British Cattle Conference, 2010 - programme
A Sustainable Breeding Future
Monday 25th January
13.30 |
Meeting of the Pedigree Beef Societies Group in the Coalbrookdale Room. More information from John Fleming on 01768 88775 |
15.30 |
Coffee in the Guest Lounge |
16.00 |
Research and Development Workshop |
16.10 |
Speaker 1 - Sion Aron Jones, Industry Development Manager, HCC, Aberystwyth, Wales |
16.25 |
Speaker 2 - Dr Duncan Pullar, Head of R&D, EBLEX, Stoneleigh, England |
16.40 |
Speaker 3 - Andy McGowan, Senior Manager, QMS, Edinburgh, Scotland |
16.55 |
Speaker 4 - Dr David Garwes, R&D Manager, DairyCo, Stoneleigh, England |
17.10 |
Speaker 5 - Br Mike Tempest, Technical Director, LMC |
17.25 |
Discussion |
18.00 |
EBLEX Wine & Cheese Reception |
18.45 |
The politics of food - who really cares? Ionwen Lewis is a farmer from Ceredigion in West Wales, who has her roots and boots in farming. Her rôles in the Welsh Assembly, the WFU and the NFU have brought her the ear of Government. She is passionate about farming and about Britain remaining a food producing country contributing to world food security. Ionwen will bring candour and humour to her tales of working with the powers that be and her regular visits to London's Smiths Square. |
19.30 |
Dinner available from this time onwards |
Tuesday 26th January - Beef Day - Great Hay Suite
Beef Session 1 - Chaired by Duncan Sinclair
Setting the scene
09.00 |
Chairman's welcome |
09.10 |
Are Burping Cows Warming the World? Ruminants in general and beef cattle in particular are in the firing line when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions. Is this justified? What is their contribution to GHG production and what is the scope for reduction? The Environmental Road Map aims to describe the current situation, and recommend the route ahead. This is an issue that will affect all cattle farmers in the near future so we need to understand and own the issues. |
09.40 |
Animal Breeding in the Genomics Era - the Future Now! Dr Taylor is an acknowledged world leader in the development of animal genomics. His team has developed high-density genotyping assays which predict genetic merit at birth with accuracies equivalent to progeny testing. These assays are revolutionising cattle breeding by decreasing generation intervals and increasing rates of genetic improvement. This is particularly true in traits which are not routinely measured such as disease resistance, feed efficiency and beef tenderness. This conference will be the first to hear the latest news, hot off the press, of recent research breakthroughs. |
10.10 |
Mass Selection and Molecular Markers to Improve Sustainability This massive beef breeding program in Brazil involves 400,000 head of cattle. Ian's paper will address the main concerns regarding public demands and expectations. These include managing the environmental impact of the business to reduce its footprint by various means from general husbandry to selection with the use of molecular genetics. |
10.40 |
Coffee |
Beef Session 2 - Chaired by Philip Hadley
Breeding for market requirements
11.15 |
Understanding Market Signals Consumer demand and changing lifestyles necessitate continually evolving beef products which in turn require innovative product development, processing and procurement. Understanding consumer trends and changing market signals are important for retail sales and should play a part in informed breeding decisions to achieve market requirements. |
11.40 |
Beef Processors and the Challenge of 'Sustainability' This paper will explore how the processing sector is addressing the issue of a sustainable beef sector. The paper will focus on the dual challenges of declining livestock numbers and the environmental impacts of beef production as well as looking at current consumer trends and attitudes towards sustainability and meat. |
12.05 |
Genetics versus Management Commercial beef farmers have to balance genetics, herd health, changing markets and day to day management. Adam's ASDA scholarship has explored the different ways USA and French farmers have approached these challenges. Both have found answers through co-operation with fellow farmers but with very different ideologies. |
12.30 |
Question Panel for the Session 1 and Session 2 speakers. |
12.45 |
Lunch |
Beef Session 3 - Chaired by Philip Halhead
Putting meat on the bones
14.15 |
Designing Cows for the Farmer. Designing Beef for the Consumer David is focussed on breeding a sustainable future, from organics to bubbles. The growth of his business is through designing an animal that offers more opportunities to buyers, throughout the chain, within a changing environment (from Angus to Wagyu, from grass-fed to high oleic fatty acid). He will tell us about developing a future for his 500 cow pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd, extensively grazing 4500 rented acres, in the Perthshire hills. |
