African Jersey Forum 28 June 2023

We look forward to welcoming you to the African Jersey Forum Online Conference 2023 on Wednesday 28th June 2023. Start time: 8.30am GMT with expected finish time: 4pm GMT. Watch link: https://www.deltaevents.co.uk/stream/ajf23. Questions can be submitted on the day via the Slido website, which can be accessed using this link: www.slido.com and entering the hashtag: #AJF23.

 Please note that these links will become active on the day, and not before.

 

Topics and speakers include:

  • Shire Highlands Milk Producers Association, Malawi

  • Dr Bettie Kawonga, PhD, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources

  • Brendon Irvine, Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA)

  • Dr Tiffany Wood, Dyneval Ltd

  • Dr Tim Byrne, AbacusBio International

  • Jersey SA

  • Dr Bernice Mostert, Logix/South Africa Studbook

  • John Sassel, JS Africa

  • Dr Barnabas Chitalu, ADRA Zambia / RJAHS

 

You can keep up to date with the latest information on the African Jersey Forum social media www.facebook.com/AfricanJerseyForum and www.linkedin.com/company/AfricanJerseyForum

 

We look forward to welcoming you to this Online Conference. 

 For further info please contact:

Louise Agnès

Dairy for Development

Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJAHS)

 

Email: D4D@royaljersey.co.uk

 

Royal Jersey Showground

La Route De La Trinite

Trinity, Jersey, JE3 5JP

 www.royaljersey.co.uk

 

2024 BEEF EXPO RETURNS TO CUMBRIA

The National Beef Association’s highly successful Beef Expo event is heading to the Northwest in 2024 for a one-day exhibition showcase of the British Beef Industry. The event will be held at North West Auctions, J36, Crooklands, Kendal, Cumbria on Saturday 27th April 2024.

Beef Expo coincides with ‘British Beef Week’ and it is hoped will include an Inward Mission of overseas beef farmers wishing to see the best of British livestock and genetics.

Pictured are David Pritchard (MD, North West Auctions) and Neil Shand (CEO, National Beef Association) announcing the much-anticipated 2024 Beef Expo

Beef breeders, farmers, and businesses involved in the industry are expected to gather from all over the UK at this flagship event to celebrate the best of beef cattle breeding, and to share ideas and innovations that will help take Britain’s world class beef industry forward into the future.  Beef Expo’s highly competitive show classes will once again showcase some of the UK’s best bloodlines, and a panel of leading experts will address the most important issues facing the industry in an information-packed Seminar Programme. The event which will support and celebrate the work and commitment of our British Beef producers, has been scheduled to tie in with Great British Beef Week 2024.

In returning to Junction 36, Rural Auction Centre, Crooklands, NBA Chief Executive, Neil Shand, is aiming to build on the phenomenal success of the last Beef Expo held on the other side of the country at Darlington Farmers’ Auction Mart in 2022. “Last year’s NBA Beef Expo was the first major beef event since Covid and it demonstrated how popular and important this show and exhibition is to the industry. We attracted a record number of visitors from across the country to the North East, and we’re confident we have the right programme, venue and location to repeat this success in the North West. This is a highly productive part of the UK for suckler and beef cattle, and North West Auctions’ combination of experience, expertise, and exceptional facilities make this the ideal venue for an outstanding event.”

As well as a change of venue, the 2024 NBA Beef Expo will differ from last time in two key ways, which the NBA believe will help attract an even greater number of visitors, says Neil Shand.

“Next year we are streamlining Beef Expo from two days to Saturday only, and entry will be free to all visitors. We will be focusing on showcasing  top quality cattle and on sharing critical information in seminars and discussions. Beef breeders and farmers are facing a very significant challenge in the transition of UK farming policy after Brexit and the aim is to create a perfect platform for everybody involved in the industry to network, find out how to make the best of the grants and subsidies available, and recharge their enthusiasm and commitment.”

NWA Managing Director, David Pritchard, is delighted to welcome the NBA Beef Expo back to Junction 36. “We fully understand the importance of Beef Expo to the beef industry. NWA has been serving the farming community here as auctioneers for more than 200 years, and as auctioneers, land agents and farm business advisors we understand the wider agricultural implications of the changes that beef farmers are currently facing.  It is a privilege to be chosen to host it again here at our J36, Rural Auction Centre in 2024 and we are very much looking forward to working with the NBA to make it an event to remember for those who are both exhibiting and attending.”

Further information about the event, along with details of sponsorship opportunities and stand and exhibition space can be found on the National Beef Association’s’ dedicated event web site –www.nationalbeefassociation.com/beef-expo/

Details of the proposed Inward Mission are available from Richard Saunders richardsaunders1965@yahoo.co.uk

RAMCOMPARE WEBINAR - 11 MAY

Join AHDB’s Signet Breeding Services on 11th May (7-8.30pm) for the annual results update from the RamCompare project’s UK progeny test, with updated results from the year seven data collection. Click HERE to register for the webinar.

For the first time results will be released online as 38,500 abattoir records from 400 RamCompare sires are incorporated into the National Terminal Sire Evaluation. SRUC’s new breeding index will be launched as the project steps up a gear and makes abattoir derived breeding values more widely available.

STRONG UK PRESENCE AT VIV ASIA

Trade Envoy Mark Garnier pictured with British exhibitors on the UK Pavilion at VIV Asia

VIV Asia took place 8th-10th of March in Bangkok with the UK Pavilion funded by the British Embassy, Thailand. Demonstrating the importance of this event, the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy for Thailand, Mr Mark Garnier, attended the opening ceremony and went on to meet the UK companies present.

The exhibition continues to be a world-leading event with 47,527 visitors from 112 countries, up on the previous edition. Exhibitors numbered 1,186 from 57 countries across five continents. Meat Pro Asia, the premier trade platform for processing and packaging solutions in the meat industry, took place in the same hall for the first time.

The pig sector in the region remains seriously affected by African Swine Fever (ASF). Some restocking is taking place but remains vulnerable to reinfection. The world is still waiting for a successful vaccine to be produced and it is noted that Chulalongkorn University in Thailand is undertaking field trials in the Philippines.

There were very successful B2B meetings with businesses from many visiting countries as well as of course from Thailand. The UK exhibiting companies reported very great demand for their products and were pleased by their attendance. Seminars were a major highlight at the event with more than 120 sessions taking place.

The day before the show, the Aquatic Asia Conference organized by International Aquafeed of Perendale Publications and VIV, featured a variety of industry experts making presentations.

Looking ahead, VIV Asia will return 12-14 March 2025, carrying on the tradition of providing a premier platform for the animal protein industry to connect, learn, and innovate.

One special award was given for outstanding support for the British Livestock industry by Bridget Horne VNU Chief Executive to our own Chris Jackson, Director of UKTAG Ltd.

Chris Jackson receiving his award from Bridget Horne

UK TEXEL BREEDS SUCCESS IN NEW ZEALAND

A ram bred from a UK embryo has recently enjoyed show success in New Zealand when Maple 21289/21 collected the Texel breed championship at the Mayfield Show, Canterbury.

Sired by Handbank Aidan, himself a top 1% ram here in the UK, the ram is out of a Vorn ewe by Highcraigs Apex, with both his dam and grandsire also carrying top 1% texelplus indexes. Maple 21289/21 is jointly owned by his breeder Don Edgecombe of the Maple flock and Elizabeth McEwan of the Broadgate flock.

News item provided by the Texel Sheep Society https://texel.uk/uk-genetics-triumph-in-nz/

NEW CHAIRMAN OF BCBC 2023/24

The British Cattle Breeders Club welcomes Ben Harman as its new Chairman for 2023/24

Ben Harman, the incoming BCBC Chairman

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 Covid times, a task in which she excelled.  Amy followed this and was an inspiration throughout the last year, leading the committee to deliver one of the club’s most successful ever events returning to a ‘proper’ in person format and simultaneously setting the stage to raise thousands for the Farming Community Network.

