YOUNG BULL PROMOTION SCHEME

In 2011 the Society had a young bull accepted by EBLEX for their Young Bull Promotion Scheme. The scheme aimed to select above average genetic merit young bulls and spread their semen across a large number of herds so that the connectivity between bulls would be greatly improved and the accuracy of the EBVs both for that particular bull and all the other bulls against which its progeny were compared would be increased. The bull Dunsyre Cavalier was widely used and has reliabilities for growth rates of well over 80%. The bulls which were compared with Dunsyre Cavalier will also have seen great improvements in the reliability figures.

The EBLEX scheme is no longer available but because of the success of the scheme the Directors are funding a similar scheme through the Society. The young bull selected is Tofts Billabong Prince which has well above average EBVs for calving ease direct, growth rates and self replacing index. The aim is to distribute 5 straws of semen free of charge to at least 20 members who must be performance recording and scanning. The semen has already been collected and is available for immediate distribution. An application form is included with this newsletter. You have nothing whatsoever to lose from supporting this scheme. You will receive free of charge 5 straws of semen of a very high index young bull and your own bulls used alongside this bull will see their reliability figures improved because of the increased connectivity throughout the breed.

Please send in your application form as soon as possible.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTIONS

A reminder that all subscriptions are due on 1st January 2016. Please pay promptly as having to chase outstanding subscriptions costs the Society time and money.

Thank you.

ADDRESSING ENVELOPES

Please take care when addressing envelopes to the Society. There are several organisations on site which share our initials and some post can be delayed by several weeks. Please write our name in full.

RED CATTLE GENETICS

There is a new RCG Brochure available from the office which shows the latest EBV’s.

Please email rachel@shorthorn.co.uk or telephone 02476 696549 if you would like a copy.

Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society

4th Street, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire. CV8 2LG

t: 02476 696 549

e: shorthorn@shorthorn.co.uk

www.shorthorn.co.uk

Beef ShorthornDecember 2015Newsletter:

FORTHCOMING SALES & EVENTS:Sunday 31st January - AGM at Stirling Highland Hotel at 6pm followed by Annual Dinner at 7.30pm

Monday 1st February - Stirling Bull Sales

Friday 26th February - Carlisle Society Sale

Saturday 30th April - Chelford Society Sale

Monday 2nd May - Stirling Society Sale

Friday 27th May - Carlisle Society Sale

Monday 17th October - Stirling Bull Sales

Weds 9th November - Skipton

Saturday 12th November - Chelford

Beef Shorthorn

• DOCILE • FERTILE • EASY CALVING • HARDY • EASY CARE • PREMIUM BEEF • NATURAL FORAGERS • PROFITABLE • MILKY • LONG LIVED • WWW.SHORTHORN.CO.UK

‘The ideal functional suckler cow’

Calling all regional clubs!!

The Beef Shorthorn Society would like teams of three to represent the Breed at the National Young Stars Event.

The event is run with the Three Counties Agricultural Society and is held at the Three Counties Showground located off the M50 at Malvern.

The 2016 event will take place on the 24th March and will feature more than 150 young enthusiasts (aged 8-24 years).

If you can put together a team, please contact the Shorthorn office for further information.

Stirling Bull Sales – Change of Schedule

Please note that there is a change of schedule at Stirling Bull Sales in February. The inspection of Shorthorn bulls will take place on Sunday 31st January at 10.00am.

The Show of females, followed by bulls will begin at 8.30am on Monday 1st February and all the Beef shorthorns will be sold on the Monday afternoon. Shorthorn Bulls at 1.30pm and Females at 3.30pm.

Herd Classification

The Classification scheme is now up and running. If you would like your herd classified please let the office know now, even if you don’t want it doing until spring or summer next year. It will take some time for the classifiers to get round all the herds and they will contact members when they are in the area. If anyone would like further information, please contact the office. Once you have had a classification visit you will be automatically on the system for a visit the following year.

New Society Sale on 26th February 2016 at Carlisle

There is a new Beef Shorthorn Society sale at Borderway Mart on Friday 26th February. Entry forms can be obtained from H & H at Borderway Mart.

Lorry Stickers

We now have red, A3 sized lorry stickers which are perfect to go on the back of your lorry, trailer, van or horse box. These will be available at shows and events that we are attending throughout the year so please let us know if you would like one.

Online Registrations

It is really quick and simple to register your animals online. To get your password and instructions on how to do this, please email rachel@shorthorn.co.uk

If you use the Farmplan software, you can now register your animals via the Farmplan website.

World Shorthorn Conference 2016

The 2016 World Shorthorn Conference will take place in Uruguay from 3rd to 13th April 2016. The itinerary and booking form are on the website. We will have a party of up to 16 people travelling from the UK. It will be a very interesting trip to a part of the world you probably wouldn’t otherwise visit with some tremendous hospitality thrown in. I met several of the Uruguayan Shorthorn breeders in 2007 when the World Conference was in Argentina and I can assure you that it won’t be all work as they are certainly not dull boys! If you are interested in going and need any more information please contact me and I will do all I can to help.

Beef Society AGM & Stirling Dinner – Sunday 31st January

Owing to the change of format for the bull sales the AGM will now take place on Sunday 31st January 2016 at 6.00pm at the Stirling Highland Hotel, 29 Spittal Street, Stirling, FK8 1DU - tel: 01786272727 immediately before the Annual Dinner at 7.00 for 7.30pm

Morrisons plc have again very generously agreed to sponsor the dinner which will allow us to keep the cost of the tickets at £25 per person. Tickets for the dinner should be booked through the Shorthorn Society Office NOT though the hotel. There are a limited number of places and the hotel requires final numbers 7 days before the dinner, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

We have managed to secure special rates for anyone booking a stay at the Stirling Highland Hotel. These are £80 Single Occupancy and £90 Twin or double occupancy and include Bed and Breakfast. You must refer to the “SHORTHORN RATE” when booking and if you have any problems, please contact the Shorthorn office.