The National Beef Association's Beef Expo held in Shrewsbury 24-25 May 2018 played host to a successful Inward Mission of 12 beef farmers from around Europe.
Visiting Marc Jones' Calf Rearing & Finishing Unit, Trefnant Hall Farm, Newtown
Drawn from Bulgaria, Holland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark & Czech Republic, the visit was supported by Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), British Livestock Genetics Consortium (BLG) and NBA. The visitors represented a wide variety of breed interests including Hereford, Angus, Limousin, Galloway, Wagyu, British Blue & Parthenais.
Pictured with Dunbia staff at Trefnant Hall Farm
Hosted by Richard Saunders & John Fleming, the three-night stay took in not only the Beef Expo itself but also the Farm Tours, gala dinner as well as a number of other herd visits organised both pre-and-post event.
NBA CEO Chris Mallon & Lythwood Farm's Jonny Cornes welcome their guests
First stop on the Farm Tours was the Calf Rearing & Finishing Unit of Marc Jones at Trefnant Hall Farm, Newtown which finishes around 300 Angus and Hereford calves each year bought in from Meadow Quality with a further 450 contract reared for Dunbia.
At the Aynho Aberdeen Angus Herd
Next was James Evans and his Stabiliser suckler herd at Partridge Farm, Bishops Castle. Split roughly 50-50 between spring and autumn calving, the 300-strong herd produces quality breeding stock as well as finishing bulls on a semi-intensive system.
With hosts James & Duncan Hazard at Mereside Limousins
The Approved Finishing Unit (AFU) of Jonny Cornes, Lythwood Farm, Shrewsbury was the final Farm Tour destination. Around 2,000 yearling store cattle are bought in annually with the aim of finishing them within 3-4 months.
Bus tours at Lythwood Farm, Shrewsbury
Grateful thanks are extended to AHDB, BLG & NBA for their generous support in hosting the Inward Mission.