The BCBC
The British Cattle Breeders Club provides a forum for exchange between scientists and breeders of beef and dairy cattle.
At the annual British Cattle Conference papers are presented by leading scientists, breeders, industry specialists and veterinarians.
The conference is a truly international occasion, providing a unique opportunity to meet other breeders and scientists in a warm and friendly environment.
Changing Times
Much of the way we farm and breed cattle today has been shaped by discussion at the conference of the British Cattle Breeders Club.
Here are some landmarks, highlights and lowlights from almost 60 years.
Intensive or extensive?
Bill Jewell argues for "Low input for less stress, lower costs and greater efficiency", Richard Rhone contends that "Only high input systems can meet consumer demands", whilst Mike Houghton believes that "Grass-based systems offer the best prospect of sustained profits".
US trends and technology
According to Brian Bolton, chief executive of Allflex USA, British dairy farmers may not have the same problems as those in America, but there is much they can learn from Stateside trends
Beef lots in the north east?
Richard Whitlock believes large scale cattle feed lots could be created in the north east once two major bioethanol plants come on stream.
The Vivergo factory in Hull will produce around 500,000 tonnes of Dried Distillers Grains with Solubles (DDGS) per annum, and the other plant, in Teesside, will have a similar capacity.
Dairy industry at tipping point
Confidence must be stimulated in the dairy industry before it is too late, said NFU president, Peter Kendall as he addressed an audience of largely dairy farmers on the second day of the conference.
That was likely to involve finding a 'better way of doing business'.
Effective control of IBR
Ruminant veterinary adviser Rosemary Booth reports that switching UK cattle onto Europe's leading Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) live marker vaccine allows us to match our EU competitors in terms of identifying infected cattle and make similar progress towards eradicating the disease.
Rosy outlook for rosé veal
"If the Dutch could import calves from the UK & Ireland and export the rosé veal and make a return, then surely Linden Foods should be fit to do the same." says Linden's Frank Foster.
