At ABP we’ve forged a reputation over sixty years for quality and innovation, supplying to our retail, foodservice and manufacturing customers, including multiple Michelin Star restaurants. We are committed to supporting British agriculture and work with over 12,000 farming families across the UK each year.  We are passionate about helping farmers meet the demands of consumers to produce high qua...

A group of farmers in Northern Ireland are making significant progress towards Net Zero, with some already achieving Net Zero, as part of a pioneering project called Accelerating Ruminant Carbon Zero (ARCZero). In NI farmers must cut emissions by 48% before 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 under the Climate Change Act, which was introduced in 2022. Funded by the NI Executive and the EU’s EIP-Agri...

Agrecalc is a carbon footprint tool developed by combining the on-farm practical expertise of SAC Consulting with world-class agricultural science and research of SRUC.  What started as a small tool to help calculate the carbon footprint of imported lamb in 2007, grew into a fully-fledged Software as a Service. Agrecalc is a precise instrument that offers both breadth and depth of on-farm and thr...

Leading convenience retailer, Co-op is funding 40 young farmers and agricultural student spaces at this year’s British Cattle Breeder’s Conference. The conference, which is taking place on the 22-24 January at the Telford Hotel and Golf Resort in Shropshire, is entitled ‘Green Genes – revolutionising cattle breeding for a sustainable future’ and will explore how breeding can help meet UK greening...

Third-generation farmer Rory Christie has helped create the world’s first crossbreeding index using genomic information, milk production and herd health data. Mr Christie, who milks 1,100 spring-calving Jersey cross Holstein cows alongside his brother, Gregor, in South-West Scotland, has been part of a trail-blazing project, led by Professor Mike Coffey at SRUC since its establishment in 2017. T...

Aberdeenshire suckler farmer is bucking trends – while other suckler farmers were dispersing herds he took on a 226-acre tenancy and started a herd of 50 suckler cows. Over the past eight years, he has more than quadrupled cow numbers to 230 and is now farming 610 acres. To obtain a loan from the bank, Duncan says it was vital he was focused on KPIs and breeding cows that fitted his low-input sy...

Returning to Telford on 22-24 January 2024,  the programme for the conference entitled 'Green Genes - Revolutionising cattle breeding for a sustainable future' is now available to view here. The programme brings together a wealth of well-acclaimed UK and international academics and farmers.  This year for the first time there will be two bovine sessions assembling beef and dairy sectors to reveal...

The British Cattle Breeders Club conference is returning to Telford in January and will explore why the UK’s cattle industry is part of the climate change solution and how breeding can help meet greening targets. The industry has pledged to become net zero by 2040, and some national governments are already proposing livestock reductions. However, there is another, more sustainable solution to me...

Dairy farmers, vets and industry professionals right across the whole supply chain have collaborated through Ruminant Health & Welfare (RH&W) to create the new UK Dairy Cattle Welfare Strategy for 2023-2028. The strategy, which has now been launched is designed to help the industry show progress in animal welfare by 2028. RH&W vice-chairman, Gwyn Jones, says the strategy is an update of a previo...

Bovine genetics company, Genus ABS, has been awarded Climate Smart Funding by Innovate UK for their Climate Smart Beef Genetics Project, to aid the agriculture sector in meeting its net zero aims.  This project will see a large monetary award given to the genetics company to support their ground-breaking research. Data collected so far has demonstrated the potential of ruminal microbiome-driven b...

We are thrilled to announce that Professor Sharon Huws BSc MSc PhD FHEA has been awarded the prestigious Sir John Hammond Award at the recent BSAS Annual Conference. The award, jointly sponsored by the British Cattle Breeders Club and BSAS, is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of animal science. Sharon Huws, a renowned researcher and Professor of Animal...

Efficiency, fertility, emissions, and profit are all linked, Phil Garnsworthy, Professor of Dairy Science at University of Nottingham’s School of Biosciences told the BCBC conference in January. Milk yield is the main driver of production efficiency, and milk yield per hectare is the main driver of whole farm efficiency. However, any efficiency gains are partly offset by lower fertility said Pro...

Sustainability is about more than just net zero. The BCBC conference heard from speakers working on other areas of the sustainability challenge. Livestock are part of the climate change problem, so it’s important to address the issues so that they can be part of the solution, said Prof Geoff Simm, Director of the Global Academy of Agriculture & Food Systems at the University of Edinburgh. Clima...

Hybrid vigour in the dairy herd means that one plus one equals three, says Sean Chubb of LIC. Speaking at the BCBC conference he outlined how cross-breeding – and other changes – were helping to save the dairy unit at Walford College. Increasing the value of milk while also drastically reducing costs were twin aims at the centre of Sean Chubb and Tom Moore’s plans at Walford College. Together th...

As the world’s leading animal health company, Zoetis exists to nurture our world and humankind by advancing care for animals. With 70+ years of experience innovating a leading portfolio and pipeline of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and technologies, we stand by those caring for animals by providing solutions worldwide. CLARIFIDE® Plus is the comprehensive genomic test from Zoetis. By analysin...

