6 MONTHS OR 12 MONTHS AS APPROPRIATE? ARE YOU GETTING THE VACCINE INTO THE RIGHT ANIMALS AT THE RIGHT TIME? IS THE VACCINE GOING IM (INTO THE MUSCLE), SC (UNDER THE SKIN) OR IN (INTO THE NOSE)?

DOES THE VACCINE COME WITH A VACCINATION GUN AND NEEDLES? (SEE IMAGE BELOW)

females; if they are exposed in the early stages of pregnancy and are unprotected their calf may become a PI. For this reason breeding females at any risk of coming into contact with BVD must be vaccinated and have time to become immune before they are served.

REFERENCE 1. STOTT ET AL. (2010) VET JOURNAL 185: 138–143 ADVICE ON THE USE OF BOVELA OR OTHER THERAPIES SHOULD BE SOUGHT FROM YOUR VETERINARY SURGEON. BOVELA LYOPHILISATE AND SOLVENT FOR SUSPENSION FOR INJECTION FOR CATTLE CONTAINS MODIFIED LIVE BVDV-1, NON-CYTOPATHIC PARENT STRAIN KE-9: 104.0–106.0 TCID50, MODIFIED LIVE BVDV-2, NON-CYTOPATHIC PARENT STRAIN NY-93:104.0–106.0 TCID50.UK: POM-V. FURTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE IN THE SPC OR FROM BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM LIMITED, VETMEDICA, BRACKNELL, BERKSHIRE, RG12 8YS, UK. EMAIL: VETMEDICA.UK@ BOEHRINGER-INGELHEIM.COM. DATE OF PREPARATION: DEC 2016. AHD 9658. USE MEDICINES RESPONSIBLY (WWW.NOAH.CO.UK/RESPONSIBLE)

20

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

A VACCINATION GUN (ABOVE) AND COOL BAG (LEFT) ARE ESSENTIAL ITEMS FOR TRANSFER OF AND USE OF YOUR VACCINE.

WINTER 2016

BREAK FREE FROM BVD Achieve BVD Free status for your herd.

Join the BVDFree Scheme today and help create a BVDFree England.

@BVDFree #BVDFree

bvdfree.org.uk

ANIMAL HEALTH

ELIMINATING BVD FROM UK HERDS

AN ACHIEVABLE TARGET FOR ALL UK PRODUCERS SAYS JOHN HOSKIN Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) is a highly contagious disease of cattle and has now become one of the biggest

JOHN HOSKIN

disease issues facing the British Beef Industry. According to the BVD Free campaign, the disease is estimated to cost between £13 and £31 per cow each year, and the national cost could be as high as £61 million.

John Hoskin farms Maiden Castle Farms in

replacement females before they enter the

partnership with his two sons, Richard and

herd.

calf mortality between birth and weaning.

Through tagging and testing for BVD, John has

Mark, in Dorset and Cornwall. Together, the family farm 2,300 acres managing beef, sheep

Every calf that is born is tested for BVD through

remained BVD free for almost five years. “So far,

and arable enterprises and employ three farm

a tagging system which eliminates the need for

no PI’s have come up; though that’s not to say

workers. In 2010, John was awarded ‘Beef

a blood test to be carried out by a vet. When a

we won’t ever have one. If that is the case we

Farmer of the Year’ at the Farmer’s Weekly

tag is attached it takes a tissue sample which

have a strategy in place to isolate and remove

Awards and he has just stepped down after

John then sends off for analysis. Any animal

the calf and dam from the herd.”

five years as a Director of the National Beef

which is identified as Persistently Infected (PI)

Association.

is immediately isolated along with its mother.

It is vital to consider testing all calves as well

Both animals are them removed from the farm

as breeding stock as it is possible for an animal

at the earliest opportunity.

testing BVD negative still has the potential to

Currently, John runs a closed herd of 60

produce a PI calf. This is why John believes the

South Devon cross suckler cows, breeding all replacement females. Cows are put to

PI’s remain infected with BVD throughout their

tagging system is an efficient way to ensure

either Stabiliser or South Devon bulls which

life because they cannot produce an immune

your herd remains BVD free. “Ear tagging is

are bought in and are purchased entirely on

response to the virus, which is contracted

quick and easy and means I do not need the

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). Aberdeen

by foetal infection in the first 120 days of

vet to take blood samples from all calves,”

Angus bulls are used on first calving heifers.

gestation. It is important to identify these

explains John. “Samples can be stored rather

animals and remove from the herd otherwise

than sending immediately, which means you can

A former Director of the National Beef

they will consequently shed the virus for their

send them in batches for ease of management.”

Association (NBA), John is passionate about

entire life.

Alongside many Veterinary practices, the NBA

eliminating BVD from UK herds and is keen to stress that is an achievable target for all

“Although this may seem costly in the short

is encouraging all UK Beef producers to review

UK producers. Through his own herd, John

term, the long term effects of eliminating the

their disease policy and work towards becoming

has proved that through careful and strategic

spread of the virus in a herd is much more

BVD free. Not only will this have a positive

management BVD can be eradicated.

economical,” says John. “BVD is one

impact on the productivity of individual herds, but on the industry as a whole.

An indication that BVD is evident in a herd is suppressed pregnancy rates, abortions, birth defects, low birthweights, poor calf health and calf mortality between birth and weaning.

John was a proactive member of the NBA before his retirement in September, and during this time the industry has seen many challenges, as well as break-throughs. Alongside this, John has been a Board Member of the NBA for five years.

Commenting on the work of John Hoskin and the NBA on becoming BVD Free, David Thomlinson,

The Maiden Castle herd is entirely self-

of the biggest drains to the cattle industry

Chairman of the NBA, said: “BVD is a huge

contained and all stock is reared and finished

through the reduction in fertility and overall

challenge to the British Beef Industry and John

on-farm before being sent to abattoir; no

production, as well as the increase in scour

has proved it is possible to eradicate it through

breeding stock is sold. Any bought in stock

and pneumonia in calves.”

careful and efficient strategy.

conjunction with the farm vet, John and his

An indication that BVD is evident in a herd is

“A valued Board Member of the NBA, John’s

two sons follow a rigorous annual testing and

suppressed pregnancy rates, abortions, birth

passion for helping farmers reach BVD Free

vaccination programme, including testing all

defects, low birthweights, poor calf health and

status is second to none.”

is tested for BVD before it arrives on farm. In

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

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IMAGE CREDIT: BEEF SHORTHORN CATTLE SOCIETY

6th February - Stirling Bull sales - 97 bulls, 44 females 24th February - Carlisle, Borderway mart 1st May - United Auctions, Stirling 26th May - Carlisle, Borderway mart 23rd October - United Auctions, Stirling 25p/kg Premium paid by Morrisons for Beef Shorthorn sired animals

02476 696 549 | www.shorthorn.co.uk 09/01/2017 14:40

WINTER 2016

23

BREED SOCIETY NEWS

MARKS & SPENCER COMMIT TO WORLD ANGUS FORUM 2017 Leading premium retailer Marks & Spencer has been confirmed as headline sponsor of the World Angus Forum 2017 which takes place in the UK and Ireland this summer.

Covering farm tours and events across Scotland,

strong relationship with such a distinguished

In starting with the consumer and working its way

England and Ireland, the World Angus Forum will

brand.”

back to the farm, the conference aims to inform

take in visits to both the Royal Three Counties

delegates of where consumer and retail trends are

Show and the Royal Highland Show, as well as

Speaking on behalf of Marks & Spencer the

heading, to focus the direction of sustainable beef

being focused around the Forum Conference

company’s head of agriculture and fisheries

cattle production systems.”