These are hard acts to follow, possibly harder still are the unprecedented levels of challenge facing agriculture in the UK and further afield. Pressure on our costs, pressure to reduce our carbon footprint, pressure to increase biodiversity.  All the while facing the sometimes well meaning but often insidious attacks from the ‘animal alternative’ lobbyists and the seemingly ever changing whims of our legislators.

Our challenge is not to produce more with less. Our challenge is to produce better with what we have and to communicate that effectively.  To learn from the scientists at the cutting edge of both bovine genetics, the genetics of the microbiome and from those aspects of bovine health that affect and influence their ability to breed successfully.  To learn from the cattle breeders who are harnessing that science and applying it to best practice on their farms. To learn from our partners in industry with whom we must form ever closer working relationships in order to prosper, whether they be vets, supply chain partners, academics or others. We take this wealth of knowledge and learning, and we share it across the family which is the British Cattle Breeders Club. That is what we do, that is who we are.

I will end this opening letter with a request to all members of the BCBC and anyone reading this.  Tell someone. Tell your friend, tell your vet, tell your supplier, tell your colleagues and your students.  The British Cattle Breeders Club is where people in the cattle industry go to grow their knowledge, grow their network, have a beer AND improve their business all in one hit.  What’s not to love about that.

Ben Harman

More about Ben....

Ben is a fourth generation farmer and third generation Charolais breeder, currently farming 274ha over three sites on top of the Chiltern Hills in Buckinghamshire.  Currently farming around 100 head of mostly pedigree Charolais with some Charolais Wagyu cross cattle for his beef enterprise ‘Chagyu’. The arable land is farmed under a share farming agreement with a local contractor. Ben farms with the help of his amazing 81 year old father and with part time help from a keen local young farmer. 

Ben is a former Chair of the British Charolais Society, which was founded by his Grandfather and others in 1962, and has enjoyed roles with Charolais and Charbray International.  He is currently an NBA board member and sits on the board of CHeCS the Cattle Health Certification Scheme.  In the past he enjoyed working briefly for the Holstein Friesian Society as an editorial assistant and for AG-World Europe assisting in the export of breeding pigs to the far east.

He is an avid traveller, rugby supporter, cook and reader, particularly of cosmology, particle physics and novels.  With a friend Ben also ran an enterprise ‘Pinballers Anonymous’, they rapidly became the largest reseller of Pinball machines in the UK, hosted many events and championships culminating the International Flipper Pinball Association (IFPA) world championships which was held on the farm - the only occasion it had left Las Vegas!


"MADE IN THE UK - SOLD TO THE WORLD" AWARDS

If you have an exciting story to tell about how your business is successfully selling its products or services to the world, we want to hear from you. Entries open 16 Jan to 23 Feb 2023.

The awards, which are free to enter, will recognise and celebrate the global trading success of small businesses from across the UK.

Visit our website to find out if you’re eligible to enter and be in the running for your industry category award. To enter, click HERE.

The categories are:

  • Agriculture, Food and Drink

  • Consumer Goods

  • Creative Industries

  • Digital

  • Education

  • Financial and Professional Services

  • Manufacturing

AGRI EXPO TURKEY PROMISES FOLLOW-UP TRADE

Agro Expo Turkey took place in Izmir from 1st to 5th February 2023 with seven UK companies taking advantage of a stand arranged by the British Embassy. A well organised event with a good footfall of farmers interested in livestock, saw UKTAG’s Chris Jackson attending on behalf of the British Livestock sector. He was kept busy throughout introducing UK genetics to a very interested audience.

British stand at Agri Expo, Turkey

Chris was also able to meet up again with the delegation of sheep farmers who visited the UK in July last year.. They are still very keen to follow up and import genetics. As they also have cattle interest both in beef and dairy, they have proposed that the UK farmers visit their country in July this year to visit farms and speak at a series of seminars. This was a positive visit with more work to be done in a market that wants to do business with the UK. Further info from Chris exports@uktag.co.uk

STRONG BRITISH LIVESTOCK PRESENCE AT EUROTIER

STRONG BRITISH LIVESTOCK PRESENCE AT EUROTIER 2022

November 15-18, Hannover, Germany

Busy British Livestock stand at EuroTier


The British Livestock stand at the world’s leading indoor agricultural expo, EuroTier, garnered an extremely encouraging level of interest and positive support from the UK breeding sector at the biennial Hannover, Germany event.

