| Beef Expo
Fully integrated Beef supply chain showcased at
NBA Beef Expo farm tours
John Bell, owner of Berrystock Feeds and Berryfields Farm is preparing to welcome 250 farmers to his farm as part of
this year’s National Beef Association’s Beef Expo farm tours.
he farm and feed plant located
near Daventry is one of three
farm visits planned for the
prestigious NBA Beef Expo
farm tours held on Wednesday
17th May and will be
showcasing the benefits of a fully integrated
beef supply chain. John is a great advocate of
co-operation and has been a key player in
founding several integrated supply chains over
his 35 years within the beef industry. The farm
tour will allow visitors to follow through the
complete supply chain from the initial calf
sourcing, feeding, to finally selling directly to
the processor and the feedback system that
runs throughout the chain.
T
“It is fantastic to be able to take beef
farmers to view such an innovative and vast
beef enterprise”
Berryfields Farm’s impressive AFU finishes
approximately 2000 head of dairy bred cattle
per year to supply into Dunbia, which feeds into
the Co-op and Lidl. Dairy bred calves are
supplied on contract through Meadow Quality
and enter the unit at 16 weeks weighing
between 120-140kg. John rears the calves
using specifically formulated Berrystock feeds
to finish the animals at of 600kg LW. The
system relies on quality calves and efficient
feeds to maximise FCR and profits.
46 | Farming Monthly | May 2017
Berrystock Feeds have been manufacturing
quality cattle and sheep feeds for over 30 years
and currently produce over 45,000 – 50,000
tonnes a year, 50% of which is used for Johns
own cattle enterprises. All feeds are UFAS
accredited, using ruminant kind ingredients and
are developed through on-farm feeding trials
which monitor feed efficiency and the results of
which are used to constantly improve the
rations. Recently Berryfields has incorporated
Agriking enzymes into their rations to help
further enhance digestibility and nutrient
metabolism. The business puts a large
emphasis on its use of homegrown grain,
obtained from Berryfield
Farm and other local farmers, and runs a
successful barley/wheat bank system to help
reduce risk. Meadow Quality will be presenting
on the tour day alongside John Bell to explain
the benefits of an integrated supply chain for all
parties involved, and to highlight how this
system is suited to new entrants wishing to
become involved within the beef sector.
Speaking about the integrated system, John
said “Farmers are always wary of cooperation,
yet through working together in schemes such
as this we are giving more power to the
producer. The business system also champions
consistency, buying in uniform calves, feeding
high quality accredited feed to produce uniform
carcases with high meat quality, which is
required to ensure consumer satisfaction. The
UK is not yet self-sufficient in beef and I feel that
there is great potential to expand beef output to
supply our strong and growing home market.
This feeding system is a model that I feel can
be used to fulfil this gap in the market, using
efficient feeds to produce uniform quality
carcasses and produce and maintain a
satisfactory margin for the producer. I am
pleased to welcome this year’s NBA Beef Expo
farm tour visitors to view our system at
Berryfield and hope to inspire them with the
benefits our efficient feeds and business model
has to offer to their own farming enterprise.”
Commenting on the farm tour, Chris Mallon,
Chief Executive of the NBA, stated “It is
fantastic to be able to take beef farmers to view
such an innovative and vast beef enterprise.
John’ business is a fantastic example of how
the beef supply chain can be united, producing
cattle to the highest standards of production
and welfare to meet the consumers’ needs for
quality, quantity and continuity of supply. A
continually developing beef unit which
champions efficiency and producing beef for
the masses.” Tickets for the farm tours are
priced at £30 per person and includes three
farm visits, transport to and from the NAEC,
Stoneleigh and hot beef lunch. A combined
ticket for the Farm Tours and 2017 NBA Beef
Expo for NBA members is £35, and for non
NBA members is £40. Bookings can be made
online, under the visitor section, or by
contacting the NBA Head Office on 01434
601005.
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