BOTTOM LINE BOOST FOR DAIRY GENETICS

Bottom line boost for dairy genetics

The economic value of the UK’s chief breeding index Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) is worth £1.58 in pre-tax profit for every point of PLI, according to new analysis.

For a typical 150 cow, top 10% £PLI herd, that equates to an additional margin of £30,099 per year.

The study combined data from Promar International, milk recordings and AHDB’s genetics figures to examine the income and costs on dairy farms which are influenced by genetics.

Marco Winters

Marco Winters, AHDB head of animal genetics, said: “We’ve long known that animals with better genetics have a huge impact on a farm’s bottom line. This study clearly shows the benefits of effective breeding policies over recent years.”

The AHDB-commissioned study, undertaken by Promar, used their Farm Business Accounts data to look at the performance of 410 black-and-white herds representing over 104,000 cows.

A Genetically Influenced Margin (GIM) was created to explore the financial factors influenced by cow genetics, such as milk, calf and cull sales income and feed, herd replacements, vet and med, AI and semen costs.

“Assuming there is no relationship between genetics and any other costs, this will translate directly through to pre-tax profit,” says Promar consultant, Tim Harper, who undertook the analysis.

Herds were grouped based on their £PLI, with the top 25% of herds earning a margin of £1,818 per cow/year compared with average herds at £1,670 and the bottom 25% £1,529.

Tim Harper

The improved financial performance of the higher genetic merit herds was due to the increased value of milk sales, amounting to an extra £283 per cow/year. However, this was partially offset by the use of concentrate, costing an extra £121 per cow/year.

“Good herd management clearly has an influence, but the role of genetics is unambiguous and gives farmers more confidence when making breeding decisions,” says Mr Harper.

£PLI is AHDB’s within breed genetic index designed for UK dairy farmers with all year round calving herds and represents the additional profit a high £PLI bull is expected to return from each of its milking daughters over her lifetime compared to an average bull of £0 PLI.

Dedicated breeding indexes are also available for spring block calvers (£SCI) and autumn calvers (£ACI).

Farmers can benchmark their herd’s £PLI using AHDB’s Herd Genetic Report (ahdb.org.uk/herd-genetic-reports) which is available for all producers who are fully milk recording.

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY AHDB 02.11.2021

 Notes

AHDB is a statutory levy board, funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain. Our purpose is to inspire our farmers, growers and industry to succeed in a rapidly changing world. We equip the industry with easy to use, practical know-how which they can apply straight away to make better decisions and improve their performance. Established in 2008 and classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body, it supports the following industries: meat and livestock (cattle, sheep and pigs) in England; horticulture, milk and potatoes in Great Britain; and cereals and oilseeds in the UK. AHDB’s remit covers 72 per cent of total UK agricultural output. Further information on AHDB can be found at www.ahdb.org.uk

Contact

For further information contact Alistair McLaren, AHDB Senior Marcomms Manager (Dairy) on 07393 235143 or alistair.mclaren@ahdb.org.uk

AFRICAN JERSEY FORUM - VIRTUAL CONFERENCE 3 NOVEMBER

Please find below information about the upcoming African Jersey Forum (AJF) Virtual Conference to be held 3rd November 2021 0900-1300 UK time, hosted by the Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society & Project Mercy, Ethiopia.nand the new AFJ website which has just been launched. 

‘The Jersey Footprint in Africa’ Virtual Conference

A virtual conference exploring the increasing role and impact of the Jersey cow on dairy development in Africa. 

‘The Jersey Footprint’ Virtual Conference will cover:

  • Firstly, a focus specifically on the Jersey breed and its role in the growth of developing dairy markets and specific benefits in an African context;

  • secondly on the science and technical knowledge underpinning Jersey breed focused work in Africa;

  • thirdly (and given that this conference had originally been scheduled to take place in person in Ethiopia), a focus on the implementing partners and beneficiaries of the Jersey Overseas Aid-funded ‘Dairy for Development’ projects in that country and the impact on their lives and livelihoods.