‘From Consumption to Conception,’ which takes

sourcing, Steve McLean, said sponsoring the

place in Edinburgh on Sunday 25 and Monday 26

Forum was a natural progression for the company.

Welcoming the support of Marks & Spencer,

June.

“We are firmly committed to the Aberdeen-Angus

Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive,

breed and brand and welcomed the opportunity

Johnny Mackey, said the World Angus Forum is

Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society senior vice

to work directly with the Society to highlight the

an opportunity to showcase the world famous,

president and chairman of the Forum organising

breed in its homeland to delegates from across

iconic breed in its homeland. “We have some of

committee, Alex Sanger, said the commitment of

the world.

the finest genetics suited to modern beef cattle

Marks & Spencer to the Forum reflects the retailer’s

farming within the UK and Ireland Aberdeen-Angus

established relationship with the breed and the

“Having been the first retailer in the UK to develop

population and some of the most progressive and

Society.

a premium brand for beef, Marks & Spencer sees

dedicated breeders too.

its on-going relationship with the Society as a “Marks & Spencer was the first UK retailer

long-term partnership, one which continues to be

“This, allied with relationships with leading

to develop premium schemes for Aberdeen-

built on for the good of all involved.”

retailers, places the Aberdeen-Angus breed in

Angus beef and has an enduring commitment

a unique position within the UK beef industry.

to expanding its food retail footprint across the

Mr McLean said he was particularly excited by the

We are indebted to Marks & Spencer for both

UK. We are delighted to have secured Marks &

concept of the Forum Conference. “Breeders and

its support of the World Angus Forum and its

Spencer’s support for the World Angus Forum and

consumers are at extreme ends of the supply chain, visionary commitment to promoting and retailing

are excited to be furthering the Society’s already

however both have a huge influence on each other.

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

quality Aberdeen-Angus beef,” he added.

WINTER 2016

ADVERTISEMENTS THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

23

FOOD

FROM FARM TO FORK

GRASS FED BEEF AT ITS VERY BEST Country house hotels serve up Grass-Fed Hereford beef direct from owner’s farm. Robert Parker, who owns luxury country house hotels, is setting the standard in farm-to-fork produce by supplying his six hotels with chef-selected cuts of beef direct from the pedigree Hereford herd on his own farm.

Guests at the Robert Parker Collection of hotels in

“This is traceability at its very best; you can up

The hotels range from spas and wedding venues to

Northumberland, Cumbria and Southern Scotland

pinpoint exactly where it is from, where it is going

private and boutique sites, and each makes different

enjoy beef from the Tedsmore herd, which is farmed

and what it is being used for. The hotels and guests

demands on the Tedsmore herd. Once butchered,

on Mr Parker’s Tedsmore Estate in Shropshire, in

quite literally couldn’t get any better beef.”

the cuts are sent directly to each hotel.

Jones. Providing complete traceability, the beef is

One of the oldest recorded native cattle breeds,

Head Chef at Doxford Hall, said: “We use the beef

also specially selected by the chefs at each hotel to

Herefords are now farmed in more than 50

sausages for breakfasts, whole carved sirloin for

suit their menus, from Hereford beef sausages for

countries worldwide. Known for their white faces

larger parties and fillet steaks with a caramelised

breakfast to sirloin steak dinners, and as the key

and red-brown coats, they are renowned for their

onion, and butter kale risotto with a port wine jus

element of their speciality creations.

docile temperaments and their quality meat.

on our a la carte menus.

a share farming agreement with Haydn and Emma

Grass-fed Herefords produce a marbled beef with The 32-strong Tedsmore Hereford herd was

a distinctive flavour, which sells for a premium

“The traceability from the herd at Tedsmore, to the

established in 2007 on the Tedsmore Estate Farm, a

through branded programmes such as the Waitrose

butcher and then to us at the hotel is so important

200-acre traditional Shropshire farm that also runs

Scheme, which was launched in the 1990s.

to customers. You cannot get better than this – this is field to fork at its very best. For me, if it goes

250-300 Welsh Mule breeding ewes. The pedigree herd are supplying 12 cattle to Mr Parker’s hotels this

Mr Jones said: “This is natural, slow-maturing beef.

straight into an anonymous food chain, it’s not the

year, and the remainder to a leading supermarket,

We calve in the spring and sell after 24 months

same thing at all.”

providing traceable, assured beef in accordance with

of age, when the animal has reached its optimum

its high quality and animal welfare standards.

carcass weight.”

For Tedsmore farmer Haydn Jones, it’s a satisfying link-up that makes all his hard work worthwhile.

Mr Jones, who farms in partnership with Robert

Beef from the Tesdmore herd is hung for 28 days

“It’s the ultimate for any farmer,” he said. “I’m

Parker, said: “All the cattle are grass fed. Any forage

and butchered by Rikki Lloyd in Welshpool, directly

delighted that it’s something quite unique that

and silage in the winter is produced on the farm and

to the specifications of chefs working at the Robert

Robert and I can offer to the guests at the Robert

stock are out all year round. This really is naturally

Parker Collection – Doxford Hall, Guyzance Hall

Parker Collection of hotels.”

produced beef at its best.

and Eshott Hall in Northumberland; Dalhousie Castle near Edinburgh; Ednam House in the Scottish

Tedsmore Farm Estate Hereford Beef is a seasonal

“We established the herd with 17 pedigree

Borders; and the Wordsworth Hotel in the Lake

product that is available from June.

Herefords, and in the main we now keep the heifers

District.

to grow the herd and replace those that have entered the food chain. If required we buy in stock bulls, always looking for one which has strong motherly instincts.

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

FOOD

CHAR GRILLED BEEF FILLET

BY JAID SMALLMAN HEAD CHEF AT WORDSWORTH HOTEL

This fabulous recipe is by Jaid Smallman Head Chef at the historic 4 AA Star, Wordsworth Hotel located in Grasmere, which is found nestled at the foot of the fells in the Lake District National Park. The hotel sits amidst beautiful scenery

PREPARATION 30 MIN COOKING TIME 25 MIN SERVES 2

and private gardens, with 38 individually styled bedrooms and suites. It is renowned for its Organic W Spa using Voya products, which was the first organic spa in Cumbria. Together with exceptional leisure facilities including a heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi and sauna, The Wordsworth Hotel is one of the best hotels in the Lake District and has hosted European royalty, American Presidents and numerous celebrities INGREDIENTS 2x 8oz fillet steaks

200ml double cream

2kg beef bones

2x carrots

1x sprig of thyme

6 x shallots

1250g spinach

2x glasses of red wine (Temperanillo)

1 x stick celery

75g of mixed wild mushrooms

250g butter

1x large baking potato

1x large onion

2x cloves garlic

Olive oil

METHOD

For the sauce, roast the bones, place in a large saucepan with the onions, carrot, celery, thyme and garlic. Cook until golden brown, deglaze with the wine.

Reduce the liquid then cover with water. Bring up to a simmer and cook slowly overnight (a slow cooker would be really good for this) Strain the stock through a sieve and reserve a little for the fondants. Boil the rest rapidly until rich in flavour and slightly thickened.

For the Fondant, slice the potato into two even shapes. In a small roasting tray cook the potato in a little oil on one side until golden. At this point add a garlic clove, 100g of butter and a little thyme. Turn over the potatoes and add the beef stock. Cook in an oven at 180c for around 25mins until cooked in the center.

