The British are coming, or are they just ------ ?
Henry Lewis (Chairman of the British Livestock Genetics Consortium and Livestock Export Manager for MLC, Milton Keynes)
Details the global opportunities and challenges for British genetics.
Facing the Market
Duncan Sinclair (Senior Economic Analyst, MLC, Milton Keynes)
CAP reform and the potential exit from the OTMS are two key issues that the UK industry will face in the next 12-18 months. Both represent challenges and with that threats and opportunities for the industry. This paper identifies some of the potential implications of these policy changes.
Defra's Science Strategy for Sustainable Livestock Farming
Dr David Garwes (Head, Livestock Science Unit, Defra, London)
Sustainable livestock farming needs to integrate and balance profitability, environmental impact and rural issues. Defra's Livestock Science Research Strategy aims to provide solutions to this, based on improvements and changes in cattle genetics, nutrition, fertility and grazing management.
Targets For Commercial Beef Producers – A UK Retailer's Perspective
Dr Jonathan Birnie (Partnership in Livestock Manager for J Sainsbury, Ricall, Yorkshire)
The paper outlines the general principles of customer demand, messages that Sainsbury's is receiving about beef and speculates on future changes in customer demand. The current specifications for beef are outlined as well as the reasons for those specifications, the implications of missing those specifications and possible changes to those specifications in the future.
Is Biosecurity Necessary?
George Caldow BVM&S, MSc, Cert CHP, MRCVS (SAC Regional Veterinary Manager and Manager of Premium Cattle Health Scheme, St Boswells, Roxburghshire)
The purchase of cattle for breeding and finishing is an integral part of beef systems in Britain. However many of the diseases that have a significant impact on productivity and profitability are introduced to herds through the purchase of apparently healthy stock carrying infection. This paper addresses whether improved biosecurity is desirable or achievable.
Production Plus
Barry Brooks (Managing Director, Beckhithe Farms Ltd, Norfolk)
Beckhithe Farms Ltd is a large commercial beef farm situated at Reedham in the heart of the Norfolk Broads. The herd of 2,700+ cattle graze 3,300 acres of ESA marshes. The livestock system is based on a suckler herd of 1,000 cows, mostly black Limousin which are mated with Aberdeen Angus bulls. The farm finishes approximately 1,000 animals a year.
Food Animal Initiative – Farming and Welfare: a vital combination
Roland Bonney and Malcolm Pye (Directors, Food Animal Initiative, The Field Station Farm, Oxford)
The Food Animal Initiative aims to develop practical, sustainable farming systems that provide a discernible benefit to animal welfare, the environment and human health. Through demonstrating profitable approaches to livestock farming we hope to inspire others to develop their production systems in a sustainable direction.
Selecting for Terminal and Maternal Traits
Boris Kazatskin (Sales Manager, UCEF, Montrond-le-Bains, France)
Charolais Optimal is a co-operative specialising in Charolais genetics. Through performance and progeny testing, terminal and maternal traits are identified to fulfil three roles, namely for purebred replacements, for crossbreeding in the dairy herd, and for crossbreeding in suckler herds.
Beef Bull Selection for AI
Neil Wharton (UK Beef Sales Manager, Genus Breeding Ltd.)
After working in the industry for many years, the speaker has gained considerable experience in dealing with the problems and solutions that occur when selecting a beef bull for use in AI. He describes these problems and solutions with particular reference to the selection pressures from fertility, disease and calving ease.
The Impact of Sexed Semen on UK Suckler Beef Production?
David Telford (PhD Student, School of Agriculture, University of Newcastle)
Semen sexing represents a major advance in reproductive technology, and could have a significant influence upon the UK beef industry. This paper describes the potential for adoption of sexed semen by suckler herds, and how sexed semen may affect UK suckler beef production.
The Calving Ease EBV for Beef Cattle, What and How?
Dr Huw Jones (Geneticist, MLC, Milton Keynes)
The calving ease EBV is an important tool for beef breeders. Whilst many understand the interpretation of the EBV, few fully appreciate how it is derived. In this paper the interpretation of the calving ease EBV is reviewed, and some light shed on how it is calculated, particularly with regards to the relative importance of records on calving ease itself and on other correlated traits.
Making sure beef tastes good
Professor Jeff Wood (Head of Division of Farm Animal Science, School of Veterinary Science, University of Bristol)
This presentation examines the factors affecting beef eating quality. Tenderness and flavour are the important aspects and growth rate and diet have important effects. Grass-feeding has particular benefits since it increases omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E levels in beef.
The Beef we Eat
Judith Freane (Farmer, Perridge Farm, Shepton Mallet, Somerset)
A hatrick of awards has put the beef produced from this farm under the spotlight. How do we achieve consistent quality of end product?
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