14.40 |
Healthy Beef Meat - Can Breeding Change Fatty Acid Profiles? For modern meat consumers and retailers, fat quality of meat with emphasis on unsaturated fatty acids is becoming one of the most important quality criteria. This paper reviews the potential health benefits of unsaturated fatty acids, recent developments of their prediction online in abattoirs, and their potential improvement in beef breeding. |
15.05 |
Putting Lean Meat on the Bones (and Plates) Laura's Lean Beef is a company that started on a farm and has grown to where their beef is sold in 46 states through 6,500 retail grocery stores. This year, Laura's Lean Beef branded sales will exceed $150 million. They offer their 1,000+ cattle producers a sustainable income future as well as a sustainable environmental model. The compounded annual growth rate for the past ten years is over 10% and last year, during a difficult economic time, growth in weight sold and revenues over the prior year were up over 7%. The Company's retail sales growth and the cattle procurement model they have utilized to make it grow, will be the focus of this paper. |
15.35 |
Tea |
Joint session - Chaired by Mike Coffey
Contentious issues for cattle breeders
16.05 |
Devolved Administration of bTB; Confusion or Consistency? The advent and maturation of British devolved administrations has resulted in the development and application of different polices for the control of bovine TB in each country. However, they all base their decisions on the same science. Some reasons for this and their implications for trade in pedigree cattle will be outlined. |
To Show or not to Show - the future of livestock shows in the UK |
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| 16.30 | Speaker 1 - Mr Ray Jones FRAGS Chief Executive, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Midlothian, Scotland rayj@rhass.org.uk What is the future for the pedigree livestock breeders and shows? Is it sustainable or worthwhile? How does one compare one beast to another in looks, temperament, fitness and agility? What part does nutrition, hygiene and health play? Are livestock shows cost effective? Will the buyer come to you or sell over the 'net? What does the future hold?? |
| 16.40 | Speaker 2 - Mr Geoff Burgess Secretary, Royal Smithfield Club, Brierley House, Bath, Somerset sally@royalsmithfieldclub.co.uk With the increasing time and cost pressures on livestock producers, is there a future for the traditional livestock show? Is there any value for the exhibitor or the show visitor? Is there a future for livestock shows and if so what will they look like? |
| 16.50 | Speaker 3 - Mr Nick Everington Chief Executive, RABDF, Dairy House, Stareton, Warwickshire nickeverington@rabdf.co.uk Showing animals at events will continue to place cattle breeders and event organisers under increasing pressure both financially and from the problems associated with increasing legislation on bio-security. This paper will look at the reasons why the RABDF is confident in the way forward for exhibitors, organisers and audience. |
17.00 |
Panel Questions |
17.20 |
Rob Wills - the Chairman sums up the day |
Evening events
19.00 |
CDI Champagne Reception in the Guest Lounge |
19.30 |
Club Annual Dinner in the Great Hay Suite with beef kindly donated by Waitrose and Dovecote Park Ltd |
21.15 |
Any Questions in the Great Hay Suite Chairman - Paul Westaway Panel |
Wednesday 27th January - Dairy Day - Great Hay Suite
Dairy Session 1 - Chaired by Lucy Andrews
Using genomics in the breeding herd
08.30 |
Chairman's Welcome |
08.35 |
Even Fairy Tales have a Message! Like fairy tales Genomics are a lot of "make believe"! However, will there be a happy ending? Genomics are merely statistics! With a formula using more than 60,000 genomic markers based on only 5000 bulls, a lot of statistical imagination is required! A different definition of traits makes all previous "super bulls" ordinary and vice versa. In other words, genomics are not a magic wand, but present a greater financial risk than Wall Street! |
09.05 |
Genomics: Veni Vidi Vici January 2009 was a milestone in dairy cattle breeding. USDA proofs based on DNA testing were made available to the public. Today the majority of CRI semen sales in the US are from genomically proven bulls. As daughters of these bulls start milking they add information to the genomic pta's. These daughters are now confirming that bulls can be selected reliably based on genomics. |
09.35 |
