PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
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n writing my first President’s Message to members can I say what a great honour and a privilege it is to have been elected to this position and in what is the breed and Society’s fiftieth anniversary year in the United Kingdom. I am passionate about this great breed and have worked with Simmental cattle for most of my life, so to now be entrusted as the Society’s 26th President is quite humbling, but I very much look forward to the term of office ahead. I would also like to pay a warm tribute to my predecessor Michael Barlow. Michael has worked tirelessly in his two-year term and has dealt with a few ‘challenges and changes’ faced in that time with professionalism and diplomacy, and always with the best interests of the breed and the Society to the forefront. It would have been so fitting and rewarding for Michael to have been President at the Society’s planned 50th anniversary events. However, I know that he will continue to be a great support to the Society’s Council, and I thank him for handing over the reins with the Society in good shape.
The 2020 year has of course been blighted by the Covid-19 pandemic and our first thoughts must be for the well-being of all and with our sympathies to those that have been affected. The pandemic did of course massively impact on the year’s pedigree sales trading and wiped out the summer and winter show programmes anticipated by so many. We must hope that good science and the vaccine programme can quickly see a return to some normality through the 2021 year. It was a huge disappointment that we had to postpone the 50th anniversary show and sale planned for 2020, and after much consideration, cancel the rearranged event in the year ahead. However, the Society is committed to investing in forward promotions of the breed around the UK and I am excited to see those plans roll out when circumstance allows. At the time of writing the trade for all classes of commercial and breeding cattle has been strong and bringing a level of confidence to
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suckler beef producers to invest in quality stock. Though a disrupted year, the 2020 sale demand for Simmental bulls from commercial producers and pedigree breeders was solid and it was encouraging to see the breed sell the biggest number of bulls at Stirling in October and to an increased average. On a weekly basis we have been circulating Simmental Market Briefs on Facebook showing the breed in action and it is clear that Simmental is performing well and profitably on a variety of systems and gaining reward at commercial markets around the UK. Pedigree registration numbers are at a similar level to recent years, but there is a little downward pressure facing Simmental, and all breed societies, and we must take sight of this and address it. Financially the Society is in good order with the resources to take aim at a body of core and progressive work. Maintaining the finances of the Society is hugely important but I also think it is an important time for structured investment in initiatives, promotions, and technical programmes that highlight and evidence the fantastic attributes and profitability of Simmental cattle to the commercial beef producer. In early discussion with Council the simple vision for the years ahead is very much to be commercially focussed and to grow the market share of the breed. If we can do that then, for pedigree breeders, the market for bulls and breeding females will develop accordingly. I repeat my previous comments to members. British Simmental has established itself as one of the most influential and profitable breeds in the beef industry and has all the attributes to be a maternal mainstay of the commercial suckler herd across the UK. Natural efficiency is a breed strength in so many ways. Simmentals are versatile; complement all breeds; are easy calving, maternal milky mothers; have longevity; produce beef from grass and are easy fleshing; and are fast growing with terrific weight for age. I’m hugely encouraged with the work reported within The Review that shows that Simmental is the UK’s
