Breed Societies - the Genetic Driving Force of the Future
John Fleming (Company Secretary of the British Belgian Blue Cattle Society)
Does anyone need Breed Societies?
Lesley Lewin (Chief Executive of the South Devon Herd Book Society)
Breed Societies - a time to meet new Challenges
Ian Kerr (Chief Executive of the British Limousin Cattle Society)
Beef Breed Societies - Check against Delivery
John Lewis (Deputy President of the Sussex Cattle Society)
Breeding Tools And Their Application
Dr John Willams (Principle Scientist, Roslin Institute, Mid-Lothian)
Improvement in livestock is brought about by selection, whereby individuals with superior characteristics in particular traits are used to breed the next generation. This approach has been very successful for simple traits. Dr Williams will discuss the advances in molecular genetics that mean methods are now available in livestock to identify the chromosomal location of genes controlling production traits. This information can be used to enhance breeding programmes.
The Use of Molecular Genetics in Existing Breeding Programmes for Beef and Dairy Cattle
Gert Nieuwhof (Senior Geneticist, Meat & Livestock Commission)
BLUP technology has been applied successfully in both beef and dairy cattle breeding. Molecular tools will not replace BLUP, but be an addition. Major genes and genetic markers can be used for parentage verification, estimation of relations between animals, increased accuracy of breeding values and evaluation of new traits.
Some Practical Aspects of Beef Cattle Breeding
Marion Tilson (Partner, J&J Campbell, Wedderlie Farming, Berwickshire)
The Wedderlie Herd is the largest Aberdeen Angus herd in the UK and is run commercially. Mrs Tilson will discuss the difficulties of balancing maternal and growth traits using existing breeding tools. She will raise other recording issues such as the detrimental effect importations have on recording figures. What will be the future use of gene markers?
Beef from Dairy Bulls
Basil Lowman (Beef Advisor, SAC, Roxburghshire)
More than half the beef sold in the UK is marketed on its visual lean content (VL%) and price. Minced beef is a worldwide commodity, taking an increasing proportion of the market as demand for convenience foods increases. Processed beef from dairy bulls can compete in this world market only if producers maximize their efficiency and work together to take advantage of the economies of scale in both production and marketing.
British Beef Finishing - How Competitive are we?
Paul Hinwood (Farmer, Withypool Farm, Worcestershire)
Mr Hinwood is a Shropshire beef farmer and Nuffield scholar currently finishing 1500 bulls a year for a major meat wholesaler. In his paper he will be discussing his view of British beef competitiveness with the countries of the Southern Hemisphere, specifically Australia and Argentina.
Breeding Systems for Profitable Beef Cattle Production
Burke Teichert (Regional Manager, Farm Management Company, Nebraska, USA)
Mr Teichert will describe the breeding system of the Rex Ranch in Nebraska. The development of a composite along with culling and selection strategies will be described. Emphasis is placed on developing cattle that will fit the environment in which they are raised so that production will be economically and ecologically sustainable over time. The alignment of production and marketing strategies will also be outlined.
Breeding Suckler Cows in an Upland Environment
James Playfair-Hanney (Farmer, Kelso, Roxburghshire)
To breed suckler cows that produce quality beef cattle in an upland environment is the goal of the Playfair-Hanneys. Over the years several breeds and management systems have been used in the family business, to meet different market demands and Mr Playfair-Hanney will discuss some of these. Today the family require fertile, productive and economical cows that generate income and benefit the environment.
