Newsletter: Stirling Results
Society Sales: Stirling – 1st May Carlisle – 26th May Worcester – 23rd September Stirling – 23rd October Skipton – 8th November
Society Events: Development Day - 12th & 13th August, NI National Young Show Stars – 22-23rd August, Three Counties Showground, Malvern
A BUMPER show of Beef Shorthorns backed by soaring demand, produced a record breaking trade for the breed with a new bull high of 26,000gns and a best ever average just shy of £6000. Top price was the sale of Major John Gibb and his daughter, Catriona’s Glenisla Jackpot, which secured the new breed record of 26,000gns for the family farm at Glenisla, Blairgowrie.
The judging of the Beef Shorthorns will take place on Tuesday 11th July at 10.15 a.m with another high class entry expected. Morrisons have kindly agreed to hold the presentation BBQ on their stand from 5.30 p.m. onwards with the presentations at 6.30 p.m. on 11th July. Tickets are FOC but must be ordered from Sally Horrell mobile: 07932 052524 / e.mail: sally@beefshorthorn.org and collected from the Shorthorn Stand at the Show. Admission will be strictly ticket only – so please book them now.
The society will again be sharing stands with the Shorthorn Society at the following shows this Summer: Royal Highland Show – 22nd – 25th June Great Yorkshire Show – 11th – 13th July Royal Welsh 23rd – 27th July
Pedigree Cattle Services, Pedigree House, 6 Kings Place, Perth, Perthshire. PH2 8AD Scotland tel: 01738 622478 email: info@beefshorthorn.org
Beef Shorthorn
UK Beef Shorthorn Championships at the Great Yorkshire Show 11th-13th July.
Summer Shows
Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society
May 2017
The area clubs have been asked to assist with the manning of the stands at these events so if you would like to help please get in touch with the appropriate area club Chairman. We are always pleased to see our members at these events so please come along and make yourselves known on the stands.
Welcome to our new secretary Joanna Bailey will be joining the Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society as secretary from 1 August. She brings 25 years of experience working in the industry, from grass roots to supply sector and moves to the position from her role as commercial manager for NSF Agriculture where she was responsible for a broad range of business growth led activity including marketing, shows, events and sponsorship. After graduating from Harper Adams, Joanna went on to complete a Master’s degree in Agriculture at University College Dublin. She progressed in various management roles within the industry before joining NSF. Joanna commented: “I am delighted to join the society. I am looking forward to meeting members at regional club meetings as well as around the show ring, and helping to further progress the breed which I believe will have an even greater role to play post Brexit due to its ability to be able to thrive in low input, low cost forage based systems.” Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society president, Sally Horrell commented: “Joanna brings a wealth of skills, experience and enthusiasm which we are confident will help to take us on to the next exciting chapter.”
‘The ideal functional suckler cow’
Inaugural Beef Shorthorn Society award goes to NI student
Importing Cattle Genetics A reminder that pedigrees of imported semen or embryos must be checked with the Society to ensure they qualify for entry into our UK herd book. Differences in the regulations between Societies means an animal that appears in an Overseas Herd book as pedigree is not always eligible in the UK.
Update from President The members letter sent out in March highlighted some big changes for the Society with the administration of the Society’s affairs. The transfer of registrations and office work to Pedigree Cattle Services in Perth was completed in early April. PCS have been very diligent in clearing the outstanding queries and are now well into the main registrations. As in any change it is possible for things to go astray so I would ask members to contact Pedigree Cattle Services if you have transactions that have been outstanding for a while but please be aware that the problem is probably not their fault. Your Directors have taken on responsibility for various aspects of the running of the Society in the interim period which is much appreciated. We are all working very hard to ensure that the service to our members is maintained and that the Society continues to move forward. I would like to thank members for their patience during this transition period.
We presented our inaugural Beef Student of the Year award to Orla Kelly, a second year student studying BSc (Hons) Agricultural Technology, at Queen’s University Belfast and CAFRE. She hails from a suckler beef and sheep farm in Downpatrick, County Down. Orla received a £2,000 award, with the university collecting £1,000 towards a beef educational project. This new award – the first of its kind, enabled us to identify some of the most motivated and forward thinking students within the beef sector. Students from over 25 UK colleges and universities were invited to submit an essay discussing the future of suckler beef production. Those producing the four top essays were invited to make a presentation which demonstrated an understanding of the industry, the challenges it faces post Brexit, and how farmers will need to respond. The judging panel featured QMS head of economics services’ Stuart Ashworth and myself representing the society. In addition to Orla, the other three finalists were Chris Freeman, studying MSc Ruminant Nutrition, at Harper Adams University; Elizabeth Johnson, BSc Animal Science, School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Newcastle University and Katie Landers, BSc Agriculture, SRUC Edinburgh. We are planning to stage this award again in 2017/18. Please keep an eye out for potential entrants. Beef Shorthorn Society director, Geoff Riby
Fee Increase From 1st January 2018 the registration fee for a female under 4 months of age will rise to £28, female registrations between 4 and 12 months will rise to £56. Female registrations over 12 months will remain at £100. Bull calf registration fees will remain as at present. The fee to register a bull over 12 months of age is £200. All fees are plus VAT.
Beef Shorthorn Development Day This year will be held at Gill Hall, Lisburn, Northern Ireland on Saturday 12th August, kindly hosted by Mr James Porter of the Uppermill Herd, with a farm tour of Glenarm Castle Organic Farm on the Sunday morning 13th August. The programme is designed to assist new and young members gain experience and knowledge from within the Beef Shorthorn Breed.
Royal Highland Show 22nd – 25th June With a great entry expected for the Royal Highland Show this year don’t forget to come along to the prize – giving at 4pm on the Society stand to support the winning exhibitors.
Workshops are very practical and interactive and include show preparation, stock judging, and discussion groups on EBV’s, health schemes and genetics/breeding, plus of course the opportunity to meet new and existing members.
The evening barbeque on Thursday 22nd June at 7pm on the stand is again very generously sponsored by Morrisons. Drinks will be charged for. Due to its popularity it will be restricted to members and friends and booking a ticket is essential.
The day is free to members, but places are limited so please contact Tina Russell for more details and to book your places on the weekend. Mobile: 07711810354 and email: t17nar@gmail.com
Please book your tickets through Sally Horrell tel: 07932 052524 / email: sally@ beefshorthorn.org as soon as possible.
Everyone is welcome.
24 Hours in Farming
Tickets will be available for collection from the stand at the show.
Morrisons has teamed up with Farmers Guardian to support this year’s 24 Hours in Farming and British Farming Awards and we would encourage as many farmers as possible to get involved. Find out how to Tell your Story on August 10 at: http:// www.24hoursinfarming.co.uk/ or enter the awards at: http://www.britishfarmingawards.co.uk/
• DOCILE • FERTILE • EASY CALVING • HARDY • EASY CARE • PREMIUM BEEF • NATURAL FORAGERS • PROFITABLE • MILKY • LONG LIVED • WWW.SHORTHORN.CO.UK