For the shallot puree, peel and slice the shallots, add to a pan with 100g of butter and cook gently until soft and translucent. Add the cream and a little salt and pepper and blend on full power until its smooth and shiny.

Prepare the mushrooms individually by removing any tough stalks and chopping into even sized pieces. Add to a hot frying pan with a dash of olive oil and cook quickly, finish them with 25g of butter and salt and pepper.

Wash the spinach, drain and cook on a medium heat in a saucepan with the remaining 25g of butter. Season lightly and drain before serving.

For the Beef fillet, lightly oil and season them, then sear on a chargrill to give a good appearance and a slightly smoky flavour. Put into the oven (180c) and cook until close to the desired degree of cooking.

Remove from the oven and rest whilst you compile the other dish elements onto a plate. Put the steak back into the oven to complete the cooking, then add it to the plate and pour over the sauce.

HAVE A RECIPE OR FOOD STORY YOU WOULD LIKE US TO PUBLISH?

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

27

FEATURE

DAIRY BEEF AND THE

NEED FOR GOOD CALVES THE VALUE OF BATCHED REARED CALVES IN FUTURE BEEF PRODUCTION The percentage of British Beef arriving on the consumers plate that has originated in the country’s dairy herd has risen steadily over the past 3 decades. I wonder however how many consumers know that this is now more than 50% of British Beef is produced.

The realisation by dairy genetics companies in

companies in what was now a growing sector of their

to a more consistent calf for beef producers to work

the 1980’s that promoting beef bulls specifically

revenues and encouraged greater beef sire-testing, led

with, and one from where a highly skilled sector of

for cross breeding onto dairy cows gave them the

initially by Genus Breeding, to produce beef bulls that

stock managers continues to emerge, the specialist

opportunity not only to sell semen for every cow in

went through programmes to show how easily the

Calf Rearer.

their customer’s dairy herd, but also to produce a

dairy cow had calved, rather than relying on EBV data

financially viable calf from every cow, not just those

that had less relevance on this cross-bred mating, a

For dairy farmers to optimise the returns they can

being put forward to breed a replacement dairy heifer.

great benefit to both the dairy and beef industry.

get for their calves, their management and feeding of colostrum in the earliest hours of a calf’s life is

In the mid-1990’s the use of Sexed Semen on high-

The size of the prize is now so significant that a

as important to the calf going into the beef supply

end dairy cows in a herd, helped to increase the use

reasonable estimate is that over 1 million doses of

chain as it is for their own dairy heifers. Once these

of beef semen on the remaining cows, but for almost

beef semen are sold through AI companies in the UK

beef calves leave the dairy farm at 3-6 weeks of

10 years sexed semen was a unique offering from

each year, specifically for breeding onto the country’s

age, the role of the Calf Rearer is the next vital step

Cogent Breeding. In the past 10 year’s however all

dairy cow population, and while high numbers of

to providing a healthy environment for these baby

dairy genetics companies now have a range of sexed

‘Black and White’ bull calves are still reared for beef

calves to grow. By following precise veterinary

dairy bulls, and the logical way for them to ‘blend’

production, there has been a real growth in the

medicine protocols and feeding routines, the

their dairy customer’s semen bill, was to sell more

quantity of high quality beef calves bred from dairy

resultant reared calf at 4-5 months of age, is one that

expensive sexed dairy semen alongside less

cows.

beef Growers and Finishers can rely on to deliver known provenance on groups of healthy stock, rather

expensive beef semen.

The result of this was an investment by semen

The main benefit from using a specifically selected AI

than buying young stock simply ‘as seen’ and hoping

beef sire onto a large percentage of dairy cows has led

for the best.

There has been a real growth is in the quantity of high quality beef calves bred from dairy cows

By working with a large network of dairy farmers and specialist Calf Rearer’s in England and Wales, Meadow Quality Limited a 100% farmer owned business, is helping to link up vital sections of the Beef supply chain for the future benefit of all British dairy and beef producers.

If you are interested to know more about the business please visit www.meadowq.co.uk or call 01789 734100.

28

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

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12/2/2016 7:09:56 AM

WINTER 2016

29

ANIMAL HEALTH

REARING, GROWING AND FINISHING CATTLE

DAVID HENDY

REPORT BY DAVID HENDY

RUMEN MANAGEMENT = RUMEN HEALTH : RUMEN HEALTH = ANIMAL HEALTH David Hendy discuses the logistics, planning and formulation of ruminant diets for rearing, growing and finishing cattle for the winter of 2016-17.

RATIONING - KEEP IT BALANCED: KEEP IT SPECIFIC: BUT KEEP IT SIMPLE

As we move into the winter of 2016/17, paying

feed quality and availability on farm in an article

careful attention to feed quality, feed quantity,

such as this, therefore any advice has to be generic,

feed availability and feed costs will be essential to

so this article considers overall feed quality and

balance diets for young-stock and finishing cattle

quantity requirements, expected feed intake, ration

Essentially, the 1st management tool is to ‘Keep it

to maximise performance and to accommodate the

parameters, ration planning and formulation, and

Simple’. However, to manage this facet efficiently

ever tightening market specifications, like them or

the nutritional requirements of differing categories

you need to know a set of factors for the respective

not!

of livestock.

cattle and feeds you use: • Category of stock, gender, age and breed;

Whist each season poses a variety of questions

Also a note of caution, whilst the following article

• Feeds available and their nutritional values;

and problems for feed and therefore rationing, the

gives a background to ruminant ration formulation

• Feed dry matters;

somewhat difficult and disappointing spring and

and segment requirements for specific categories

• Costs/tonne fresh weight and dry matter;

inclement early summer of 2016 , (June specifically),

of livestock, advice and recommendations should

• Source, accreditation, if applicable, and analysis

has created issues with forage quality and quantity

always be sourced from a suitably qualified

of feeds;

that have rarely been as diverse. The wide range

independent nutritionist, and certainly in the first

• The appropriate feeding system;

of silage analytical reports coming into my office

instance of ration formulation and with as much

• And not least, the performance and production

this autumn have already shown a varied level of

information as possible.

requirements of the animals;

and bales on farm, let alone farm to farm: probably

However, it’s important to remember that the only

a wider diversity of ‘qualities’ than I’ve seen for a

real control we as livestock producers have over

FEED INTAKE:

very long time.

all management decisions, whether it be breeding,

The 2nd essential fact is dry matter intake of the

production systems, marketing, geographical/

animal being fed which is the single most important

Therefore it’s essential to analyse forages as

topography and climatic conditions, or cost

factor to consider when determining the type and

quickly as possible and to continue to have

control is what the animal eats: animal nutrition.

efficacy of the diet. Voluntary dry matter intake

samples analysed at least every 6 to 8 weeks as

Whilst differing breeds, crosses, ages, gender

should be encouraged at every opportunity and

you move through clamps or bale stacks to keep

and performance requirements have influence on

by assessing dry matter requirements, rations

abreast of any changes in dry matter, quality, pH

an animal’s nutritional needs, given the correct

should be formulated to maximise palatability and

and efficacy: don’t depend on the first analysis as

parameters and managed efficiently and accurately,

expected performance

it will definitely alter and keep a note of where 1st,

the rumen essentially always works in the same

2nd, and if appropriate 3rd cuts, are within clamps

way; it’s a large fermentation vat! Managing rumen

DRY MATTER INTAKE:

or stacks. With wheat and Soya prices rising and

requirements, maximising the benefits of ‘home’

