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AGM
The 20th Annual General Meeting was held at the Hunters Inn, Longdon, Tewkesbury, on 9th March, following a committee meeting in the morning. It is always pleasing to welcome other members who are able to join us for lunch beforehand.
This year, the elected officers remain the same. We continue our policy of sending information to a network of younger members who are unable to serve on committee due to family commitments. Our Chairman, Ben Pullen gave his report for the year which will appear in the Brochure.
The Club Award was presented to Vaughn Jenkins, who had travelled up from Pembroke with his wife, Rosemary. JOHN SIMPSON
Before the meeting commenced, members stood for a quiet moment of reflection in memory of John Simpson who had recently passed away. John and his Catlane herd will have been well known to many of our members and indeed much further afield. John was a founder member of this club and its first chairman. He had a prodigious knowledge of the breed and will be sorely missed. Our condolences go to his wife, Mary, and sons Alan, James and David and their families. CLUB BROCHURE 2010/11
This is the last call for your adverts in the Club Brochure. Please contact the secretary if you have lost your form. NATIONAL HERD COMPETITION
We are honoured this year to have a past President of our Society (HUK) William Ley, of the Thuborough herd, to be the judge of this bi-annual competition. Entry forms are enclosed with this newsletter, so get your entries in! Judging will take place during July and August. BULL PROGENY COMPETITION
Entry forms are included with this letter. Entries in by June 30th. HUK DNA REQUIREMENT
Just a reminder, HUK now require DNA samples from the calf and its dam before registering a bull calf. DAIRY EVENT AND LIVESTOCK SHOW (DELS)
The move to the NEC means that there is a change of days and date. The new days are Tuesday and Wednesday, the 7th and 8th September this year.
The new venue will be visited, and further information will be available. Please do think seriously about showing, as this show is attended by so many commercial farmers. YOUNG MEMBERS HANDLING CLASSES
The Jersey Society have very kindly invited any youngsters (and parents) to join them at their rally on August 13th to 15th to be held at High Farm, Arkholme, Carnforth, Lancs. Calves will be provided for lessons in preparing, clipping and leading. Further information will be given in the June newsletter. It is great fun for the youngsters, but because we are comparatively small in numbers we have found it difficult to put on our own event. VISIT TO IRELAND
Apart from having to make some hasty last minute arrangements to get back home by sea, our visit was the most tremendous success. Our grateful thanks go to all who hosted the visits and especially to Bill O’Keeffe, Bryan Daniels and Bernard Zwaferink for making the arrangements.
All were making the best use of their milk contracts for processing, with British Friesians and their high milk solids, but with slightly differing levels of supplementary feeding from 300 to 800 kgs. Following what is generally termed the New Zealand system, they calve in January, serve in April and dry off for two months before starting again. Calves are turned out, often still on milk, and certainly need to grow on as some are bulled at nearer 14 months. This tight calving pattern is critical for the system. British Friesians appear to be flourishing, with their well known fertility, and ability to maintain condition. Many farms were selling breeding bulls, as the system requires a number of sweeper bulls and there is a good demand for replacement heifers. Milk protein is bred for and bulls sold to AI stations. The last farm we visited had an average protein percentage of 3.7.
We were very pleased to be introduced to Charles Gallagher, the Chief Executive of the Irish Holstein Friesian Association. Their Association is much more inclusive, with a strong Friesian element, although there is a separate Club as we know. We were surprised to learn that heifers of all breeds are not classified until their second lactation, as so many are not sufficiently developed and we certainly understood why.
They have a different system in Ireland for evaluations; both type and production, under the ICBF which produce Estimated Breeding Values (EBI) to a single average for all breeds.
We came away with an impression of a totally focussed industry, bent on economical milk production. Without exception, the farms were being run by the younger generation with milking facilities absolutely up to date (one even built especially for the even taller 6’6” son!) We were delighted to see the British Friesian proving to be the ideal grazing cow. After all, this is what she has been bred for these past 100 years!
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