"Harnessing Change"
This year's conference, 'Harnessing Change', was hugely successful. Our new venue proved to be excellent, and we were once again fully booked. The 'buzz' at the conference was perceptible from the insights given by John Moffit on Monday evening to the stir caused by the last paper on Wednesday, Dr. Les Hansen's results of the California crossbreeding trials. Many delegates remained behind after the last paper to continue the debate.
Beef day was packed with papers of interest that were pertinent to anyone involved in the breeding, feeding, welfare and marketing of livestock.
The annual dinner saw a presentation to our retiring President, John Moffit CBE DCL FRASE, to mark the appreciation of the Club for his input over many, many years.
Dairy day gave perspectives from large commercial international units to RABDF/NMR Gold cup winners to the amazing enthusiasm of UK young pedigree breeders to the results of crossbreeding. Vets, marketeers, statisticians and geneticists filled in the science.
It was commented that this conference is 'still the best kept secret in UK breeding', and the Club's strength lies in its' ability to go on producing interesting, stimulating, independent and pertinent conferences year after year. Knowledge is indeed power.
It only remains for me to thank all of the speakers once more, the committee for their support, Duncan Pullar for organising the beef day and our tireless secretary Lesley Lewin who made my term of office run so smoothly. We look forward to next year's conference under the chairmanship of David Hewitt.
Philip Kirkham, Conference Chairman