Dry matter intake is calculated as a percentage/day

being volatile and responding to varying exchange

produced feeds, and reducing feed wastage will help

of the animal’s live-weight, but also to satisfy energy

rates the ‘energy’ and protein feeds will also be

to trim costs and improve performance

and protein demand for maintenance and growth/

quality, and not least in comparison within clamps

volatile at best, and possibly getting more expensive

production. As a general guideline dry matter intake

throughout the winter. Therefore knowing the

As stockman, we feed the rumen and the rumen

will be in the region of 1.8 to 2% of bodyweight for

potential or constraints of your silages and what’s

feeds the animal and rumen health has a huge and

dry cows; 2.to 2.25% of bodyweight for young-stock;

needed to balance your rations will help to make

profound impact on animal health and not least on

2.25 to 2.5% for finishing stock and up 2.8% of

optimum of your forages.

animal performance and genetic potential: get it

bodyweight for lactating suckler cows. However

right and the animal will repay you with positive

as rule of thumb and to make an easy assumption,

We’ve seen a prolonged period of favourable

growth rates, performance and production; get it

then use 2% of body weight in kg of dry matter and

variable and feed costs over the last few years,

wrong and it’s your fault not the animals!

as examples, approximate dry matter intake values

but this season things appear to be changing and

would be as follows:

combine this with unbalanced rations through

That said, rationing doesn’t need to be complicated

• 250kg rearing steer, 5 to 6kg DM/day

lack of monitoring and varying silage quality, then

and the focus of attention on the 3 main ingredients,

• 450kg growing steer, 9 to 10kg DM/day

production costs can very quickly get out of control.

forage, energy and protein and an understanding of

• 600kg finishing steer, 12 to 15kg DM/day

Whilst it’s not possible to cover every aspect of

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

dry matter requirements then balancing the ration is

• Dry Suckler cow, 12 to 15kg DM/day depending on size

the first prerequisite to managing the rumen.

• Lactating suckler cow, <15 to 20kg DM/day depending on size

WINTER 2016

DIETARY FACTORS:

(‘book values’), especially dry feeds such as farm

Dietary factors are essentially under the control

produced cereals and pulses and feeds from

of the producer and nutritionist. These will either

Clearly beef cattle rations should always be planned

compound/Co Product feed suppliers. However,

help the animal achieve its potential, or limit it due

to deliver the required target gains for the adopted

when including ‘wet’ feeds into rations, (notably

to nutritional constraints and inconsistencies and

system and using yet the most economic feeds

silages, root crops, human food chain bi-products,

include:

available. Therefore set guidelines and performance parameters and monitor intake and growth rates

etc.), then it is important to know their dry matters as accurately as possible.

• Palatability - especially of forages.

• Diet dry matter % - palatability & fresh weight

To fully focus on the differing requirements of

Forage analysis should ideally be carried out on a

volume needed.

the growing animal, three very specific periods

regular basis in order to pick up changes between

• Acid loading / buffering capacity, (pH).

should be established: Rearing, Growing,

fields, cuts and as a result of changing fermentation

• Digestibility - rate of passage.

(‘Backgrounding’) and Finishing.

patterns over time. A visual assessment is also

• Diet structure - rumen function and rate of passage

a useful guide to dry matter; e.g. squeezing a

• Protein content, balance and synchrony, again

REARING:

handful to try to extract liquid; leaf to stem ratio;

rumen function.

This relates to either suckler production or dairy

fermentation quality; storage quality etc. Also, either getting an analytical declaration from feed

• Concentrate substitution effects - e.g. molasses vs. and dairy x calf rearing production and as with the growing phase, is relevant whether producing for cereals: cereals vs. Co and bi-products etc.

suppliers or having feeds analysed yourself will

• Presentation and feeding practices.

the store market, heifer replacements, or finishing.

significantly help.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS:

The maximising of weaning weights in all calves,

When starting to formulate a ration, then individual

The third aspect is that of environmental limits.

regardless of breed, sex, system or target market

feed dry matter is the single most important figure

These are largely due to climatic, logistic or building

will utilise the full potential of early feed conversion

and without this accurate data then the balance and

related features, which will either encourage or

efficiency, (FCE). This period will provide the most

nutritional value can’t be assimilated. Check this

impair the animal’s will to eat, and include:

cost efficient production of the animal’s life and therefore every effort should be made to exploit

regularly.

• Feeding system – self- feed, restricted, adlib,

this. Getting the best possible start is essential for

Actual feed intake will be influenced by a range of

TMR.

success in any beef production system so a hygienic

factors and not least by the animal itself, but also dietary factors, (palatability and feed presentation,

• Trough space - space available to eat without peer healthy environment and consistent daily routine is critical. Weight for age is a definitive target so pressure.

etc.), and environmental factors.

• Time of access to feed - e.g. reduced feeding time

making sure of a continuous positive growth rate

reduces intake.

through this period is essential.

ANIMAL FACTORS:

• Water availability – quality cleanliness and

Animal factors represent the theoretical potential,

problems with contamination.

A rough guide to growth rates in a calf rearing

but can be heavily influenced by daily management,

• Poor water supply: inefficient supply to support

system is that the calf should double its birth weight

and include:

requirements.

by 60/65 days of age, (8 to 9 weeks of age), and

• Age and type and gender of the cattle.

• Lighting levels and duration.

triple its birth weight by 105 days of age, (14½ to

• Production level - metabolic rate.

• Temperature – cold weather = higher intake; hot

15 weeks of age).

• Stage of growth - hormonal effects.

weather = lower intake.

• Bodyweight - physical capacity, (this differs within • Shelter - exposed feed areas-= reduce intake

With regards to suckler calves creep feeding can

breeds as well as age and weight).

• Physical barriers - badly designed troughs, low

be a contentious issue and there are no definitive

• Pregnancy status in heifers and cows – hormonal

neck rails - electric fences - rough trough floors.

answers with respect to ‘if and when’ to introduce

and physical capacity.

• Unhygienic feed storage.

it, since it will depend on the type, breed and

• Breed - natural appetite, metabolic weight.

• Animal stress.

production systems employed, and what system

IMAGE CREDIT: THE HEREFORD CATTLE SOCIETY

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

31

ANIMAL HEALTH

PLANNING RATIONS:

A majority of feeds have accepted dry matters,

ANIMAL HEALTH

the calves are to be moved onto once weaned.

finishing ration and depending on time of finishing

making sure bulls are finished at around 14months

However, as a general rule of thumb adequate

required, or sold as store cattle. Avoid a stop start

of age, and certainly before 16months, then a more

creep feeding introduced as a standard practice,

growth pattern in this phase and where possible

intensive option would be the more beneficial.

(at around 4 months before weaning), will put

eliminate the need for compensatory gain; steady,

Target gains should be as high as possible at this

between 30 to 50kg live-weight at a very efficient

but continuous growth will make much better use of

time, 1.3 to 2kgs/head/day, and achieved by rations

feed conversion ratio of between 3 -3.5 : 1.; 3kg of

the animal’s genetic potential.

with a high metabolised energy, >12.0 M/E/kgDM; high in starch at >30%; moderate protein levels

dry matter for 1kg of gain. It’ll never be as efficient as this for the rest of its life and is another essential

These rations will be predominately forage based

of 12-14% and low in by-pass protein; moderate

management tool to maintain growth

with a moderate energy density ranging from 10.6

digestible fibre levels of >25% NDF and where

- 11.6ME/kgDM, and dependent on the rate of gain

possible then forages of high quality. Also add up

required, then between 0.8 - 1.1kgs/head/day.

to 10% long fibre in dry matter to promote rumen

Apart from utilising FCE, other benefits due

function.

to creep feeding include less weaning check, therefore less pneumonic problems and loss of

To avoid early fat deposition then starch and sugars

production, continuous weight gain when their

should be held at moderate levels, < 20%, and the

Finishing/Bull beef ration requirements (dry

dam’s milk production is dropping and grass quality

ration should have a relatively high crude protein

matter):

is declining, extra weight at weaning and better

of 14 – 14.5%/kg DM to encourage frame growth

• >1.4kgs/day live-weight gain.

adaptation to a weaned calf ration. Also, where

with at least 15% by-pass protein and a high level of

• 30-60% dry matter.

calves are weaned onto an adlib system introducing

digestible and structural fibre.