All these companies were represented at EuroTier



Despite the ongoing absence of a Border Control Post (BCP) required for export of live animals since Brexit, exhibitors were able to take enquiries for semen and embryos as well as forge relationships with current and potential customers and suppliers. After a gap of four years, EuroTier returned with over 1,800 exhibitors from 57 countries; more than 106,000 visitors from 141 counties toured the 14 halls over the four days.

British Livestock stand on set-up day

The UK stand was busy throughout and benefited from the presence of the following organisations: Hereford Cattle Society, UK Sire Services, Ballintur Lleyns, Farmgene, British Wagyu, Wyndford Wagyu, British Limousin Cattle Society, National Beef Association, Suffolk Sheep Society, Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, Scawfell Genetics, British Pig Association, UKTAG and UK Export Certification Partnership (UKECP) with additional funding provided by AHDB.

Stand Managers were Richard Saunders on behalf of the British Livestock Genetics Consortium and vet Rob Grinnall representing UKECP. Commenting, Rob Grinnall said: “Interest in British Livestock either through semen, embryos or live animals remains high at EuroTier, and it is frustrating that the importers are thwarted by the lack of a sea-based BCP; especially when one sees the huge demand for sheep genetics via embryos which has begun in the USA following the recent agreement of their Export Health Certificate (EHC).  Nevertheless, EuroTier is an amazing exhibition at which to be present and to represent the British Industry.”

EUROTIER 2024 * SAVE THE DATE * 12TH TO 15TH NOVEMBER 2024

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH IN UK/USA SHEEP TRADE

A major breakthrough for the British sheep export trade saw the new UK/USA ovine embryo export health certificate published today (8th November). This is welcome news for UK sheep breeders given the potential to re-enter the US sheep genetics market after a gap of some 26 years. It comes hot on the heels of last month’s re-opening of trade in sheep meat which saw British lamb once again in American shoppers’ baskets. Click HERE to see the new certificate. Journalist and consultant John Wilkes, a former UK sheep producer now based in Washington DC, says there is demand for a number of breeds like Suffolk, Texel, Swiss Valais Blacknose, Teeswater, Charollais, Kerry Hill and Lleyn with entrepreneurial UK pedigree sheep breeders having had an eye on the US market for some time. Now that an embryo export health certificate has been published, they are ready to engage and he notes the publication of the embryo export certificate has potential for benefits on both sides of the Atlantic.

BRITISH CATTLE BREEDERS CONFERENCE 23-25 JANUARY 2023

The 2023 annual British Cattle Breeders Conference returns for a face-to-face gathering in Telford, UK Monday 23rd - Wednesday 25th January 2023.

The conference theme is 'Challenging Traditions' as chosen by BCBC current Chair Amy Hughes, which will challenge thinking on the way cattle are bred in Britain, promote discussion around how the industry can compete in the global marketplace and showcase how genetics and breeding practices can drive sustainability within British Agriculture.  The conference attracts around 300 delegates over the 2 1/2 days, and covers both beef and dairy, with beef presentations on Tuesday (24th) and dairy on Wednesday (25th).  There will be two workshops during the conference, the beef workshop will run on Monday (23rd) afternoon and a parallel workshop session on Tuesday afternoon for dairy farmers.  2023 will celebrate our 75th Anniversary, which will be celebrated during Tuesday's dinner, with a Champagne Reception followed by dinner, including a Champagne toast and a Charity Auction in aid of FCN with a guest speaker to finish the evening. The Club is currently inviting speakers and confirmed so far are Promar's John Giles, Edinburgh Uni's Geoff Simms, SAC's Lorna MacPherson, ABP's Richard Phelps, farmer Aled Evans, Notts Uni's Phil Garnsworthy and SRUC's Rainer Roehe. The Club is really excited to be back to a face-to-face event and look forward to welcoming you to Telford once again. 

