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Aberdeen-Angus breeders received a major boost ahead of the recent successful
Perth bull sales with confirmation of an export order for 29 heifers
and two bulls – including nine in-calf heifers from the northern
isles, Orkney – to Germany.
The buyer, who runs an 80-cow Aberdeen-Angus
herd in Bavaria, personally selected the cattle from five herds last
month, along with export agents,
Eggs-Port Ltd of Hexham, Northumberland.
“This latest export breakthrough provides further evidence of
the demand for Aberdeen-Angus cattle on the Continent,” said Nigel
Hammill, Cheshire, retiring president of the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society. “The
potential is massive and this is just the start. Demand is being driven
by a growing requirement for quality Aberdeen-Angus beef in former Eastern
Bloc countries and especially Russia.
“Breeders in countries such
as Germany, Romania, Estonia and Poland are gearing up to meet this demand
by importing high performance genetics
from the UK to improve their herds.”
The latest deal follows a major promotional effort by
the Society at four European shows last autumn – Weidefestival and Eurotier in
Germany, Polagra in Poland, and Indagra in Romania – and the export
of more than 300 Aberdeen-Angus cattle last year to Estonia, France,
Germany, Romania and Switzerland.
Potential buyers from six countries
were in attendance at the Aberdeen-Angus show and sale in February,
including a group of 11 from Switzerland who
visited a number of herds in a tour organised by Eggs-Port. Other international
visitors at the sales included a large contingent from Germany, five
from the Czech Republic and one each from Austria, Estonia and New
Zealand.
This shipment to Germany includes animals from the Society’s
incoming president, Colin Davidson, Orkney, Alastair Fraser and John
Lascelles,
Angus, Playfair Farms, Roxburghshire (BLG individual member) and Angus
Stovold in Surrey.
All this comes at a great time in the Society's fortunes.
Membership (at 2319) and registrations (4350 bulls and 7147 heifers
born in 2005)
are at record levels. The financial front reflects this position with
a healthy surplus and strong reserves.
For more, see www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk
[11 Feb 07]
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