• 12-14% crude protein.

• >12 MJ/kgDM ME.

a cereal based calf creep feed as early as possible and gradually moving to the respective intensive

This is a period where you can make the best

• 20-30% NDF.

mix prior to calving will help to reduce stress and

use of your forages and in a lot of cases native

• 8-10% long fibre.

speed up the switch to a fully intensive ration.

bred indigenous cattle will also finish on a well

• 4% fat.

formulated grower ration.

• >30 starch and sugar.

• 0.6% calcium.

All calf creep feeds, whether for suckler calves or dairy x reared calves should have a relatively high

Controlled Growth ration requirements, (dry

crude protein of 16 to 18%/kg of dry matter and

matter):

MONITORING PROGRESS:

with at least 25 to 30% by-pass protein; moderate

• 0.7 - 1.1kgs/day live-weight gain.

Performance Monitoring and management:

energy levels of 11.4 - 12 ME/kgDM and with target

• 30-60% dry matter.

In order to maintain and improve cattle

gains of 1 - 1.4kgs/day. A high level of digestible

• 14-14.5% crude protein/kg DM.

performance, it is essential to monitor and assess

fibre at approximately 30% NDF, and where possible

• 10.5 to 11.5 ME/kgDM .

what is actually happening on farm and especially

or feasible with at least 10% long fibre/kg of dry

• 30 to 40% NDF.

in the finishing phase. Areas for monitoring can

matter. However long fibre should not be added to

• 3% fat.

be split into three sectors: animal, feed and

creep feeds when using Calf Creep feeders as this

• <20% starch and sugar.

environment; and these management issues

will cause blockages, but could be incorporated in a

• 1% calcium.

should not be seen as necessarily arduous tasks but can and should form part of the general daily

forward-creep trough system, if practical FINISHING RATION:

management routine.

Reared calf /Suckler calf Creep Mix ration

A short, sharp period of maximum weight gain

requirements, (dry matter):

from the finishing ration and getting the optimum

Weighing cattle is of course the most obvious way of

• 0.8 – 1.4kgs/day live-weight gain.

live-weight gain is essential at this stage as the

monitoring growth rates, however, with dwindling

• 80 to 88% dry matter.

ration will have a high energy density cost and with

farm labour and available time this can be seen

• 16-18.5% crude protein.

the animal’s feed conversion efficiency starting to

as a low management priority. Nevertheless even

• 25-30% by-pass protein.

expand, (more feed to produce the required gain).

weighing a representative sample of say around

• 11.5 -12 MJ/kgDM ME.

To achieve the maximum conformation grade

20% of the cattle every 60 days would at least

• 30-35% NDF.

and desired fat cover, then ensure a consistent,

give an indication of performance. Equally, start

• 8 - 10% long fibre where creep is fed in troughs

predictable and optimum weight gain. A proportion

weights, (weight in), and sale weight, (weight

rather than creep feeders.

of British, (native indigenous), bred steers and

out) are also important indicators of overall

• 1% calcium.

heifers and their crosses may finish on the grower

performance. If however, weighing facilities are

ration, but in general a short sharp period of 80 to

available then where rations are formulated,

GROWING:

120 days will give the best and most economical

weighing every 60 days is perfectly adequate to

This is the period to focus on controlled, continuous

results. This ration formulation can also be

monitor physical performance and to make any

frame growth from weaning until moving to the

applicable to bull beef production, but in general

changes to the rations where necessary.

For the full report By David Hendy including RATION FORMULATION and EXAMPLE RATIONS please visit www.nationalbeefassocation.com

32

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

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33

FEATURE

DAVID BENSON

DAVID BENSON

THE HUMAN FACE OF THE BRITISH CHAROLAIS CATTLE SOCIETY

David Benson has been the Chief Executive and the human face of the British Charolais Cattle Society (BCCS) for over 28 years. An industry stalwart, David is humorous, engaging, and highly respected – probably the greatest ambassador a society could wish for.

He is married with two daughters and five grandchildren. After a lifetime devoted to them, and the other love of his life - Charolais cattle - David retires from the BCCS in April 2017.

Brought up in Roecliffe, near Boroughbridge in North Yorkshire, David loved the outdoors and spent a lot of time learning about the countryside and rural life from his local farmers and gamekeepers. It was perhaps no surprise he chose an agricultural degree at Newcastle University.

His ambition was to become a farm manager and out of the blue, while he was at Newcastle University, Billy Turner, from Brampton Hall, Skelton on Ure, Ripon in North Yorkshire, approached him. Billy had purchased a ‘job lot of Charolais’ - 11 cows and two heifers from JC Lister Farms – and offered him a job with primary responsibility working with the small Charolais herd but also being involved with the other livestock and arable enterprises.

On completing his degree in agriculture, David left university on 26th June 1975, married on the 28th, and then headed to Scotland on honeymoon. His new career started on 8th July 1975; the next most momentous day in his life.

Billy Turner’s farming operation comprised the Village Farm and Brampton Hall itself (where the cattle were). When David saw the cattle, it was a moment of revelation. “It was then I realised how naive I was!

They all looked the same and I thought I’d never tell one from the other. How little did I know!”

In those days the cattle were identified by tattoos and tagging was not permitted as a farm policy to ensure the cattle were identified by appearance and not by referring to a tag and a notebook. The small herd started David’s lifelong relationship with the breed.

By the time he left to join the Charolais Cattle Society in 1988, there were 97 cows and followers, via two reduction sales on the way.

His relationship with Billy Turner was a turning point.

“I learnt more about life in the first year of working

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THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

for Billy than in my previous 21 years. For me, he has been my mentor particularly in the early days at Brampton” Those early days were the start of an adventure.

“Before I was married, we had to decorate the house.

I could see Brampton Hall from my parents’ house across the River Ure, so when we were working on the house we occasionally ferried ourselves and supplies across the river on a boat rather than drive the 6 miles.”

Over the thirteen years working at Brampton, David took 115 Brampton bulls to the old Perth Bull Sales and only mis-fired to sell one. The first one sold for £2.9K in October 1989 to Northumberland’s Harry Sordy. “This was a good price then and it is quite ironic that forty years later it is still possible to buy Charolais bulls for that price.” He adds, “The ratio today of the average price for breeding bulls compared to the price of weaned suckled calves is now considerably distorted, where the bench mark for a commercial bull was the price of a pen of 10 suckled calves.” The top priced bull David sold was Brampton Token which achieved £11k, in 1989.