Please contact Club Secretary Heidi Bradbury heidi.bradbury@cattlebreeders.org.uk or see www.cattlebreeders.org.uk.

AG OPPORTUNITIES IN S AMERICA

UK Agri-Tech Mission to Uruguay - Expo Prado 2022 12-14 September, 2022

Visit the South American market during its largest agricultural fair - with over 400,000 visitors per year - and get to network with relevant stakeholders and potential clients.

Uruguay exports food for more than 30 million people (8.5 times its population) in 140 markets and has the potential to produce food for over 50 million people. As an agri-based economy, the sector requires greater efficiencies to thrive. UK companies with innovative agri-tech solutions will find in Uruguay a secure and reliable entryway to South America.

You can visit Uruguay during Expo Prado show, its largest agricultural fair, where the British Embassy in Montevideo will have its traditional Pavilion (now just in front of the rodeo). A perfect opportunity to get to know the market and network with key counterparts!

What do we offer?

- Organisation and mentoring of the programme, including costs of meals and internal transfers

- Group working sessions with public and private sector stakeholders as well as site visits

- Customised B2B meetings with relevant stakeholders/potential clients

- Company logo on the UK Pavilion’s terrace

- Local press coverage and social media promotion

Each delegate must cover air transportation costs, accommodation (preferential rates available) and individual extra expenses.

Why is this Mission an excellent opportunity for you? Watch here the testimonials of the participants of the 2019 Mission (last in-person one)!

Interested in more Latin American markets? You will be just a plane ride away from Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

You might consider attending similar events in the region, such as:

- Expo Inter, 27 Aug - 4 Sept 2022, Brazil

- Fexpocruz, 16 - 25 Sept, Bolivia

- Expo Alimentaria, 21 -23 Sept, Peru

Register for the UK Agri-Tech Mission to Uruguay here before 28 July!

RSVP before 28 July 2022 (spaces are limited).

Date: 12-14 September 2022.

Where: Montevideo, Uruguay.

Please let UKTAG’s Chris Jackson know if you are interested and he will forward the registration link

Chris Jackson exports@uktag.co.uk

STRONG S AMERICAN LINKS FOR UK SHEEP GENETICS

  • Inward Mission to UK Sheep Event

  • Adrian Rundle judging Palermo Show

There is positive news for the British sheep breeding sector with an Inward Mission of South American sheep breeders planned around the National Sheep Association ‘Sheep Event’ being held in Malvern, UK on 27th July. With the recent opening of markets such as Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Brazil (as well as soon Uruguay) to UK sheep genetics, the British Embassies from around the region are organising an Inward Mission 25-29 July for 15 delegates from across South America. Together with the support of UKTAG and its representatives Denise Crawshaw Pellin & Daniel Benitez, the visitors will be drawn from both the sheep breeding and meat industries.

View of the main ring at Palermo’s ‘La Rural’ show

UK Hampshire Down President Adrian Rundle who farms near Newquay in Cornwall has been selected to judge at ‘La Rural’ better known as the Palermo Show just north of Buenos Aires, Argentina 20-31 July. One of the most famous agricultural events in South America, with a 150-year history, it attracts some 750,000 people with 400 trade stands and around 4,000 animals.

Please look out for a report on both these activities in due course.

BRITISH CATTLE BREEDERS CONFERENCE - PAPERS DIGEST

Please click HERE for the Digest 77 PDF, containing the majority of the papers from the 2022 Virtual British Cattle Breeders Club Conference “A Breath of Fresh Air”.   

The presentations from the 2022 conference are still available to view online via the Presentations link on our website www.cattlebreeders.org.uk. Further club and conference information, photographs and videos can also be viewed on the website and our social media accounts.

