Previously, Carey Coombs wrote a very useful article on Myostatin and this was published in the Beef Shorthorn Journal for 2019. This follow up article is to share information that can be of use in Beef Shorthorn breeding programmes.
Read More
The breeding of cattle has advanced significantly since semen was first successfully frozen for use in artificial insemination (AI) in 1949. AI has become the primary breeding method for most producers in the dairy sector and is being increasingly popular with beef producers as well.
Read More
“Beef Shorthorn is definitely the native breed for me, and I’d recommend to others, who like myself also work off farm,” says Cathryn Williamson, who after more than a decade’s experience with the breed established her Balnespick herd in 2017 which has since grown to 20 breeding cows and followers.
Read More
Introducing Beef Shorthorn to a Sim Lim suckler herd is providing a solution for Doldy Farms’ farm manager, Pamela Nicol. “My objective is to produce easy fleshing, quality weaned calves off a low input, low cost forage based system with minimal concentrate supplement and developing this three-way cross cow is giving us an opportunity to do just that …
Read More
Efficient low input, low cost systems are for the now and the future, says Shona Calder who is finding that Beef Shorthorn is playing an increasing role as an added value functional suckler cow on her family’s LFA unit at Braes of Grandtully, Aberfeldy.
Read More
Beef Shorthorn is destined to have a significant future role at Kinnermit, says Kenny Mair who works alongside his parents, Barclay and Lucy and younger sister, Sally; together have established their Muiresk pedigree herd in the last two years.
Read More
Beef Shorthorn is the backbone of Barrockend’s suckler enterprise where Paul Coates and his father, Peter, farming in a joint venture agreement with Morrisons are focused on building a sustainable business producing quality stock.
Read More
Breeding pedigree Beef Shorthorn has rapidly evolved from a hobby in to a profitable business delivering three different income streams for Tim and Katy Coles.
Read More
We travelled to Glastonbury, Somerset to meet with Ross Whitcombe who racks up a hectic 50 to 60-hour week working as a livestock auctioneer and chartered surveyor whilst he also farms. Together with his wife, Clare and baby son, Henry, Ross manages 100 cows including the pedigree Brue Valley Beef Shorthorn herd on the Somerset Levels.
Read More
The Evans and Price family partnership is one of an expanding number of Welsh based breeders who are reaping the benefits of investing in Beef Shorthorn genetics. Introducing Beef Shorthorn to Llwynhywel has, they say, reduced feed costs, the vet and med bill and opened up a new marketplace.
Read More
Demand for polled beef cattle is gaining momentum. The industry already requires dehorned animals in transit, as well as for farm and safety and welfare reasons.
Read More
There have been a number of points raised by members recently about DNA sampling and sire verification plus myostatin testing. Hopefully this update will give some answers and also correct some points that have been made.
Read More
The Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society now provides three selection indexes through its performance recording provider, Breedplan. A Maternal Index now joins the Self-Replacing and the Terminal Index, both of which have been updated.
Read More
All cattle breeders will be aware of double muscled cattle, particularly the Belgian Blue. This breed has been selectively bred for what is commonly known as double-muscling. This is the manifestation of a condition known as myostatin gene mutation.
Read More
The greatest challenge facing UK agriculture at present is, undoubtedly, the potential impact Brexit may have on the sector. Suckler producers must improve the efficiency of their herds’ performance to make their businesses more profitable and resilient in order to survive these challenging times.
Read More
Performance recording is a tool available to all Society members to help you make more careful selection decisions, and in turn to assist you to market your stock.
Read More
Do you know which of your cows are most efficient? “Biggest is not always best,” says veterinary nutritionist, Dr Debby Brown. “Smaller suckler cows are in general more efficient at producing calf weight per unit of cow weight…”
Read More
Beef Shorthorn has huge potential in the South West; it’s an opportunity that continues to remain untapped, says Anthony Thorne. “Whilst Continental cattle dominate the suckler scene, they lack milk, their temperament is questionable …”
Read More
Cattle health schemes provide a framework for establishing the disease status of a herd, as well as guidance for reduction, eradication and certification of freedom from disease. The diseases covered by the health schemes are Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Johne’s disease, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Leptospirosis and Neospora.
Read More
“I’m the second generation to farm Welsh Black pedigree cows at Nanty where sucklers play an important role in the grazing rotation. However, the time had come for a change, we wanted something that had more market value and was more practical to keep.
Read More