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Taking place across 14 days, the 17th World Shorthorn Conference and tour saw delegates visit herds across England, Wales and Scotland. Rachael Madeley shares her memories
‘Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.’ Benjamin Franklin
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eld to coincide with the bicentennial celebrations of the Coates's Herd Book, the 17th World Shorthorn Conference was held in the UK during July 2022. Having attended previous World conferences in Australia 2019 and Uruguay 2016 I knew that this tour was going to be fantastic. “On 7th July delegates and invited guests convened at Windsor Castle Hotel where the conference was officially opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who has long been Patron to both societies. “The next morning, we headed West to the Vale of the White Horse, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, for a spectacular first visit, the home of the Stanford Park and Longfield herds of Beef Shorthorns. On arrival we were greeted by owners Mark and Hayley Stoneham and the Stanford team. “Estate manager Simon Bradley-Farmer and partner Tina Russell gave us a comprehensive tour of the cattle and purpose-built buildings. Meurig James was also in attendance to give an insight into the classification of beef cattle and the importance of type classification as a management tool for herd improvement. “It is clear that everything at Stanford Park is done with precision, the aim being profitability without compromising the environment and genetic development is key to this endeavour. “After a short coach drive we arrived at Beef Society president Charles Horton’s Hannington herd, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Charles and Jemima are no strangers to the World Conference and they were humbled to host and repay all the kindness afforded to them over the years on other Conference tours. “After a brief introduction to the herd and system that is run on the 2500-acre farm we had an opportunity to see the
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stock. They all looked in exceptional condition and were a credit to Charles and his stockman Peter Brain. “The next morning we had an early start for the trek into Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, to the home of the Thomas family, Drisgol Dairy Shorthorns. The view of more than 600 Dairy Shorthorns was amazing and without doubt took away the breath of everyone on the coach when we saw the red, white and roan Drisgol army. Seimon, wife Eleanor, son, Sion, and daughter, Hanna, have the largest herd of Dairy Shorthorns in the UK and what an impressive herd of cattle they are. “Day three gave the delegates free time for a morning in Chester, a chance to shop or walk the historic Roman city walls. “The next day delegates were kindly invited to visit Cogent Breeding bull stud and the Grosvenor herd. The day was extremely informative. The Cogent team started by showing us bulls on parade that were currently on stud, before talking us through all the research that the team here and parent company STGenetics in America are undertaking. Most notably the management tools of SexedUltra, Genomics and EcoFeed were hot topics, aimed at helping make businesses more profitable. “That evening we headed further north to Harrogate for the highly anticipated Great Yorkshire Show. Two centuries celebrated with 200 head of Beef Shorthorns and Dairy Shorthorns. “Day five and just wow! On an outstanding first day, the Shorthorn friends, members and breeders were bustling with activity as the Beef Shorthorn judging began under the watchful eye of Richard Bartle. The classes were phenomenal in number and quality and Richard certainly had his work cut out deciding placings in strongly contended classes.
