Dairy flyer 2013

The Hereford Sire In the Dairy Herd

“Why should Dairy Farmers purchase a Hereford Sire?�

Has the Hereford Sire got Good Docility?

Is the Hereford Sire Easy Calving?

Are Hereford Sired Calves in Demand?

Has the Hereford Sire got a short Gestation Length?

Do progeny qualify for Premium Branded Beef Schemes?

Has the Hereford Sire got Good Longevity?

The Hereford Financial Benefits

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Short gestation length with an average of 282 days Reduced labour costs through good docility & easy calving Excellent longevity which reduces replacement costs

The Hereford An Independent View: (Ian McCubbine, Smallfields, Surrey) “We had been down the British Blue, Charolais and Simmental routes in the past, but you had to be there at calving to make sure the calf survived,” says Ian. “You may get a good price for these animals, but if one out of eight calves dies, that’s the joy gone from the job. If you lose one in 20 heifers at calving, then that’s all of your profit gone too”, says Ian McCubbine.

“The Herefords’ good temperament is important. Because my parents and uncle work on the farm, we must have a temperament you can depend on, and while we may like the look of the Limousin, we haven’t all got six-foot fences and armour plating!” remarked Ian McCubbine.

The Hereford Hereford Sired Calves

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Heifer calves in demand as suckler replacements Superior heterosis (hybrid vigour) Thrifty calves with weaning percentage >90%

The Hereford An Independent View: (Cecil Shirt, Holmelacy Farm, Derbyshire) The Hereford is destined to take a bigger role at Holmelacy Farm and replace a Continental sweeper bull.

“We’re farmers not playboys. We believe in maximising our farm’s potential and that includes all our calves. Compared with the Continental breeds, we have proven that the Hereford produces a quality calf out of the Holstein which is in real demand”, says Mr Shirt.

“Every dairy farmer should run a Hereford bull with their commercial herd”. Why? “Because Herefords are quiet and easy to handle, the vast majority calve easily, the calves are lively and soon up and suckling “ says Cecil Shirt speaking from experience.

The Hereford Hereford X Cow

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Low maintenance medium sized cow Hardy, fertile and with good milk ability Tremendous grass converters even on rough grazing

The Hereford An Independent View: (Mark Spendlove, Sandy Hill Farm, Northants) “The supermarkets are asking for marbling and we know that comes from the Hereford, and they are not going to go down that route if it is not good for their business” said Mark Spendlove.

“The breeds appear to be knitting well together, with the Holstein supplying the milk, the Blue adding carcase shape and the Hereford bringing the icing on the cake - the all essential eating quality of the beef. The resulting animals have tremendous size & shape, and there’s also the potential to sell the heifers back into the suckler cow market as breeding stock”, added Mark Spendlove.

The Hereford Hereford Sired Progeny

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Ideally suited to organic based systems R&D proves excellent feed conversion efficiency Ability to finish off low cost grass-based diets

The Hereford An Independent View: (John Gate, Langford Farm, Cheshire) Low maintenance Hereford X cows form the basis of our grassbased beef system leaving finished bulls weighing 500 kg at 10 months,” says Mr Gate.

“The cows are the heart of the system. Hard wearing - we still have cows well into their teens; easy calving, good milkers, docile and an unbeatable low maintenance cow on our type of system”.

“We’re on fairly rough grazing, but these cows are tremendous grass converters” enthused John Gate.

The Hereford Marketing Hereford Progeny

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Qualify for premium branded beef schemes Popular with farm shops, caterers & independent retailers In demand from rearers & finishers

The Hereford The White Face Advantage

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All progeny have a distinctive white face Proven identity provides buyer’s with confidence Enhanced traceability with a unique guarantee

The Hereford Cattle Society

Hereford House 3 Offa St, Hereford, Herefordshire HR1 2LL, England, UK

t: +44(0)1432 272057 f: +44(0)1432 377529 e: postroom@herefordcattle.org w: www.herefordcattle.org