THE World Shorthorn Conference 2010 takes place in the UK for the first time since 1989 this summer.

Delegates from ten countries will visit 14 Beef and Dairy Shorthorn farms including in North Yorkshire and Northumberland.

They arrive in Edinburgh on June 23, just in time for the Royal Highland which will feature the biggest entry of Shorthorn cattle at an agricultural show in living memory.

The tour finishes with the two-day world conference in Stratford upon Avon on July 7-8 and a gala dinner.

The Princess Royal, Shorthorn Society president, will host a reception and the main conference sponsors are Crystalyx and Morrisons, which is establishing its own pedigree Beef Shorthorn herd in Scotland.

James Playfair Hannay, society president, will host a visit to his farm near Kelso and said: "For the past 20 years, because of trading restrictions, we have not been able to demonstrate the quality of the cattle we have in the UK to a worldwide audience.

"This is the ideal opportunity for us to show overseas breeders the changes we have made to our industry and our breed and it provides a huge opportunity to promote our cattle."

More than 120 delegates including from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay will be on the tour.

They will visit Gerald Turtons Upsall herd, near Thirsk the oldest herd of Beef Shorthorns in Britain on July 1, and the Baynes families Marleycote Dairy Shorthorn herd near Hexham on June 30.

They established Northumbrian Pedigree Milk and Cream in 2005. They are the only on-farm processor in Northumberland.

Frank Milnes, Shorthorn Society secretary, said: "This will be the biggest World Shorthorn Conference ever, reflecting the breeds resurgence not only here in the UK but across the world."