Beef Expo hosts 10-strong Inward Trade Mission

The British Livestock Genetics Consortium in conjunction with AHDB Beef and Lamb Export Department were pleased to host an Inward Trade Mission of 10 International Delegates to the National Beef Association’s ‘Beef Expo’ held at Bakewell, Derbyshire 19-20 May 2016.

The Mission comprised of:-
• Two representatives from Estonia, one a Charolais breeder and the other from the Estonia Animal Breeders Association
• Two from the Czech Republic, a cattle breeder and the Chief Executive from the Czech Beef Cattle Association
• Four from Germany, including also the Chief Executive from the German Beef Federation, two Longhorn and one Galloway breeder
• Two Aberdeen Angus and Wagyu breeders from Spain

For a number in the group, this was their first visit to the UK.  The Mission commenced with a day of farm visits in the Peak District starting with the Chatsworth Estate viewing its herds of pedigree Limousin and Hereford cattle, followed by an in depth look at a commercial rearing unit, comprising of a herd of black Limousin suckler cows from the dairy herd at Hopping Farm. The business strategy, founded upon making best use of proven scientific fact, good stock management, and maintaining a market-orientated outlook, being very ably explained by Simon Marsh from Harper Adams University; the final visit being to the organic Haddon Hall Estate to see one of the largest herds of Longhorn cattle in the country.  The day concluded with the ‘Beef Expo’ dinner at the Devonshire Dome in Buxton.

At ‘Beef Expo’ the following day, the group was welcomed by the AHDB Beef and Lamb Export Manager, Jean-Pierre Garnier, who gave an overview of the UK meat and livestock genetics export activities, concluding with wishing them all an enjoyable and informative day at the UK’s flagship Beef Event.

The group were hosted by British Livestock Genetics Consortium representatives, Richard Saunders from Leicestershire and John Fleming from Cumbria.

Strong International Presence at Bulgarian Sheep Festival

Delegates from 17 countries attended the National Sheep Breeders Festival held in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria 6-8 May 2016. Representing the UK on a visit supported by the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) were National Sheep Association (NSA) Chief Executive & Chairman respectively Phil Stocker & Sam Wharry together with AHDB representatives Jean-Pierre Garnier and Richard Saunders.

As the leading sheep meat producer in Europe (400,000 tonnes annually), the UK is also the largest exporter with a round a quarter of its production being sold overseas each year. With 81 breeds affiliated to the NSA, the UK is in addition home to a tremendous reservoir of native and continental breed genetics and know-how. The second day of the Festival saw a Round Table of presentations from each country on the Conditions & Prospects of Sheep Breeding in which Mr Stocker painted a picture of a strong and forward-thinking UK sheep sector.

This visit was the forerunner to a group of international delegates attending the NSA Sheep Event to be held in Malvern on 27th July.

New BLG Website Goes Live!

A rebranded British Livestock Genetics (BLG) website has been launched with the support of the Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) to continue the work of promoting the UK livestock and animal breeding sector to a global audience. Under the banner ‘Great Britain – Great Livestock’ the new-look site provides both domestic and international audiences with a source of information, news and forthcoming events on the UK livestock sector.

BLG is a National pan-industry consortium covering the farm animal breeding sector, formed to assist in the development and maintenance of profitable long-term business generated by exports of British livestock and genetics.

The livestock sectors covered by BLG members include: Alpacas, Beef and Dairy Cattle, Goats, Pigs, Sheep, Livestock consultancy, Export arrangements and shipments. BLG aims to creates a positive, favourable image in international markets to promote Britain as a supplier of high-quality breeding animals, semen and embryos.

Although BLG doesn’t trade directly it can, however, assist with Inward Missions, participation in International Events (Trade Stands and Inspection Visits) or Export Certification in co-operation with the relevant bodies such as Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), UK Trade & Industry (UKTI), British Embassies abroad, Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) & the UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP).

On the website, News items are updated frequently and are a good source of topical information from the livestock breeding sector. The International Diary is a key to the principal livestock events around the world and also informs of forthcoming events where there is British involvement. Brochures in English as well as other languages promoting British Livestock are available to download within the International section.

A new feature of the site is a prominent ‘Partners’ area which allows specified companies to benefit from a ‘click through’ website link in return for a small annual fee. If you would like any further information, or wish to be featured as a ‘Partner’, please email livestockgenetics@outlook.com.

New EHC for Ovine & Caprine Semen to USA

After an extended period of negotiations, 29th March 2016 saw the announcement that an Export Health Certificate (No. 7852 EHC) is now in place for Ovine & Caprine semen to the USA. 

Commenting on behalf of Export Certification Ltd & British Livestock Genetics Consortium, Henry Lewis said that the EHC was in two parts and that there was also a Scrapie Support document to go with it. Examples of them and the Notes for Guidance can be seen on the recently re-vamped UKECP website (www.ukecp.com) along with all other active EHCs for the UK livestock sector. 

Support for Inward Missions & Overseas Expos Announced

-       NBA Beef Expo 20 May 2016 Bakewell, Derbyshire

-       NSA Sheep Event 27 July 2016 Malvern, Glocs

-       Eurotier 15-18 November 2016 Hannover, Germany

-       Ploughing Match 20-22 September 2016, Tullamore, Republic of Ireland

The Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and British Livestock Genetics Consortium (BLG) are lending their support to a number of overseas expos and Inward Missions aimed at helping UK farming and livestock breeding organisations to promote their services on a global stage.

Inward Missions are being planned for groups of overseas visitors to attend the National Beef Association (NBA) Beef Expo & National Sheep Association (NSA) Sheep Event respectively.

Beef Expo brings together the very best in British commercial and pedigree cattle, equipment, knowledge-sharing, and show classes for everyone involved in the industry. Regularly attracting international visitors and exhibitors from around UK, it is the number one showcase for the British beef sector. It will be held in Bakewell on 20th May with farm tours and a gala dinner taking place on the 19th.

Preparations are in-hand for what promises to be another hugely successful NSA Sheep Event. With the theme ‘Adding Value’, the premier event in the sector will showcase all that is great about sheep farming, from the best services and products to industry best practice and cutting edge innovation. Malvern is the venue on 27th July.

A British Livestock Genetics stand will again be arranged at this year’s Irish National Ploughing Championships to be held in Screggan, Tullamore, Co Offaly, Republic of Ireland 20th – 22nd September. British beef, sheep and pig breeding associations and genetics companies are invited to display literature at this prestigious event which last year saw an attendance in excess of 280,000 with over 1,500 exhibitors.

Eurotier, which takes place in Hannover, Germany, will once more host a British Livestock presence. Held every two years, this is the world’s largest indoor agricultural exhibition boasting 150,000+ visitors and over 2,300 exhibitors – half of which are international companies. As such, Eurotier provides UK companies with a platform for promoting their sector to a global market.

For further information on either of the overseas expos (Ploughing Match & Eurotier) or to put forward delegates to attend an Inward Mission (Beef Event & Sheep Event), please contact Richard Saunders (E: richardsaunders1965@yahoo.co.uk M: 07901-768904) or John Fleming (E: john@fleming2.plus.com M:07768-468634)