Genomic Selection in Ireland - from Zero to Hero in One Year Ireland has implemented genomic selection for dairy cattle within 1 year of initiating the research. The road to this achievement was based on quick thinking, decisive action and a collective commitment to get on with it. Collaboration, both among industry representatives, farmers and scientists in Ireland as well as among international scientists was vital to its success. Numbers of genotypes were increased by swapping with other countries. Dr Berry will demonstrate the success of this project in Ireland. |
10.05 |
"What part does breeding play in the post quota era?" |
10.15 |
Coffee |
Dairy Session 2 - Chaired by Stuart Ward
The environmental impact of british dairying
10.50 |
Gold Cup or Holy Grail? The Secret to Success in an ever Greener World Winners of the 2009 RABDF/NMR Gold Cup, the Miresdale Pedigree Holstein herd has 370 milking cows and 430 head of youngstock on Geoff Spence's 84-hectare unit. His operation boasts exceptional stats across the board with: CI: 401, Yield: 10380kg at 3.90% BF and 3.10 prot, SCC: 168k, PLI: 21 with an outstanding 13% cull rate. Geoff's presentation will focus on how in the past, present and future his team's rigorous attention to detail, coupled with innovative ideas for environmental sustainability deliver a profitable, efficient and high welfare system that is truly deserving of this year's Gold Cup. |
11.15 |
"Dairy Beef has a Lower Carbon Footprint": Discuss! Genetic advancement within the British Blue breed has combined ease of calving with superior feed efficiency. However, current environmental and welfare concerns surrounding beef production have moved the goalposts. Mr Halhead will tell us why he thinks that the British Blue is ideally placed to produce high yields of saleable beef in the shortest possible time frame leaving a favourable footprint. |
11.40 |
We have developed the Cow; have we developed the Grass? Although traditional grass breeding targets such as yield and persistency remain important, other characteristics that help reduce the environmental footprint of dairy production are only just gaining recognition. Traits that improve the efficiency of grass utilisation can be bred into new varieties using conventional and molecular biology (GM) techniques. What's available, and what traits should we look for? |
12.05 |
In Defence of the Environmental Record of Large Scale Dairying in the UK Agriculture, and large scale dairying in particular, is vilified on a regular basis as a considerable contributor to greenhouse gasses in the UK. The author will defend its position by demonstrating that large scale dairying does have, or has the potential to have, a negative carbon footprint. |
12.30 |
Panel Questions |
12.45 |
Lunch |
Dairy Session 3 - Chaired by Neil Darwent
Breeding to combine efficiency, profitability and environment
14.10 |
The Future through a Young Farmer's Eyes As winner of the Farmers Guardian Dairy Farmer of the Future award, Rob has proven that he has coherent plans for running a successful 21st century dairy business. But how much consideration has he given to issues such as sustainability and carbon footprints? As well as telling us about the steps he has taken to become a successful milk producer, Rob will spell out how he sees its environmental future |
14.35 |
Across-breed Genetic Valuations - What's in it for you? 2010 will see the introduction of Across-Breed Evaluations for the UK dairy herd. This method improves on existing evaluations and makes it possible to compare bulls of different breeds directly. For the first time genetic evaluations will be available on crossbred animals and breeds not previously evaluated in the UK (eg. Brown Swiss and Montbeliarde). |
15.00 |
Utilising Genetic Improvement In Dairy To Deliver Environmental Goals Dairy genetic improvement has been driven by breeding goals that consider the broader profitability of a dairy system, incorporating both production and fitness traits. However, dairy producers may also be required to consider wider societal goals in the management of their systems, including their choice of bulls. This paper will focus on how UK dairy breeding goals could be developed to include environmental impact. |
And How Was It For You? |
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| 15.25 | Speaker 1 - Mark Smith Dairy Product Development and Production Director, Genus ABS, Alpha Building, Nantwich, Cheshire msmith@genusbreeding.co.uk |
15.40 |
Speaker 2 - Mr Hugh Pocock |
15.55 |
Panel Questions |
16.10 |
Rob Wills - the Chairman closes the conference. Tea available in the Coalbrook Lounge. |
16.15 |
AGM |
Download the full-colour detailed programme for the 2010 Conference here.
