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CLUB BROCHURE
We hope you will enjoy the 2008/2009 edition of our Club Brochure. If you would like further copies to pass on to interested farmers, please contact the secretary, who, with John Simpson, has been largely responsible for its production. ROYAL SHOW JULY 3-6th
Committee members will be in attendance on the HUK stand on the first three days of the show. BULL PROGENY COMPETITION AND HERD COMPETITIONS SEPTEMBER
After the disappointment last year, when all events were cancelled, we are hoping for better luck this Autumn. See enclosure for details. CLASSIFICATION AND COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 5th
All those interested in the British Friesian specific Type Classification Scheme are welcome to this meeting at Middlefields Farm, Stoke Road, Hinckley 11.00 am where the 3 classifiers will be present. Please phone Jackie Griffin ( nos. for catering) on 01455 828733. If you are unable to attend, but would like to pass on any comments, please also relay them to Jackie.
SORRY, CLASSIFICATION POSTPONED EDFE SEPTEMBER 18-19th ROYAL SHOW GROUND STONELEIGH
British Friesian classes at this show offer an outstanding opportunity to show our cattle to a wider audience. To quote one exhibitor “ I can sell all my breeding bulls, just by being in the cattle lines”. Will you be there? BCBC FARM WALK AND PRESENTATION OF DATA
As a follow up to the debate on the merits of the dual function dairy cow versus the higher yielding, a farm walk was organised by the British Cattle Breeders Club, and Holt farms was the venue for British Friesians.
Data was presented on an annualised basis, comparing the substantial financial advantage of good calving intervals and longevity, with national Holstein averages. The added advantage of more male calves to sell ( at a good price) and low replacement costs, contribute more than is generally realised. Various reports reflecting on the data have appeared in the press. We keep repeating that profit and return on capital are the only figures that matter, and there are so many different ways of achieving this. We accept the principle that a higher PLI cow should be more profitable than a lower one of the same breed, but clearly when fertility is sacrificed for yield, then the overall picture can change dramatically. This has patently been the case with the Holstein.
On the one hand there is the high input/output housed 'all the year round' herds, with their high capital cost per cow, and the workload that goes with it. Then we have the lower yielding, mainly from forage, low input herds, often out-lying for most of the year and with very low overheads. These milk recorded herds inevitably lower our breed average. We have all been conditioned to judge on yield alone, but these low cost producers are efficient in their own way and are using milk recording for management purposes. Interestingly, only about 22% of HUK registrations are pure Holstein. The remainder have various percentages of British Friesian. It remains to be seen how much influence the increasing amounts of BF semen and bulls being sold, will have on registered cattle. There are certainly numerous 01’s appearing in the bull progeny lists! Are these signs that the divorced couple have realised their partners worth and are about to marry again????? HAYWOOD DISPERSAL
June 10th was a landmark day for the Bradbury family, when they saw their long-established Haywood herd dispersed to all corners of the blue tongue area and topping 2,000gns. Young cattle were particularly sought after.
Chris and his father established the herd in 1932, and now together with his son Mark and no one to take it on, decided it was time to take things a little easier. The average age of those on the farm approached 70, so they have our sympathy! Chris is a founder member of the British Friesian Breeders Club and was Treasurer for many years. JOHN MOFFITT
Although tribute was paid to the late John Moffitt in the June HUK Journal, we should mention in this Club Newsletter, the impact that his Hunday herd had on the development of the British Friesian breed. His purchase of Adema 88, had a profound influence. Hunday certainly flourished during those golden years for British Friesians, when serious money flowed from bull and reduction sales into breeders’ pockets. Fortunately, as with Terling and Lavenham, Club Members managed to purchase pure British Friesian blood lines such as the Hunday Bertha family, whose descendants are still having an influence on British Friesian breeding today.
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