In June 2019, a regional dairy workshop, looking at ‘Why Dairy? Why Jersey?’ was hosted by the World Jersey Cattle Bureau at their annual meetings in Kigali, Rwanda where the African Jersey Forum was launched. The highly successful workshop focused equally on the importance of why dairy, before showcasing how Jersey cattle breed genetics and the support of Jersey Island have been improving the lives of many African families and how the Jersey cow could influence the future more widely across the continent. The African Jersey Forum virtual conference in November 2021 will present a progress update following the 2019 Regional workshop.

 The format and agenda is still receiving finishing touches but we are envisaging a combination of live presentations, both in Jersey and Ethiopia and pre-recorded video content to come from a range of different speakers.

African Jersey Forum website - www.africanjerseyforum.com

 As we are connecting to you today, we are also pleased to share with you the recently launched African Jersey Forum website.

 This is a culmination of work in developing the African Jersey Forum concept following its official launch at the Regional Dairy Workshop and World Jersey Cattle Bureau conference held in 2019 in Kigali, Rwanda. There will be more to add and further communication with you on this and other media platforms being developed but we now feel the website is ready to be launched, in order to take it to the next level.

 The website is intended to act initially as a promotional tool as well as an informative library of resources for stakeholders in the dairy industry including smallholders and commercial farmers, NGOs, policy makers and others. In time, as the Jersey breed inevitably grows in popularity on the African content and as more national breed societies emerge in the region, we hope for the website to showcase the activities of African Jersey Forum member organisations, and for the forum to be fully African owned and managed.

 Overview:

  • Sub-sections under ‘About’ cover background on the Forum concept including a summary of the key organisations involved and the team behind the website

  • Sub-sections under ‘The Jersey Breed’ cover the benefits of the Jersey breed; both for commercial dairying and benefits of dairying for development more broadly. A sub-section on ‘Dairy for Development Expert Contributors’ provides an overview of the diverse range of partners the Society and JOA are working with in African dairy programmes.

  • Sub-sections under ‘Resources’ include videos and downloads sections with a range of educational and scientific resources, which can be sorted by type / theme. These cover breed-specific resources as well as more general reference material on dairy development, farmer training materials etc. This library is continually expanding and we are very open to requests for hosting new content. There’s also a short section within ‘Resources’ focused on the Jersey Gene Bank, a parallel initiative to the African Jersey Forum which will be further communicated in the coming months.

 We’d be keen to hear your feedback and encourage you to share the link with your relevant networks.

 Best wishes

Louise

 Louise Agnès

Dairy for Development

Royal Jersey Agricultural & Horticultural Society (RJAHS)

E: D4D@royaljersey.co.uk

 

BRITISH CATTLE BREEDERS CONFERENCE PROMISES 'BREATH OF FRESH AIR'

The British Cattle Breeders Club (BCBC) are pleased to announce that its next conference will be held virtually on Tuesday 25th January 2022.

The theme for the conference will be ‘A Breath of Fresh Air’ reflecting the Club’s aspiration to focus on positivity, resilience and opportunity.

BCBC Chair Dr Karen Wonnacott

BCBC Chair Dr Karen Wonnacott

BCBC Chair Dr. Karen Wonnacott explains: “After what has been a challenging time for everyone, we have pulled together a positive and forward-thinking programme with a strong focus on breeding and genetics.

“I believe that it is a great time for our brilliant industry and if we can pull together, demonstrate our resilience and embrace new research and technology, we will place ourselves in a very strong position for the future.”

More than 800 people registered for the BCBC’s first virtual conference including more UK agricultural students than ever before. This format facilitates speakers and delegates from around the globe.

“With ongoing uncertainty around in-person events we have decided to build on that success in 2022, but fully intend to return to an in-person event in 2023,” says Dr Wonnacott.

As in previous years, the event will include beef and dairy specific presentations with keynote speakers who will address issues that are pertinent to both sectors including Professor Jude Capper, award-winning livestock sustainability consultant and Harper Adams University’s ABP chair in sustainable beef production.

Agriculture’s role in combating climate change will be the focus for Professor Myles Allen of the University of Oxford, while Steve McLean of M&S will bring the retailer’s perspective and expectations. Nigel Owens MBE, Welsh Hereford farmer and former International Rugby Union referee will speak on resilience and mental health within the industry.

Other confirmed speakers include Seth Wareing of the Stabiliser Cattle Company, Marco Winters of AHDB Dairy , Dr Jonathan Statham, cattle health specialist at Bishopton Vets, and Desi Cicale of Meat Imaging USA who has recently introduced carcase camera grading technology to UK Wagyu production.

Full details of the conference, speakers and how to book a place will be available in the autumn on www.cattlebreeders.org.uk.

UK SUFFOLK FIRST TO GEORGIA

Aberdeenshire Suffolk breeders, Jim & Irene Fowlie, have become the first to export any type of breeding stock to Europe since Brexit - and this by air to Georgia.

Irene & Jim Fowlie with some of their Essie Suffolk sheep

Irene & Jim Fowlie with some of their Essie Suffolk sheep

The Fowlies showed great determination in overcoming the various export protocols to fly 36 Suffolk sheep (4 rams and 32 ewes) from their Essie flock in the north east of Scotland. Purchasers are the Adjara Group whose agricultural business is based in Sagaredjo in the Kakhetian region.

Georgia boasts a sheep industry with a deep history and culture with sheep bred for wool, cheese and meat. The Essie Suffolks were chosen for their high-health status along with high index performance figures. Another export is planned for the future. For further information, please see www.essiesuffolks.co.uk.

Picture and text reproduced by kind permission of The Scottish Farmer

COMMONWEALTH MARKETS WEEK 26-30 JULY

Explore the Commonwealth Week

Export Events from 26th to 30th July 2021

With one year to go until the Commonwealth Games 2022 join us for a week of free virtual events to learn about opportunities for your business in a range of Commonwealth markets. Expect virtual 1:1 meetings with market and sector experts, peer to peer learning from Export Champions and market exploration webinars...

Hello,
Today’s 54 Commonwealth countries account for over 17% of world GDP in Purchasing Power Parity and contain 2.4 billion of the world’s 7½ billion people. Even without any formal arrangements, trading between Commonwealth countries is 19% cheaper than with non-members. Massive cost cuts come from shared history, cultural links, common legal systems, business practices, and a common language between many Commonwealth countries. This is also known as ‘the Commonwealth advantage’.

We want to support your business in exploring new and exciting markets across the Commonwealth. You can join a range of free events including....

Market Webinars: Explore the Commonwealth
When? 26 - 30 July 2021
Throughout the week you can also join a series of market awareness webinars including live and pre-recorded input from export experts in the following markets: Africa, South Asia, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Canada and Pakistan. During these sessions you will receive key insights into each market including export opportunities for UK businesses and what support is out there to help you access them..

What else will this opportunity offer?

Game On: Explore the Commonwealth
When? 26 - 30 July 2021
Discover trade opportunities across the Commonwealth in this Meet the Expert event. Taking place throughout the week experienced exporters have the chance to request 1:1 meetings with expert advisers from markets across Africa, the Caribbean, South and South East Asia, Australia, Europe and Canada.

Exporting to the Commonwealth: Discovering Local Successes
When? 28 July 2021, 09:30 - 12:00 (BST)
A unique chance to hear from six Export Champions from across the Midlands. They are business leaders from a range of different sectors with experience in some of the biggest Commonwealth markets. This is your chance to learn about their first-hand experiences along with top tips and challenges along the way.

Attendance is free but limited, and places are expected to go fast, so use the link below to learn more about the week and to register today. Click here to learn more.

EUROTIER 2021 REPORT

Europe’s largest indoor agricultural show, EuroTier, will return to Hanover, Germany, as a face-to-face event from November 15-18, 2022. Here we report on the virtual event held February 9-12, 2021. Please click HERE for the post-show briefing. Please look out for more information about the event during the course of the year leading up to November when the registration portal for EuroTier 2022 opens. Please contact Richard Saunders if you are considering being part of the planned British Livestock stand richardsaunders1965@yahoo.co.uk.