The 75th Anniversary conference marked the occasion of the BCBC presidential handover, following the completion of Professor Mike Coffey’s six-year term. He handed over the title to Mr Duncan Sinclair. Professor Coffey, a Professor in livestock informatics at SRUC, said “I had already been a member of the Club since around 1989 before having the huge honour of being nominated as President of BCBC...

Collaboration, efficiency and connection with the end consumer were themes for the fourth Beef Day session at the BCBC conference. Delegates heard from three speakers – Aled Evans, Richard Phelps and James Evans – each with different viewpoints of the beef supply chain. Collaboration is an over-used word in beef production systems, but it is important, says Richard Phelps. One of the key things t...

It is with great sadness and regret that The British Cattle Breeders Club announces the passing of our friend, club member and club treasurer, Henry Richardson. Henry first attended a BCBC conference in 2008, and was elected onto the club’s committee in 2013, taking over as club treasurer in 2014.  His enthusiasm for the industry shone throughout various roles during his career.  Henry was a wond...

Myths about beef and dairy production are driving sales of alternative products, but do not threaten the long-term success of the industry. However, work needs to be done to share the positive stories, delegates heard in the opening sessions of the BCBC conference. “The beef industry is destroying the planet!” said Lucianne Allen, sales and marketing director for Aubrey Allen. “Experts in agricul...

The Sir John Hammond Award is awarded to those that have made significant contribution through research, teaching, knowledge exchange, breeding, farming, industry or affiliated professions. The award is highly selective and nominated candidates must be of high merit. Nominations must be sent to Maggie Mitchell at BSAS by 28th February 2023. What is the Prize? £500 What is the Application Proce...

Do you want to confidently take control of your natural capital? Then you need Sandy, the Smart Natural Capital Navigator from Trinity Agtech What is Sandy? Farmers, land owners and tenants across the UK and Europe are using Sandy to reliably measure and confidently navigate their farm’s natural capital. An award-winning navigation software for measuring, managing and optimising all your natu...

It is an enormous privilege to have been entrusted to chair the British Cattle Breeders Club for the year 2023-2024. To butcher a phrase from Sir Isaac Newton 'I have arrived here by standing on the shoulders of giants', the giants in this case being my predecessors in the role Amy Hughes and Dr Karen Wonnacott.  Karen had the unenviable task of pulling together an all digital conference during Co...

Improving the productivity, efficiency and sustainability of beef and dairy production was the focus of the British Cattle Breeders Club conference held in Telford last week (24th and 25th January). An impressive line-up of speakers including renowned scientists and researchers and leading farmers tackled how the industry needed to ‘challenge traditions’ to meet current and upcoming challenges. ...

A panel of leading farmers will discuss the hot topics for British cattle breeders in the final sessions of both Beef and Dairy Days at the BCBC 2023 conference. Three successful beef farmers will be getting to grips with the most pressing topics for the sector in our panel discussion which will conclude the conference’s Beef Day. Bridget Borlase runs a butchery business alongside a small herd o...

To celebrate the Club’s 75th anniversary, on Tuesday 24th January we will be hosting a champagne reception sponsored by Kite Consulting followed by a black-tie dinner with beef provided by Aubrey Allen Butchers and table wine sponsored by Weatherbys Scientific.  After dinner we will hold a charity auction, with guest auctioneers Mark and Meg Elliott from Bagshaws, to raise funds for the Farming Co...

VikingGenetics – Innovative Breeding At VikingGenetics, we help feed the world’s expanding population and sustain the earth’s natural resources by breeding healthy, efficient, trouble-free cows. We provide science-based bovine genetic products and solutions for progressive dairy and beef producers. Our passion is to help you as a farmer achieve your business goals, farm sustainably, and enjoy li...

British farmers are constantly being advised to scrutinise what they do and adapt according to market demands, but is this happening when it comes to cattle breeding? The 75th British Cattle Breeding conference will be held at Telford Hotel and Golf Resort, Shropshire, from Monday 23rd to Wednesday 25th January, and will bring together experience and science from across the industry in the UK and...

Over 9,000 pedigree Hereford calves are registered each year, which is up nearly 50 per cent compared to 10 years ago, while more than 185,000 Hereford sired progeny are recorded annually, up almost 90 percent in the same period. This rise in both pedigree and commercial use of the Hereford comes as beef producers increasingly realise the value of the breed in maintaining a sustainable system in ...

How can hybrid vigour benefit beef and dairy supply chains? Our expert speakers will explore the issues in the fourth session of the BCBC 2023 Conference. Benefits and insights of an integrated beef supply chain is the topic of Richard Phelps’s presentation opening the session. Richard is Group Agriculture Director for ABP UK and Managing Director of Blade Farming, and will outline how collaborat...

Mole Valley Farmers is the UK’s leading agricultural supply and rural retailing business and we are proud to be a sponsor of the British Cattle Breeding Club’s Annual Conference 2023. Founded in 1960 and still owned by farmers and trading with a cooperative ethos, Mole Valley Farmers works for the greater good of our farmer shareholders, helping them to improve their productivity, profitability a...