The 1980s were great days for the Brampton Herd, the Turner family and David. “I loved showing cattle, it was great fun and like today there was huge camaraderie and competition. It was tremendously exciting, especially the winning! We won the Charolais championship at the Royal Show in 1980 and 1982, and the Burke Trophy blue riband Interbreed twice in the same years. We also picked up Interbreed championships at the Great Yorkshire Show three times running in 80, 81, and 82. To me showing is still very important for breeders as it is quite literally the shop window for selling cattle.”

His role as Chief Executive of the society is the third chapter of his life and so far the longest. The job came up in 1988 and one or two Board members encouraged him to apply. He was invited to a council meeting and was offered the job there and then, starting on 6th April. It was a big wrench to move south and David and his family set up their new home

in Claverdon, between Warwick and Stratford.

He said: “The first thing I thought when I arrived at the office and sat in the big office chair was, “What the b---- hell am I doing here?” I pulled myself together and thought, ‘Right - I will just have to get stuck in!’” He has worked tirelessly for the BCCS and is the longest serving CEO of the society founded in 1962 by Tony Harman of Chesham, one of the first British farmers to import Charolais.

When he joined, the society had assets of £100k; they now stand at £2.5 million. David’s two best pieces of advice came from mentor Billy when he left Brampton Hall: “Do not get into a corner you cannot get out of,” and “Get plenty of brass about you.” He has managed both.

Registration fees when he started were £25, and still are. The society is a registered charity, which is in place for the public benefit whose aim is to promote Charolais cattle, but keeping unnecessary costs down. David has achieved this by ensuring multiple streams of income, through registration, commissions, subscriptions, property and rent, and an investment portfolio to give a dividend income stream.

He and his team have worked tirelessly to ensure that the BCCS stays at the forefront of the British Beef industry and remains one of the top three beef cattle societies in the UK. In 1993, David was instrumental in encouraging the society to build permanent offices at the Royal Showground, Stoneleigh.

When the breed was introduced from France in the 1960s the cattle were heavy muscled and heavy framed. He says: “The breeders have tailored the Charolais breed over the last 50 years or so to suit the demands of the UK beef industry and our bloodlines are now British bloodlines associated with much improved calving ease strains yet still there have been improvements to growth and conformation. We are now very definitely the British Charolais Cattle Society. “We are respected in the industry and we have set and maintained

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D MEDW

YN

there were fewer than 300 bulls sold in total across all breeds .

DAVID WITH TH E

E STA DAVID WITH TH

QUEEN OF SPAI

N

In the future David believes there will be fewer and bigger suckler commercial operators and more part time farmers. This will of course depend on Brexit.

He says farmers must look at their post subsidy strategies now and the effects on their livelihoods. He returns to a theme that worries many: food is cheap.

FF

high standards in the office and carry out rigorous registration checks and promote herd health to meet the demands of our customers.”

Calves are registered up to 27 days of age and their performance is bench marked against research data on calf growth rates supplied by the Institut d`Elevage in France. If there are any anomalies and the growth rates are outside the maximum achievable it could be the recorded birth weight and or the birth date is incorrect. This then results in de-registration of the calf and more checks may be carried out.

The breeders are also put on a seven-day birth notification period. A state of the art registration and genetic evaluation package supported by the Agricultural Business Research Institute based in Armadale, Australia, and customised for UK breeding conditions is used. As he retires, David is looking to the next generation. “Our Charolais Youth Programme, launched four years ago by Chairman Alasdair Houston is something I am very proud of and has been well supported both at regional and national level. The next generation is our future.”

In 28 years, David has worked with approximately 80 council members, 16 Chairmen and 28 Presidents. He respects them all, saying: “Our governing body is the direct link to our members in their regions and I can honestly say that each and every Council Meeting

The price of cattle and other farm produce is more or less the same as in the 1980s and he recalls an exceptional year in 1976 when potatoes reached by organising Charolais Congresses and Technical £400 per ton, however today`s costs of production meetings in the UK. “A personal highlight was the have escalated considerably. During the days of invitation to judge Charolais at the Harare Royal the marketing boards and intervention, farmers Show in 1991. The breeders were more British than were guaranteed prices and they could budget the British and I am delighted to recall that this was the first time that the Charolais champion went on to accordingly but now most food products are win the interbreed, so as you can imagine there was a commodities traded globally and farm products are at the mercy of the multiple retailers and currency huge party afterwards!” exchange rates which makes farm budgeting very much guess work.

So what about the state of agriculture as a whole?

David disapproves of additional red tape and worries about the bovine TB situation He said: “Bovine TB is Many diseases such as BVD, leptospirosis and Johnes hugely challenging for pedigree breeders particularly were circulating nationally and there was a certain in England because the compensation valuation does amount of resistance to some of these diseases. But now there are eradication programmes launched not take account of the value of high genetic merit cattle. It is only in the last two or three years that the within the UK to eradicate the diseases which without vaccination the herds become naïve and Government has been more proactive in trying to tackle the spread of bovine TB but I am afraid it may may succumb to reinfection without a vaccination programme. be too little too late for some cattle keepers.”

The biggest disasters during his time were BSE, which began in 1981 and brought about the introduction of the OTMS scheme in 1986, and the two Foot and Mouth outbreaks. The OTMS reduced the price of Charolais cows from around £1,000 plus to £250 over- night. These cow herds were regarded as part of some breeder's pension funds.

Charolais cattle have been my life, hobby and passion. Perhaps rather selfishly, I want to retire early in the early part of the year before my official retirement date so that I can benefit from enjoying the summer months to adjust to the changes which are bound to follow! has been conducted in a professional manner even where sometimes difficult decisions have had to be made. The meetings have always been held with due formality, but they have always had a good ambience.

“All of the Chairmen have had different personalities, all have brought different strengths and suggestions to the council table.” The society has approximately 1,200 active herds and 7,000 calves are registered annually. He has travelled the world in pursuit of his beloved breed and has brought the world to him

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“In France, farmers can still make a living out of 60 or so Charolais cows, but not here. Agriculture and forestry represent 1.2% of British GDP, consequently agriculture does not receive the Governmental support seen in some of the other EU beef producing countries and that is before the unknown consequences of BREXIT.”

The 2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak in particular decimated several Charolais herds and indeed never before or since has morale been so low in the UK livestock industry. He also regrets the shrinkage of the UK beef cow herd, commenting: “When I started there were around two million breeding cows in the UK, yet today there are less than 1.5 million. In 1989 I saw the sales of 280 Simmental bulls and 315 Charolais bulls in the Caledonia Rd October Perth bull sales. At the equivalent Stirling October sale this year

It’s not all bad however. David supports the return to spring calving and trading through livestock auction markets as a transparent way of selling that sets the benchmark.

The BCCS’s staff of six are multi-taskers with a shared 165 years of working for the society. Everything is produced where possible in-house. Needless to say there is a good morale David says: “When you work for the BCCS, you must remember: ‘The BCCS members are the employers.’

David is going out at the peak of his game, when he is also President of the Charolais International Council – the only non-breeder to hold the role. David said: “I believe I am leaving the society in good shape – it is like leaving a farm in better fettle than when taking one over.”

David is now looking forward to a retirement of walking, shooting, fishing and golf. “As a man who has only ever lived in three houses, I have been extremely lucky to have been happily settled, with a great family and a job involving great cattle.

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35

FEATURE

DAVID AN

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WINTER 2016

FEATURE

MY OBSERVATIONS OF

BRITISH AGRICULTURE

BY BRIAN LUNDY, NBA MEMBER

I have been taught If you can not reflect on the past, you have no vision of the future.

Never take things at face value.

You attain wisdom with age.

REASONS Agriculture is back in the same position as before the last war, much of our food is imported, and some is portrayed in a way to be British.

