Members’ development days

Development days engage members

During 2022 the Society introduced a new initiative of member development days, with three of these new events taking place and proving highly popular and beneficial to all attending.

These events will be built on during 2023 and beyond to support new and existing members in sharing knowledge and building experience to ensure everyone gets the most they can from the breed and the Society.

Knowledge shared at Hannington development day

September saw the Hannington herd host a development day which was attended by more than 60 Society members, with the event including five workshops focussed on key aspects of breeding and herd management.

From a veterinary perspective, members were able to listen to Bella Maine of Larkmead Vets discuss pelvic measurement in heifers and other essential aspects of herd fertility, while Jim Barber demonstrated ultrasound scanning in relation to performance recording and the benefits it brings. Meanwhile, Mike Deakins gave an explanation of cow classification, enabling members to better understand the usefulness it can lend to management and breeding decisions.

Daniel Slade of Thame Market was also on hand to offer members guidance on cattle selection for slaughter and hitting the right specification, while Harbro’s Michael Richardson talked through feeding and nutrition to maximise growth and development in cattle of all ages.

Society operations manager Clive Brown said the event, one of several organised by the Society this year, had been a huge success with members coming from far and wide to add to their knowledge base.

“These events have been well received and enabled members to come together and both learn and socialise with like-minded people from across the country.

“As ever the camaraderie and shared belief in the breed has shone through and that is sure to stand the breed in good stead going forward.”

Strong turnout for judges’ day

The Society’s judges’ day was held in late August and kindly hosted by Alastair Gibson and family at Cut Thorn Farm, Gibside. Guest judges for the day were Paul Westaway, who farms Angus, Beef Shorthorns and Murray Greys in Gloucestershire and Tommy Staunton of Caramba Beef Shorthorns, Ireland. Both accomplished cattle breeders, but also extremely confident, experienced speakers.

Following a member survey held in 2021, feedback from members expressed a wish for more opportunities for members to meet and develop skills. As a response the Society intends to extend its programme of member events to encourage young, new and existing members with current information and opportunities.

Judges’ days are designed to give members and breeders the opportunity to gather, compare, experience and apprise cattle being put forward in the show ring.

The day started with a parade of four yearling heifers for the assembled breeders and judges, followed by six twoyear-old heifers. With plenty of discussion on breed type and priority of attributes in Beef Shorthorn females.

Paul Westaway was enthusiastic about the unique marketplace for the breed and the opportunities this presents for breeders, in this time of low input, sustainable, sympathetic farming that suits the Beef Shorthorn suckler cow.

A bull of any age class was also organised, as this is often a class presented to judges at shows. This class, again, created good dialogue and input from all in attendance. Debate centred around the place of Beef Shorthorn males in the marketplace and it was noted that there are many prospects available to the breed and, therefore, differing types of bulls for a variety of customers, dependant on whether they be commercial or pedigree, lowland or upland. However, everyone attending agreed that structure and correctness must be a priority.

Opportunities for those present to demonstrate and experience professional reason giving in the show ring was engaging and considered extremely important going forward to promote the breed at shows across the country to the public and fellow livestock farmers.

All agreed that a judge that gives clear and concise reasons in the ring, using a microphone, is informative to both spectators and competitors and must be encouraged.

Lunchtime was an excellent chance to share experiences to date of the Beef Cow Classification Scheme, offered by NBDC and valid points were raised, that would be discussed at the Breed Development Committee, including the new Bull Classification scheme.

The second half of the day was spent looking at breeding cows of differing types. Noticeably, none of Alastair’s cows carry the Myostatin gene, and he explained his reasoning for this, to ensure a good maternal cow, and his bull selection compliments his farming system.

The Society very much appreciates the hard work and preparations for the day by all concerned and would to thank the hosts, judges and organisers.

Crowds flock to NI development day

More than 100 participants travelled to the Glebefarm Beef Shorthorn herd of Alfie and Elaine Shaw and family, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, for the Society’s Northern Irish development day.

In a first of its kind in Northern Ireland, the day was designed to encourage members of all abilities to get involved with an array of highly educational work stations at the event. These included ring craft and show etiquette, animal preparation and products, stock judging, Glenarm Beef Scheme, EBVs and scanning, butchery demonstration and livestock photography tips.

The highlight of the day was the opportunity to walk around the award winning Glebefarm herd of Beef Shorthorns. The Shaws have recently been placed champion herd in NI for the second year in succession.

The Shaw family would like to thank everyone who helped them in any way and also those who attended the event. Alfie Shaw added; “We were delighted to be able to welcome so many Beef Shorthorn enthusiasts to our farm. The aim was to profile a number of key areas which we felt would be both educational and interesting to those present on the day.

“The level of hands-on participation was excellent right from the youngest visitor to the oldest. The future of Beef Shorthorns looks bright with so much genuine enthusiasm clearly evident.”

Agri-Expo saw Society directors Alfie Shaw (l) and Mark Severn (r) present Morrisons’ head of livestock and external sales, Jodie Boland, with a copy of ‘200 Years Strong’ the specially commissioned, limited-edition print created to celebrate the breed’s bicentenary, in recognition of the retailer’s support of the breed through its marketing initiative.