We would also like to take the opportunity to advise you that the 2023 British Cattle Breeders Conference will be held from Monday 23rd - Wednesday 25th January 2023 at the Telford Hotel & Golf Resort, England. The full programme and registration details will be available on the website in the autumn.  Sponsorship opportunities are available, please contact Club Secretary Heidi Bradbury heidi.bradbury@cattlebreeders.org.uk if this is of interest to you.

Thank you for your support of the Club. We look forward to welcoming you back to Telford in 2023.


EUROTIER - FIRST IN FARMING - 15TH - 18TH NOVEMBER, HANOVER

The British Livestock sector has benefited from a strong presence at EuroTier events held over many years with a dynamic joint industry stand supported by cattle, sheep and pig societies alongside breeding and other associated companies.

We will once again be running a ‘British Livestock Pavilion’ at EuroTier, Hannover, Germany, Tuesday 15th – Friday 18th November 2022

Held every two years, this is the world’s largest indoor livestock exhibition boasting 150,000+ visitors and over 2,300 exhibitors – half of whom are international companies. As such, a strong UK presence at EuroTier allows British farming and breeding organisations to promote themselves on the global stage.

The British Livestock Pavilion provides a platform for promoting our sector under one roof. Participating companies benefit from shared resources including meeting area, reception desk for promotional materials, display graphic, joint British Livestock brochure, interpreter and light refreshments. Stand Managers are Rob Grinnall, UK Export Certification Partnership, and Richard Saunders representing the British Livestock Genetics Consortium.

If you would like any further information regarding participation, whether as part of the stand or as a visitor to the show, please email richardsaunders1965@yahoo.co.uk.

www.eurotier.com

 

INWARD MISSION SEEKS LIMOUSIN & ANGUS GENETICS

INWARD MISSION SEEKS OUT LIMOUSIN & ANGUS GENETICS

L-R Chris Jackson, Anar Mehdiyev, Alim Senturk, Angus Stovold

A joint beef venture between Azerbaijan and Turkey saw respective representatives Mr Anar Mehdiyev and Mr Alim Senturk visit a Limousin and Aberdeen-Angus herd on Wednesday 15th June 2022. Mr Mehdiyev is the Chairman of Azer Sugar which has significant brewing and farming interests whilst Mr Senturk is the Founder & CEO of the Buta Group which includes a 5,000-head dairy enterprise.

L-R Harvey Mash, Alim Senturk, Chris Jackson, Anar Mehdiyev

 In the morning, the visitors took in the Brockhurst Limousin Herd run by Harvey Mash near Chesham, Bucks followed that afternoon by Angus Stovold’s Rosemead Aberdeen-Angus herd located near Guildford, Surrey.

Swiss Brown is historically the most popular breed in Azerbaijan with the plan being to establish nucleus Angus and Limousin pedigree herds most likely via embryo transfer in order to over time build up a crossbred suckler herd of 3,000 head. Issues such as food security are driving this goal of greater self-sufficiency in both dairy and beef.

Goldies Relish out with cows and calves

Fresh from the recent Shadwell Dispersal Sale was the January 2021-born Evora X251 by Carruthers Grenadier and out of a Muirhall Total Teal E009-sired dam. PC Stovold & Son had paid 13,000gns for this maiden heifer.

 The overseas guests were accompanied by Richard Saunders along with UKTAG Export Manager Chris Jackson.

13,000gns Evora X251

BRITISH SHEEP 'FIRST' TO ARGENTINA

BRITISH SHEEP ‘FIRST’ TO ARGENTINA

In early April, the first shipment of ovine genetics arrived in Argentina after a gap of more than 50 years since the first British sheep were imported to the market. The breeds involved are Hampshire Down, Texel and Charollais and whilst this is a relatively modest import - comprising 600 semen doses and 150 embryos - this ‘first’ is expected to herald many more. Many partners at home and abroad worked hard to make this happen – in fact the market for UK ovine semen opened in 2020 but the beginning of the pandemic delayed efforts.

