• JUN/JUL 2020
WHY BEEF SHORTHORN...?
Beef Shorthorn:
the story so far…
FARM NEWS 5
BEEF Shorthorn is providing
a solution for suckler
producers who are
seeking a modern functional
cow following
the demise of quality
replacements sourced for
many years from the dairy
sector combined with
certain influences from the
Continental breeds.
Furthermore, with
trends towards developing
closed herds for biosecurity
and health purposes,
Beef Shorthorn fits well
into herd replacement
strategies.
Beef Shorthorn combines
its natural maternal
characteristics with
performance and ease of
management.
Suckler producers introducing
Beef Shorthorn to
their herds are finding the
genetics are improving
• Calving ease – low
birth weight
• Docility
• Milkiness
• Fertility
• Hardiness – ability to
winter outdoors
• Feed efficiency -
excellent foraging
ability
Beef Shorthorn cross
cattle are suited to
low input, sustainable
systems.
Whilst Beef Shorthorn
cross heifers are
retained for replacement
purposes, steers
– previously a by-product
are now in demand
for Morrisons Shorthorn
Beef Scheme. The brand is
also increasingly appealing
to high street butchers and
farm shops.
Beef Shorthorn is able
to deliver since breeders
have modernised the
breed; they’ve introduced
new genetics and carefully
selected within the breed.
Those selection strategies
are on-going with the help
of Breedplan, the society’s
performance recording
register which is enabling
breeders to select for
specific traits reflected in
Estimated Breeding Values
(EBVs).
Beef Shorthorn also
offers high health status:
all registered animals
offered at Beef Shorthorn
Cattle Society official sales
are from CHeCS approved
health scheme herds.
For further information see
www.beefshorthorn.org
BEEF Shorthorn is the
native breed with a rich
past, a dynamic present,
and one that is fit for
future purpose.
Beef Shorthorn is
undergoing massive
resurgence; a 60%
increase in pedigree registrations
since 2012, and
documented by Defra
as the fastest growing
native breed. Those
trends are credited to
breeders who have
selected for specific
modern maternal
performance traits whilst
retaining the breed’s
native characteristics.
Beef Shorthorn has a
long and distinguished
history. The breed
evolved over the last two
centuries from Teeswater
and Durham cattle
found originally in the
North East of England;
in1822, the first pedigree
herdbook was published
– for Beef Shorthorn
cattle. Since then, Beef
Shorthorn genetics
have been globally used
in developing over 40
different breeds.
Native breeds came
under increasing pressure
in the 1960s and
1970s following the invasion
of the Continental
breeds, however after
three decades they
were back in vogue. Beef
Shorthorn is amongst
those witnessing a major
turn-around.
NSA update on NSA Sheep Event 2020
It is with regret that the National Sheep
Association (NSA) is today announcing
the unfortunate cancellation of
this years NSA Sheep Event 2020.
THE flagship event in the NSA
calendar, NSA Sheep 2020, had
originally been planned to take
place in July but hopes were
still in place for the show to go
on with the event being postponed
to a later October date.
However, like so many other
events, the difficult decision has
now been made to cancel the
event entirely for this year, this
is due to the ongoing restrictions
and concerns surrounding
Coronavirus (COVID-19), and
after taking careful account
of the latest Government and
Public Health guidance.
NSA Chief Executive Phil
Stocker says: “All at NSA are so
disappointed to have to cancel
our most popular of events. We
recognise the event provides
the opportunity for the sheep
farming community to come
together for a valuable day of
knowledge exchange, a chance
to view new and innovative
products and to enjoy an
opportunity to catch up with
friends. But the ongoing Covid-10
pandemic and uncertainty surrounding
it have unfortunately
left us with no choice but to
cancel the event this year.”
The national event will now
return to its usual home at the
Three Counties Showground,
Malvern, Worcestershire in
2022, as a biennial event on
Wednesday 27th July 2022. In the
meantime, NSA is now planning
new and different ways to
deliver some of the seminars,
workshops and more that visitors
would have enjoyed at the
event via webinars and virtual
activities.
NSA Sheep Event Organiser
Helen Roberts comments: “We
are immensely disappointed to
cancel Sheep 2020 but we are
now working on some really
interesting plans to keep our
work with the sheep industry
alive until we can get back to
more normal times. Thinking
about this positively we may
not be able to do a one-day
event, but our emerging plans
could be seen as a forthcoming
‘season for sheep farming’.
Most of our plans will offer
opportunities for trade, breed
societies, and other interested
organisations to be involved,
to promote their products and
offers to the industry.
“The changes that sheep
farming is facing will not be put
on hold until we can get back
together face to face, and it is
crucial that we press forward,
hopefully with the support of
the sector to help our industry
through what is a challenging
time and to make sure we
capitalise on the opportunities
ahead.”
Further information on the initial
plans for NSA’s increased online
activity will be shared very soon
but to discuss potential involvement
in this and other NSA Activities
please contact NSA Sheep Event
Organiser Helen Roberts on
07976 803066 or email helen@
nationalsheep.org.uk.