In 1933 across party political agreement led to the formation of the milk marketing board (MMB) not because of the plight of Dairy Farmers which was much the same as today. But to make a start to eradicate the terrible disease of Tuberculosis in humans, and cattle which was the main source of transmission. All milk could be Pasteurized, in particular for free school milk for children. The MMB brought stability to the dairy industry, and as for TB it was a great success story, in 1990 TB in humans was about eradicated after Penicillin came Streptomycin which worked very well on Tubercular Bacillus in humans, all the Sanatoriums were closed. In cattle it was 0.01%, just a small reservoir, now it is rampant again, I am very bitter that amongst others many are now dead, worked very hard unpaid to rid this country of the scourge of Tuberculosis. You did it as a humanitarian gesture but your hard work has been taken in vain of no consequence On the 9/11/1989 the Berlin Wall and the Iron Curtain came down, Eastern Europe was liberated, and all that very good arable land came available to the West. Little did I realise what a detrimental effect it would have on British Agriculture.

1992 Badgers became a protected species, Brian May, the string plucking guitarist of the Queen pop group was given preference over the views of the State Veterinary Service who had spent 50 – 60yrs working hard to rid us of TB 1994 The MMB through the government was disbanded, it had served it’s purpose with regards to TB. Super markets appeared to be having a greater influence on Government policy making. The Government announced that it was going to concentrate on service industries and the financial market. All the experimental farms sold off, privatised ADAS. On the general front all the mental hospitals sold off, and the inmates put out into the public domain.

2001 Foot and Mouth outbreak. 2000 cases, 10 million cattle and sheep slaughtered, and cost the taxpayer £8 billion.

2007 Foot and Mouth outbreak again, confirmed on 3rd of August (a leak from Pirbright). A scientist from Pirbright found dead near some woods it was said that he had committed suicide?? By the 21st of November 2007, 134,000 animals had been slaughtered.

Since 2008 288,641 ( almost 300,000 ) animals have been slaughtered because of TB, that is not counting those incalf. We have also had BSE, which Professor Lacey of Leeds University predicted that by now thousands would be dying from nvCJD from eating beef, I believe it is around 100 and two have been vegetarian, at the time the RT HON J Gummer ‘Minister of Agriculture,’ gave his Grandchild a beef burger to eat and said that it was perfectly safe. Maybe it was from a super market with horse meat in.!!

Now we have DEFRA, no mention in it’s name of farming, it is the umbrella of 37 different agencies. We used to have Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food.

Agriculture: They appear to be slowly killing off, from it’s main purpose.

Fisheries: Already killed off. We used to have Fleetwood, Hull and Grimsby, and that is not counting Scotland.

Food: The largest percentage is imported I believe, sold through super markets (French water more expensive than British milk)

CRIME OF THE CENTURY

After almost 60yrs from the start in 1933 ,by a cross party policy to rid this country of the scourge of the dreadful disease Tuberculosis in the Human and the Cattle population. With the very hard work done by the State Veterinary Service , Farmers and Helpers. ( many now dead). By 1990 TB in Humans just about eradicated (Sreptomycin ) worked quite well, all the Sanatoriums were closed. In cattle it was 0.01%now it is running rampant again, since 2008, 300,000 cattle have been slaughtered because of TB.

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

37

FEATURE

SCANDINAVIAN SIMMENTALS

BY EDDIE RIXON LOPEMEDE SIMMENTALS

The impact of Brexit certainly hit home on a recent visit to Denmark this autumn, to purchase breeding bulls. With sterling at a historic low against the Danish Kroner, this is making this year’s trip 20% more expensive. Let’s hope the recent strengthening of beef prices continues in the run into 2017 to balance the books!

Denmark is an interesting country to travel through, due its land mass being fragmented into 443 islands which are connected via a next work of bridges. As you travel throughout the country you are aware that Denmark is flat, with its highest point reaching 170m above sea level. Due to this topography, arable farming occupies most of the productive agricultural land. Denmark as we know is renowned for its pig and dairy industries, with it being the number one country in the world with the highest number of pigs per inhabitant; 2.3 pigs per person. Denmark is a net export of agricultural products producing 3 times the amount of food it needs for itself.

Danish agriculture is also among the most efficient and knowledge based agricultural clusters in the world. This success can be attributed to a high level of education and organisation, embodied in the Danish co-operative movement, as well as good agricultural soil, internal competition and demand from consumers and export markets.

Denmark for those unfamiliar with this Scandinavian country is perfect for purchasing cattle from as they don’t suffer from the bovine diseases that blight our herds. Being free of TB, IBR and BVD. Our motivation for purchasing cattle is not purely based on health, however running a closed herd, this is clearly a benefit. Our primary reason for visiting Denmark is due to the high propensity of polled homozygous Simmental bulls.

The polled trait was introduced into Denmark in 1986

by Hugo Pedersen, who imported polled Simmental semen from the USA. The motivating factor for importing polled semen was that you need to have a VET to dehorn your calves, which is costly, therefore

this is the reason why the polled trait was being selected and why so few horned cattle are present today.

The first polled Simmental calf born in Denmark on the 1st March 1986 was VINGEGAARD BAHAMAET P. He turned out to change their breed being a show star – never beaten in class with many Great Championships and the first Simmental to win the prestigious Interbreed title at their National Show 1989. VINGEGAARD BAHAMA-ET P turned out to be a super breeding bull, and his offspring dominated their breed in the early nineties. The results of this bull in particular were the reason why the Danish Simmental have been more than 15 years ahead of other beef breeds.

Myself and my father spent 2 days in Denmark visiting ten farms; this was kindly organised by Henning Hansen, who is the President of the Danish Simmental Society. Whilst we were only interested in Simmental cattle, Limousine is the most popular breed.

Danish farms are smaller than in the UK; 67ha on average versus 81ha in the UK. The main reason why farms are smaller is that you can’t pass on the family farm to your children. The next generation therefore needs to purchase the farm from their parents. This therefore leads to farms getting split up. Suckler cow numbers have been in decline in Denmark for a number of years, and the national herd size has now declined to a total of 91,000 cows, with an average herd size of 12 cows. As a consequence of this many beef farmers need to have a 9 to 5 job to support the

family, and fit farming into either side of their day.

The farms are run commercially with a strong emphasis on breeding. Our first visit was to the national bull testing station, where farmers can send their best bulls to be tested for daily live weight gain, feed conversion efficiency, cost/kg gain and muscle scoring. The testing station is subsidised by an AI company, who will offer the farmer an option to sell semen from a bull that performs exceptionally well at the testing station.

The bulls come in after weaning at c5months old and stay for a seven-month period. The testing station can help commercial beef producers select terminal sires more accurately. From the ten farms that we visited we managed to select three new breeding bulls, two yearlings and one mature bull. One Bull, VINGEGAARD LUCAS ET P was purchased from Hugo Pedersen who has been instrumental in improving Simmentals.

VINGEGAARD LUCAS ET P, is the son of the bull CAIRNVIEW SNAZZY, with good EBV’s for growth, calving ease, and retail meat yield. Denmark do have an equivalent of EBV’s, measuring very similar traits and offering accuracy values for each trait.

The second bull purchased was Jægergård LEOPOLD PP, a homozygous polled bull from an AI technician Benny Kjærgård. Our final purchase KROGHOLT JACOB PP, a three-year-old bull from Torben Brander, a local butcher, who mentioned that butchery is different in Denmark than in the UK, where more emphasis is placed on adding value to the carcass, through curing meat to making pate for example.