JUDE CAPPER PRESENTED WITH SIR JOHN HAMMOND AWARD

The recipient of this year’s British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) Sir John Hammond Award is Dr Jude Capper - with the winner announced during the final day of the BSAS annual conference held 12-15 April.

The prestigious Sir John Hammond award, which was re-launched earlier this year in collaboration with the British Cattle Breeders Club (BCBC) and with a new trophy presented by The Smithfield Forum, is based solely on nominations and is awarded to those who have made significant contribution through research, teaching, knowledge exchange, breeding, farming industry or affiliated professions. This is BSAS’s first ever joint award with the BCBC, which Sir John Hammond founded in 1946. The club aims to improve the breeding of livestock, by promoting knowledge through collecting, collating, and distributing available information and data of practical and scientific interest, to breeders of cattle at home and overseas.

Dr Jude Capper receiving the Sir John Hammond Award and a trophy presented by The Smithfield Forum

Dr Jude Capper receiving the Sir John Hammond Award and a trophy presented by The Smithfield Forum

Jude is an independent Livestock Sustainability Consultant based in Oxfordshire and her research focuses on modelling the sustainability of livestock production systems, specifically dairy and beef. She is currently working on projects relating to on-farm greenhouse gas emissions from UK beef production; climate footprints of smallholder farming; the impacts of livestock health and welfare on system sustainability; and technology use in South American beef production. Her professional goal is to communicate the importance of factors affecting livestock industry sustainability to enhance the knowledge and understanding of food production stakeholders from the farmer through to the retailer, policy-maker and consumer. She sits on the National Beef Association board; is Chair of the Route Panel for Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care and Vice-Chair of the Green Apprenticeships Advisory Panel at the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.

The award was presented during the final day of the recent BSAS annual 2021 conference by BSAS President, Professor Michael Lee, who commented: ‘Dr Capper has played a significant role in promoting the understanding of sustainable livestock production, building on her research conducted in the USA and the UK. Jude is also helping the next generation of agriculturalists, through her activities in supporting the development of apprenticeships and her contributions to other national industry bodies.  Jude has made an enormous contribution to understanding the role of livestock as part of a sustainable food system over the years and the awarding of the Sir John Hammond Memorial Prize demonstrates BSAS’ appreciation and recognition of all she has accomplished.’

On receiving the trophy, kindly presented on behalf of The Smithfield Forum, Dr Capper said: ‘I am truly humbled to be considered worthy of receiving the Sir John Hammond award. This is an amazing honour - I will do my very best to live up to the excellence exemplified by previous winners, and to continue serving the British food and farming industry that I know and love.’    

2020 UK LAMB & BEEF EXPORT FIGURES

Export Success for Sheep Meat in 2020

Newly released export data for 2020 has revealed a profitable year for the UK sheep sector, despite a slightly reduced volume of exports and changing consumer trends as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. HMRC’s figures show the value of UK sheep meat exports increased by almost 10%, whilst the total volume amounted to 88,200 tonnes, a drop of 7.2% (or 6,850 tonnes) since 2019, which was a strong year for exports. If compared against 2018 totals, both volume and value of sheep meat exports in 2020 were considerably higher, up 19.1% and 6.1% respectively. The amount of sheep meat imported into the UK fell, by 6.6% to total 58,500 tonnes. Contributory factors to the changes in meat movement include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and an overall 3.7% decrease in sheep meat production in the UK, alongside post-Brexit uncertainty and global factors such as the ASF crisis in Asia.

Beef Exports Reduced

From March onwards, monthly beef and veal export volumes (fresh/frozen) trended below year-earlier levels for most of 2020. Despite exports during December being up 9.5% on the year at 11,100 tonnes, the total volume exported during 2020 was down by 13.8% at 117,000t. The value also dipped by 17.3% to £384 Million. Shipments to the EU dipped 20%, however non-EU countries experienced a 18.7% increase in volumes mainly due to an additional 1,500t going to Hong Kong.