The AB Europe tank arrives in Argentina

At present only one supplier, AB Europe, is currently authorised to export from the UK to Argentina. Commenting, AB Europe CEO Geraint Thomas said: “It was great to finally get some genetics there with everyone working so hard to get it over the line. We also got a good shipment to Chile away and should have one to Paraguay away soon.” See www.abreeds.co.uk

UKECP Director Henry Lewis pictured with Argentinian Hampshire Down breeders during a technical mission four years ago

News report from the 1963 export of Hampshire Downs

 

Changes to Dairy Genetic Indexes reflect Economic Outlook & Farmer Feedback

Changes to dairy genetic indexes reflect economic outlook and farmer feedback 

Upcoming changes to dairy genetic evaluations will lead to a slight shift in the running order in the AHDB bull rankings published next month (5 April).  

All three major selection indexes - Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI), Spring Calving Index (£SCI) and Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) - will undergo updates to reflect increases in input costs and the price of milk. 

Each index’s formula has been adjusted to reflect changing economic conditions and the ongoing needs of dairy processors and farmers. Most notable financial changes are in feed, labour and replacement costs, as well as in the value of cull cows since the last update in 2018.  

The changes result from consultation across the industry, which is undertaken routinely by AHDB, working with market specialists and through the Genetics Advisory Forum (GAF). Stakeholders in the forum include farmers, breeding companies, vets, milk processors, the RSPCA, milk recording organisations and breed societies. These participants collectively review the genetic progress dairy breeds are making, the long-term market outlook for inputs and output, and they fine-tune the three economic indexes as the need arises. 

£PLI, £ACI and £SCI 

The indexes were last updated in 2018 and before that, in 2014. Each continues to be formulated to suit a manufacturing contract, reflecting both an industry shift in this direction and some value in producing components, even in liquid markets. 

Feed Advantage 

To address the rising significance of feed cost, Feed Advantage (FAdv) will also be added to £PLI. A combination of Maintenance Index and a genomic prediction of feed efficiency, FAdv was developed from extensive trials over many decades measuring actual feed intake in relation to a cow’s size and milk production. 

Currently only available for the Holstein breed, which took part in these trials, all other dairy breeds will continue to use the Maintenance Index which acts as a proxy and is based on a prediction of feed efficiency based on the size of the cow. Maintenance will also continue to be used in the across-breed indexes, £ACI and £SCI, for all breeds. 

Digital dermatitis 

Another change to all three indexes and all breeds is the inclusion of the genetic evaluation for Digital Dermatitis (DD). This follows ongoing work at the University of Liverpool which showed the AHDB genomic evaluation for DD was very effective in predicting the odds of a cow having DD. As a result, DD will now be included alongside Lameness Advantage (LAdv), which was introduced in 2018. By using both LAdv and DD Indexes in harmony, more rapid genetic benefits can be achieved to help tackle lameness, as they offer distinct and different benefits. 

£SCI only 

For the £SCI only, additional changes will be made with the April proof run. This will see bulls whose daughters are heavier penalised more severely for spring block calving, grazing based systems. This move has been driven by feedback from farmers running grazing systems, many of whom place a higher value – over and above purely the additional maintenance feed cost – on the lack of soil damage and ease of management smaller cows can bring.  

AHDB Head of Animal Genetics Marco Winters

Marco Winters, AHDB head of animal genetics, says cattle breeding is a long-term business and the economic model which sits behind the changes considers the outlook five to 10 years ahead. 

“At the time of the 2022 update, we see more volatility in the market for inputs than on previous occasions,” he says. “However, we don’t know how sustained current prices will be, so we have to base our decisions on longer term projections, but will continue to carry out regular reviews and may have to make adjustment if circumstances dictate.” 

He also remarks that the relative emphasis between production, health and efficiency has not significantly changed in any of the indexes, such that each continues in its previous direction of travel for each type of farming system. This places around two-thirds of the value of each index on health and efficiency and one third on production. 

The £PLI is tailored for year-round calving herds and is a within-breed index; the £ACI is an across-breed index, designed for autumn block calving herds producing much of their milk during the winter months; and the £SCI has been formulated specifically for herds with a heavy reliance on grazed grass which calve in a tight block in spring, and can also compare animals across breeds.