The key to all of our purchases was to select a terminal sire with the aim being to introduce new polled blood lines into our herd to improve hybrid vigor and also to continue the improvement in the herds commercial characteristics.

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Please return this form to: The National Beef Association, Mart Centre, Tyne Green, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 3SG THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

41

GIFT OF THE GAVEL

GIFT OF THE GAVEL

CHRIS ARMSTR

CHRIS ARMSTRONG I took the decision to follow in my Grandfathers footsteps and enter the auctioneering profession towards the end of my degree course at what was then Harper Adams Agricultural College in 1998 and after my industrial placement year working for The Walton family in The Coquet Valley, Northumberland. I had begun my degree with the intention of returning home to the family farms however it may well have been the realisation that I do my best work amongst people combined with the opportunity after several months droving on sale days to ‘put a tie on and get into the office’ afforded to me by Jimmy Walton, company chairman that saw me start work as a trainee auctioneer for Hexham & Northern Marts after graduation.

It was a decision that I have never regretted and is best summed up by the famous quote ‘Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life’. I consider myself very fortunate to be able to work amongst folk that I know, from a walk of life that I have been brought up in, in a part of the world that I hold very dear and is one of the most beautiful ‘shop floors’ you are ever likely to gaze upon. It is the very nature of the job and the variety of tasks therein that appeals to me; having grown up learning the fundamental principals of breeding and rearing livestock for the purposes of first and foremost feeding the nation, but also the continuity and progressive improvement of said breeding stock on the hills I view the auctioneering profession as an integral and essential part of the UK livestock industry.

It’s true there are good days and bad in any employment and as an auctioneer these largely hinge around good and bad trades. The transparent approach to marketing stock and the steadfastness of those that sell and buy is a formula which had worked for over 160 years since the establishment of the very first auction mart by Andrew Oliver & Sons in The Borders town of Hawick in the late 1840’s.

Regrettably we are all fully aware that the number of family run farms and the numbers of those involved in agriculture in general are in steady decline, due largely to the economies of scale that come about by increased pressure to produce cheap food. This is certainly evident within the livestock sector competent and experienced stockman or shepherds aren’t easy to find.

Never more so then has it been the case that farmers, many short of labour and short of time during the working day, should rely on their local, professional firm of auctioneers to assist with all livestock marketing matters for the greater good of their farming business.

Your local auctioneers, of which there are many ideally

placed to provide up to date market information regarding prime, store and breeding stock; What is selling well? What does the market require? Which breed, weight, class? These are all questions that are frequently discussed around the coffee, lunch and dinner table in countless farmhouses up and down the country and these can all be answered by your local auctioneer.

In the simplest terms, the profitability of your local auction mart is performance related; when trade is good and the farmer does well, the mart does well also allowing re-investment in premises. Many centres operating today have cost many millions of pounds to construct with the companies behind these premises investing in fully covered penning areas, washing and disinfecting procedures that meet trading standards requirements, modern and comfortable auction auditoriums and the infrastructure therein to run a swift, efficient and effective service.

Conversely when trade may be deflated, as has been seen in the recent past in the wake of both the BSE and FMD crises, the auction industry stands alongside its farmer customer and it too has to contend with reduced incomes and yet still strives to do right by such customers and manage core business to enable the continuation of a trading platform on which any stock on any day can be valued and sold in an open forum.

I have been fortunate enough to sell store cattle through the ring at Hexham in recent years at unprecedented levels, the likes of which had never been seen before and (one would hope not) may never be seen again. The highlight of this period was the 2013 season when the centre record fell for a store bullock at £1820 followed by a pen of five from the same renowned vendor at £1800 per beast. During this time a common comment during canvassing visits to farms was that ‘the commission is a big figure deducted from the bottom of the cheque’ or words to

that effect. My response was swift and unchanging and remains so to this day, ‘we (the mart) didn’t take any more than the stated percentage when cattle were selling at half the price or cull sheep were trading at one pound a piece’ referring to my motto that when the farmer does well the auction mart does well.

No doubt there are alternatives; livestock brokers, direct farm to farm sales, the emergence of on-line and even social media marketing sites however none of these can offer the benefits of the live auction ring.

Transparency and accountability have to be the key, it takes all year to produce a top quality lamb and at least the same, often longer to produce saleable cattle. Why then put all your eggs in one basket by taking the first offer for your year’s work stood in your own shed with one buyer? Ring your local haulier, there are plenty of them all keen for your business, load your stock up and bring them to market, compare them with those of your neighbour, your friends, your second cousin twice removed from the next door county that you only see at weddings and funerals.

Work out if you have the right breed to suit your farm, ask the consignor with his gleaming bullocks penned next to your own which manufacturers feed he uses, ask the buyer who always seems to pay ‘top dollar’ for cattle why he never bids for your own, and most importantly put your faith in the man in the rostrum who is there every week and whose job it is to know the value of your animals and who round his ring is most likely to buy them. Let him do his best for you and in turn his own livelihood and that of many others in the associated industries will be safeguarded.

Too often is the phrase ‘use us or lose us’ trotted out, it’s a cop-out, the benefits of the auction ring are many and undeniable. From Aberdeen to Hexham, and from Brecon to Sedgemoor there are plenty reputable firms across the country, find an auctioneer you are comfortable doing business with and put your trust in him or her and you will find the rewards can be great.

Chris J T Armstrong B.Sc. (Hons) Auctioneer & Valuer with Hexham & Northern Marts, Northumberland has sold prime, store and breeding stock at Hexham, Scots Gap, Bellingham, & Rothbury since joining the company in 1998. In partnership with his parents Chris runs 60 Angus & Luing suckler cows, 30 feeding cattle and 800 Blackface ewes over two 1000 acre upland units selling all stock produced through the auction rings at Hexham.

42

THE NATIONAL BEEF ASSOCIATION MAGAZINE

WINTER 2016

ONG

MAKE BVD HISTORY AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION

NOW IN YOUR HANDS

Now that we’re moving from BVD control to eradication, and with BVD estimated to cost £40 per cow per year1,2, you’ll want a vaccine that is proven to deliver a full 12 months’ prevention of foetal infection, against both types of BVD, after a single injection.

We know vaccination doesn’t always happen on time3, but with Bovela you can be guaranteed* to deliver protection with each shot, using the latest in live vaccine technology. With over 400,000 cattle in the UK protected already4, are you on the road to making BVD history?

Ask your vet for more information.

Herd protection made simple

References: 1. Stott et al (2010) Vet J 185: 138–143 2. Stott et al (2012) IVJ 65:12 3. Meadows (2010) Cattle Practice 18(3): 202-215 4. GfK August 2016. *Proven to prevent the birth of PI calves caused by transplacental infection by BVDV for 12 months when Bovela has been used as recommended in the product label (SPC).

Advice on the use of Bovela or other therapies should be sought from your veterinary surgeon. Bovela lyophilisate and solvent for suspension for injection for cattle contains modified live BVDV-1, non-cytopathic parent strain KE-9: 104.0 –106.0 TCID50, Modified live BVDV-2, non-cytopathic parent strain NY-93: 104.0 –106.0 TCID50. UK: POM-V. Further information available from Boehringer Ingelheim Limited, Vetmedica, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 8YS, UK. Technical enquiries: +44 (0)1344 746957. Email: vetmedica.uk@boehringer-ingelheim.com.

Date of preparation: Aug 2016. AHD9447. Use Medicines Responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible).