Fisher 1 Rancher and Solpoll 1 Spike will feature in a Genus webinar on Wednesday 3 March at 7:30pm, focusing on using EBVs to boost profitability.

The webinar will discuss the role of AI within beef herds and the importance of using EBVs to identify the best sires to achieve maximum profitability and efficiency. AHDB will also feature in the discussion and will speak more about EBVs, looking at what goes into the data, how to interpret them and where to access sire information.

The two Hereford bulls will be used as examples to demonstrate how selecting for maternal and terminal traits can have its unique benefits.

It is important to register for the event. To do so, click here.

For more information about the event, please contact Jess Simms (EMEA beef band manager) on 07866 010000 or email Jess.Simms@genusplc.com.

Peter Eccles

After being named Farmers Weekly’s farm manager of the year earlier this week online, Peter Eccles has also been announced as the awards’ overall farmer of the year.

Charged with the running of Saughland Farm, Midlothian for the last four years, Peter has led the farm to change the base of its beef production from a 70-head herd of bought-in Limousin-cross cows to 100 spring-calving Hereford cross Angus cows, with size and progeny better suited to the land and market.

A member of the Hereford Cattle Society, Peter also runs the Rockness herd of pedigree Herefords at his parent’s property which has had its own share of success. Peter utilises his own home-bred bulls on the commercial herd at Saughland, along with Angus sires.

Peter aims for each cow to produce a calf weighing 50 per cent of its bodyweight at 200 days. The best of the cows are achieving more than 68 per cent, with cows weighing 608kg at weaning, producing a 413kg calf at 200 days.

Sheep numbers have also jumped from 950 Scotch Mules to 2,100 Aberfield ewes and hoggs while a reduction in the arable acreage has made way for more grass, supplemented by fodder beet.

The environment and conservation are also a key part to Peter’s plan, and his apparently limitless energy drives not only a constant search for high-level technical performance, but also a desire to learn from and share with others.

Technology plays a huge part in the operation, with comprehensive electronic identification management used alongside the Agriweb app to record frequent stock movements across 100-plus rotational grazing paddocks, as well as crop treatments and measurements.

Peter said: “I am just really shocked to have won this award. I was more than surprised to have won the farm manager award earlier in the week so the farmer of the year title was something else. I must also say well done to all the other finalists and thank you to everyone who helped me in my career to date.”

Adding to the success for those making sound commercial use of the Hereford breed, were Esther and Henry Rudge from Herefordshire, winning the mixed farmer of the year title.

The Rudges run a 200-head beef unit. Opting for Stabiliser cows, two high performance Hereford bulls are utilised with estimated breeding values in the top one per cent of the breed. This has improved calving ease and a calving jack has not been used on the farm for the past two years, with calves weighing just 35kg at birth.

Calves are weaned at a minimum of 50 per cent of their mother’s weight and sold fat from 16 to 20 months of age, under contract to Waitrose on the Hereford beef scheme, averaging £1,231.

The family always achieves top-10 supplier status and won this year’s producers category.

John Vaughan

Former Hereford breeder T John Vaughan had just finished writing a 416 page A4 book entitled ‘The Hereford, The Greatest Breed on Earth’ before sadly passing away in December 2020.

John previously wrote ‘Bovine Showbiz’ which sold over 5,000 copies, with just six left on the shelf. Taking just 10 days to write, it was printed in another two weeks.

Last year, he commented: “I thought it was a doddle producing a book. However, ‘The Hereford, The Greatest Breed on Earth’ has been ten years in the making and virtually every day over the past twelve months.”

The book details how the breed began right through its development and covers the Hereford’s ups and downs from the early 1800s right up to today. It is the perfect learning point for breeders and all Hereford breeders will agree it is aptly titled.

Events and characters are brought to life to celebrate this influential breed. It is packed with facts and opinion and composed in such a way that from start to finish is very entertaining to read.

Fortunately, John was satisfied he had completed his project before illness set-in and instructed the printers to produce his book, but more than most such works, this one certainly has the feel of being compiled by a true practitioner.

The book costs £45 plus postage and can be ordered by emailing beverley.turner@herefordcattle.org.

The rules on moving goods from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI) changed on 1 January 2021.

If you move sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) goods such as live animals, products of animal origin (POAO), high-risk food not of animal origin and plants and plant products from GB to NI you need to ensure you follow these rules and complete all required documentation, or your goods may delayed or even refused entry.

What you should do if moving goods to Northern Ireland
You MUST pre-notify the arrival of your consignment of SPS goods into Northern Ireland by completing a CHED (Common Health Entry Document) document using the TRACES-NT online system.

This needs to be completed 24 hours before your goods arrive in NI at your point of entry.

What is TRACES-NT?
TRACES-NT is the European Commission’s online notification system for moving agri-food goods into NI from GB. It formalises and facilitates the exchange of data, information and documents between trading parties and governments/import control authorities.TRACES-NT covers the notification of movement of live animals, animal products, food and feed not of animal origin, as well as plants and plant products from GB to a NI point of entry.

DAERA have published a step-by-step guide on how to get started and use TRACES-NT. This includes how to create a TRACES-NT account, how to login to the online system and how to create a CHED document.

More information
There is more information available to help you complete a CHED online and about TRACES-NT is detailed below.

• Moving goods from GB into Northern Ireland – A guide to using TRACES NT
• Instructions for business pre-notifying the arrival of a consignment at a Northern Ireland Point of Entry
• Important information required on CHED Part 1 for GB to NI Movements from 1 January 2021
• Guidance on bringing Products of Animal Origin, Animal By-Products & Germplasm from GB to NI

If you have any questions about the information in this document, email traders@defra.gov.uk or for NI specific questions DAERABrexitCommunications@daera-ni.gov.uk.

Paul Sneyd

Paul Sneyd has been appointed as the new director of operations of the Hereford Cattle Society and will take on the role of managing the society and its office.

Having worked across a number of agricultural and horticultural businesses, Paul has spent the last two years working for Jupiter Group managing its grower portfolio and running a project in India. Prior to that, he spent eight years in a senior management role in Haygrove Growing Systems within Haygrove Ltd which is a farming business supplying the best retailers in the UK, Europe, South Africa and China with berries all-year-round.

Originally from Staffordshire, Paul spent most of his childhood growing up and working on a dairy farm. On leaving home, he joined the Fleet Air Arm in the Royal Navy, where he trained and worked as an air engineer for five years. Following this, he studied agricultural marketing and business studies at Harper Adams University where he met his wife, Sarah, and together they live with their two children in rural Herefordshire.

Away from work, Paul is passionate about sport, particularly rugby and is an avid supporter of his local team, Luctonians Rugby Club based near Leominster, Herefordshire.

Paul said: “I am looking forward to getting my teeth into this role which has such scope and I relish the opportunity to work with an ambitious council and the wider membership, to grow and develop the society and Hereford cattle brand.

“With my experience, passion for agriculture, there is real opportunity to progress and further enhance the great work already achieved alongside the team. Along with my personality and ability to communicate at all levels, my life’s experience in farming communities and agricultural businesses gives me a great foothold for the role I am taking on.

“As we move into a changing landscape for farmers and the industry, it is imperative we continue to build a more profitable and sustainable industry, developing on the latest technologies in science and genetics. We must also make sure our communications and connections with the end consumer are strong and clear.”

Paul begins his role on Monday 1 February. He is happy to discuss his new role with any members or friends of the society and can be contacted on paul.sneyd@herefordcattle.orgor 07811 748079.

From 1 January 2021 the UK will trade with the EU as a third country and therefore new rules for entry into the EU of certain animals and products from third countries, including livestock, will apply.

Under the Northern Ireland Protocol of the EU Withdrawal Agreement, the same requirements will apply for these live animal movements from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

The last date for receipt of samples for microsatellite and/or SNP testing which require results before the Christmas break is Friday 27 November 2020.

Weatherbys Scientific will be closed from Thursday 24 December to Friday 1 January 2021 for the Christmas holiday season.

The laboratory will reopen on Monday 4 January 2021.

Having also won the large herd category, Balbuthie-based JA Cameron and son’s Baldinnie herd has been announced as the overall winner of the Scottish Hereford Breeders’ Association’s herd competition.

Pete and Nicky Brown, Isle of Arran, judged the competition and said it was evident the Camerons’ enthusiasm for the Hereford breed is as strong as ever.

Pete said: “The cows were big and, at the same time, of a consistent type throughout. There were all in good condition, healthy and mobile and we were particularly impressed with the spring-born calves, both bulls and heifers. The autumn calving cows were well fleshed but not too fat. We saw a strong group of bulling heifers to calve around two and a half years of age.”

Heading up the small herd section was association secretary Margaret Galbraith’s Craigdhu herd, based in Sandilands. Only established in 2017, it was the smallest herd to be judged.

Nicky commented: “We saw a tremendous Romany-bred foundation cow in show condition and breeding consistently with a good 2019 bull calf, 2018 bulling heifer and 2017 recently first-calved daughter with a very nice bull calf.”

Second in the large herd competition was Jimmy Hodge of Fellowhills Herefords based near Berwick-upon-Tweed, and is another newly established herd. Third place was taken by JRB Wilson and son’s Romany herd, Kelso.

Peter Eccles, Tranent and his Rockness herd were placed second in the small herd section, followed by JM Cant and partners, Arbirlot and their Panmure herd.

Knockmountagh Chief 2 from William Andrews, Arranview Herefords, Auchincruive won the stock bull competition. Being nine and a half years old, Pete described it as a ‘big bull and strong boned’ bull ‘with a good top’ . He said it was ‘well-fleshed with an excellent temperament’.

Results

(Judge: P and N Brown, Isle of Arran)

Stock bull, 1st, William Andrews, Knockmountagh Chief 2; 2nd, Andrew and Serena Sykes, Kileekie Frank; 3rd, Peter Eccles, Moralee 1 Porteous.

Bull calf, 1st, JO Hodge, Fellowhills 1 Taliceson; 2nd, Margaret Galbraith, Craigdhu 1 MacDuff; 3rd, George and Sophie Harvey, Harveybros 1 Thomas the Tank.

Heifer calf, 1st, J A Cameron and son, Baldinnie 1 Kay 37th; 2nd, JRB Wilson and sons, Romany 1 Lucy N68 T26; 3rd, JM Cant and partners, Panmure 1 Plum.

Small herd, 1st, Margaret Galbraith, Craigdhu; 2nd, Peter Eccles, Rockness; 3rd, JM Cant and partners, Panmure.

Large herd, 1st, JA Cameron and son, Baldinnie, 2nd, JO Hodge, Fellowhills; 3rd, JRB Wilson and sons, Romany.

Overall herd, JA Cameron and son, Baldinnie.

Hereford Cattle Society has launched its new identity, including a unique logo and improved website.

Phil Allman

With a striking, modern brand, the society is setting itself apart, as it looks to the future as a proactive organisation, with an ever-increasing membership.

Phil Allman, chairman of the Hereford Cattle Society, said: “We are excited to finally be able to launch our new brand and website to our members, stakeholders and the wider industry.

“We now have an identifiable brand which is easily recognisable and resonates with our society aims. Although we are proud of our rich history, being one of the oldest beef breeds in the UK, we recognise the need to look to the future, and are actively working to prepare and strengthen ourselves for whatever challenges Brexit and beyond bring.”

In 2020, there are over 1,000 active pedigree Hereford breeders across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, an increase of nearly 60 per cent over the last 10 years.

Mr Allman continued: “In excess of 9,000 pedigree calves are now registered each year, which is up nearly 50 per cent compared to a decade ago. Over 185,000 Hereford sired progeny are now registered each year in the UK, including those on cross-bred suckler and dairy systems which is almost a 90 per cent increase from ten years ago.

“Not only does this show the Hereford Cattle Society is going in the right direction with the breed is gaining more and more momentum, but it also shows how commercially relevant and popular Herefords have become once again. Visit our new website and you can read more.”

The top three Hereford AI bulls used in Ireland in the first half of 2020 were all UK-bred and produced 957 calves between them.

Making up this top trio were Solpoll 1 Kentucky Kid and Solpoll 1 Handsome by John and William McMordie, Co Down and Fabb 1 Northern Star by DRA Fabb, Cambridgeshire, all owned by the National Cattle Breeding Centre (NCBC).

Such has been the success of these sires, NCBC has purchased further UK-bred sires in the last year from the Solpoll, Netherhall, Barwise and Fisher herds.

Solpoll 1 Handsome is one of the top three AI bulls in Ireland.