Record uptake in Beef Shorthorn

Registrations increased by 8.92 per cent to 3,833 head in the last 12 months – up by more than 39 per cent since 2010 – and membership rose by 11 per cent to 842, a 42 per cent increase over the same period.

Geoff Riby, society president, told the annual meeting in Stirling that the trends were mirrored in the 2016 British Cattle Movement Society data which showed that over the last seven years, UK Beef Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorn cross populations increased by 64 per cent, more than double the increase recorded by the next highest breed.

Mr Riby, of the Stonehills herd, Bridlington, was re-elected president, and Sally Horrell, Pode Hole herd, Peterborough, vice president.

Mr Riby was thrilled to be re-elected to champion the breed which was clearly meeting the commercial producers’ requirements for a functional suckler cow that demonstrates calving ease, docility and milkiness, and which is suited to low input forage based systems.

He said: "Furthermore, increasing demand from Morrisons for pure and crossbred Beef Shorthorn steers, previously a herd by-product, continues to encourage a valued premium, and these trends are scheduled to persist as the supermarket gears up to rebrand its current Signature beef to Beef Shorthorn."

The Society’s type classification scheme, introduced in August 2015 to enable members to accelerate breed progress and offer an improved functional suckler cow had been a massive success.

Within six months more than 1,000 animals were classified by independent professional classifiers, whilst a further 60 herds are on the waiting list.

The society's inaugural young bull promotion scheme offered breeders the opportunity for rapid genetic progress and improved connectivity for maternal traits. Semen had been provided free of charge to 20 performance recorded herds.

Mr Riby said: "We have also launched a study among commercial producers with over 1,000 suckler cows in total to more clearly define Beef Shorthorn suckler cow efficiency."