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AGM MARCH 12th
The 19th AGM was held at Boughton House, Kettering, by kind permission of BQ Farms.
Willie Bell remains as President, with Ben Pullen taking the Chair. Jackie Griffin was voted in as Vice-Chairman. Two new members join the Committee, Patrick Davies from Cheshire and Dan Nattle from Cornwall. Both are keen young men who boldly set out to farm in their own right and we welcome their initiative. Ivor Davies, retiring Chairman, remains on the committee (ex officio). All other positions remain the same. A special thanks to the members who travelled all the way from Pembrokeshire! HERD VISIT APRIL 29th - SOMERSET
Following their Conference in January, the British Cattle Breeders Club is holding a farm walk to the two herds featured in the debate about dual function dairy cows.
Start at Pinkers Farm, East Harptree (10.00am) to see Montbeliardes, and then on to Holt Farms, Blagdon (11.45 am) to see the Lakemead herd of British Friesians (see enclosed BCBC Newsletter for details)
Whether you agree with the description of British Friesians as dual-function (or purpose), this Club does not, preferring to say that if by a happy co-incidence they produce male calves with enhanced value and play an important role in the food production chain, then the British Friesian is the ideal DAIRY cow for many farmers in the UK and beyond. For farmers, it is the bottom line figure that counts, as this is the only way to a sustainable business, and we hope to demonstrate this. HERD VISIT JUNE 18/19th - NORTHERN IRELAND
We are delighted to confirm a Club farm walk to the Stockdale Family’s
Castledale Herd, Downpatrick, on 18th June, and the following day to the Kennedy’s Grovehill Herd. This visit is already proving popular and we recommend booking early for cheap flights to Belfast and accommodation. The Millbrook Lodge Hotel in Downpatrick has numerous rooms and is a short drive away from the farms. We hope to meet up there for an evening meal on the 17th. If flying, please organise your own transport and obviously car share where possible.
There is not another newsletter until June, so the full details are as follows:
GG Stockdale, Castlemahon, 81 Ballycutter Road, Downpatrick, Co.Down, BT30 7BD Tel. 02844 881616 Full day visit from 10.30am
D Kennedy, Grove Hill, 7 Mill Road, Annacloy, Downpatrick, Co Down BT30 9AS Tel 02844612096 ¾ day visit from 10.30am The Millbrook Lodge Hotel, 5 Drumaness Rd, Downpatrick Co Down BT24 8LS Tel. 02897562828 e-mail enquiries@millbrooklodge.co.uk
Louise, on reception is very helpful. Even if you decide to stay elsewhere, but wish to have an evening meal at Millbrook Lodge, please phone to book and say you are part of the Club party. Contact for this trip. Jackie Griffin 01455 828733
Some Flight Times:
East Midlands
Outbound Tuesday 17th d. 16.35 a. 17.35
Return Thursday 19th d. 18.00 a. 19.00 (bmi)
Bristol
Outbound Tuesday 17th d. 15.25 a. 16.35
Return Thursday 19th d. 19.50 a. 20.55 (Easyjet: www.easyjet.com) DAVID HEWITT
You may have read that David Hewitt retires from his position as Chief Executive of Holstein UK in April. David has been a driving force in the modernising of the Society and the superb website facilities are testament to that. As we moved through our own classification to separate breed code and evaluation, he was always on the end of the phone with advice and support. We thank him for that, and wish him well in his retirement and trust that his extensive knowledge will continue to be put to good use. CROSSBREEDING
With a four page spread in the FG and numerous other articles, crossbreeding continues to feature in the dairy columns.
Question- Why the need? We all know the answer!!!!
Question- Why are HUK so silent? Embarrassment !!!!
Solution- British Friesian, PROVEN on all counts !!!! What an opportunity to promote the ideal black and white cow for our times. Sales of bulls and semen (home and abroad) continue to grow, as does this Club ! CLASSIFICATION WORKSHOP
A workshop will be held at Middlefields Farm, Stoke Road, Hinckley on 5th August. (Diary date for those interested, details later.) MDC EVALUATIONS WEBSITE - Inbreeding
Access your herd on the website, and even if you don’t rate PLI, you can now check the inbreeding percentage of your animals. Reports so far are encouragingly low. Many UK Holsteins have had the benefit of British Friesian in their back pedigree and so these are not as far down the road as the North Americans, so can be rescued in time!!!! BROCHURE
Once again a reminder to take your photos ready for your herd advert,
and get it to us promptly.
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