The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2013 - Issue 30 | Page 34

Paul harrison “We run the pedigree herd in order to breed to sell our bulls and heifers to our fellow pedigree breeders and commercial beef farmers,” Paul said. “Every year, I sell to people who have never had South Devons as well as to regular customers. The docile nature and easy feeding attributes of the breed along with their live weight gain and food conversion rate make them an attractive proposition.” One of the problems that Paul and the South Devon breed faces is in coping with the restrictions in place owing to Bovine TB regulations. “Up here we don’t know just how lucky we are in not having to test in order to go to agricultural shows,” he admitted. “The breed’s national show this year was held at Devon County Show. If we’d have taken stock we would Practical FarmSkills training, delivered by vets for you Bishopton Veterinary Group are proud to support Paul Harrison Workshop (N Yorks based) DOCILITY – PERFORMANCE – LOW INPUT Date Advanced foot trimming 12th & 13th Nov Bovine mastitis 18th Nov Farrowing house management 20th Nov / 27th Nov Euthanasia for pigs (theory) 21st Nov DIY AI 25th, 28th, 29th Nov Herdsman foot trimming 3rd & 4th Dec DIY AI 16th & 18th Dec Beef nutrition 18th Dec Bovine mastitis 19th Dec Safe use of veterinary medicines 15th Jan Calf rearing 22nd Jan Suckler cow rearing 29th Jan Lambing 5th Feb For more information, call us on 01765 602396 or book online via www.bishoptonvets.co.uk Suckler Replacements Terminal Sires South Devons - quietly going places! Forthcoming Sales: Skipton 6th November 2013 Exeter 26th March 2014 Stratford upon Avon 3rd May 2014 South Devon Herd Book Society, Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, Devon, EX5 1DJ, tel [phone] www.sdhbs.org.uk [email protected] 34 Oct/Nov 2013 FarmersMart To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk