South Devon Newsletter February 2013

20
1 SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ. Tel: 01392 447494 Fax: 01392 447495 www.sdhbs.org.uk [email protected] PATRON: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2013 CONTENTS: Recording birth details 11 AGM, Dinner Menu, Accommodation 3 Health issues 12 National Show news 4 Using EBVs to select bulls 13 Show dates and Link coordinators 5 GM & food waste 15 Notes from the office 7 Diary; Linda’s Trophy; For Sale 16 Regional/Club news 7 Cattle for Sale List 17 TB compensation 8 New & resigning members 18 BCBC Conference 9 And finally 20 Dear Member, Enclosed is your copy of the AGM booklet which incorporates the Accounts for 2012. We are very pleased to report another surplus for the year, especially with an increase in breed promotional and improvement expenditure. Particularly pleasing is the overall increase in registrations which is the lifeblood of the Society, after all! As usual the Accounts will be put for adoption to the AGM on 26 th March. If you would like to book a place at the AGM Dinner or to reserve a hotel room at the Devon Hotel please would you let Debbie know as soon as possible. The Spring Sale catalogue will be in production very soon, and a copy will be available on our website, and all members will receive a printed copy in March. The Auction of Promises follows the AGM, and precedes the Dinner, and we are very grateful to John Wakeham for taking on the auctioneer role again. This year the proceeds from the Auction will be set aside to help cover the costs of taking the National Show to the Great Yorkshire in 2014 – a very exciting move

description

South Devon Newsletter February 2013

Transcript of South Devon Newsletter February 2013

Page 1: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

1

SOUTH DEVON HERD BOOK SOCIETY Westpoint, Clyst St Mary, Exeter, EX5 1DJ. Tel: 01392 447494 Fax: 01392 447495

www.sdhbs.org.uk [email protected] PATRON: HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCE OF WALES

NEWSLETTER

FEBRUARY 2013

CONTENTS: Recording birth details 11

AGM, Dinner Menu, Accommodation 3 Health issues 12

National Show news 4 Using EBVs to select bulls 13

Show dates and Link coordinators 5 GM & food waste 15

Notes from the office 7 Diary; Linda’s Trophy; For Sale 16

Regional/Club news 7 Cattle for Sale List 17

TB compensation 8 New & resigning members 18

BCBC Conference 9 And finally 20

Dear Member,

Enclosed is your copy of the AGM booklet which incorporates the Accounts for

2012. We are very pleased to report another surplus for the year, especially

with an increase in breed promotional and improvement expenditure.

Particularly pleasing is the overall increase in registrations which is the

lifeblood of the Society, after all! As usual the Accounts will be put for

adoption to the AGM on 26th March.

If you would like to book a place at the AGM Dinner or to reserve a hotel room

at the Devon Hotel please would you let Debbie know as soon as possible.

The Spring Sale catalogue will be in production very soon, and a copy will be

available on our website, and all members will receive a printed copy in March.

The Auction of Promises follows the AGM, and precedes the Dinner, and we are

very grateful to John Wakeham for taking on the auctioneer role again. This

year the proceeds from the Auction will be set aside to help cover the costs of

taking the National Show to the Great Yorkshire in 2014 – a very exciting move

Page 2: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

2

to the part of the country where we have focussed our attention for breed

promotion for a good number of years. Please help with offers of ‘promises’,

and come and join in the fun!

The National Show at the Devon County is only 12 weeks away, and the detail is

coming together – for further information inside. There are also plenty more

shows that deserve your support, and please make use of the list of show link

coordinators who work to draw together entries for the shows for which they

are responsible.

You may not already be aware that we can issue Birth Notification Documents

(BNDs) showing the breeding of animals as declared to us by the breeder,

which might be of use for you to demonstrate to enquirers. The cost of a BND

is £2 plus VAT up to 4 months of age; £4 plus VAT up to 1 year of age; and £5

plus VAT thereafter.

There is obvious concern within the Society that TB is reducing the retention

of valuable genetics within the breed, and ways to encourage semen collection

as a safeguard against loss have been discussed at committee and Council level

in recent months. Council have now voted to adopt a new semen collection

scheme that will begin this March, and will focus on the Society’s Spring Sale.

The purchaser(s) of the Champion Male and Highest Priced Male will be asked

if they would be willing for the Society to collect semen from the bull(s) (there

is no obligation), on farm, at a convenient time. The semen would be shared

50/50 between the purchaser and the Society, and the costs would be borne

by the Society. The Society’s share would not be available to sell for three

years, and during that period the bull’s performance and progeny could be

assessed. The scheme will be regularly reviewed, and other Society Sales will

not necessarily be excluded.

Finally, we are very pleased to hold another Next Generation Weekend this

year, which will be in Warwickshire – thank you to Robert Hadley and Sally

Smallcombe for being the ‘drivers’ of this one. The likely dates are 31st August

and 1st September. More information will follow in due course.

Best wishes

Caroline

Page 3: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

3

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Regency Suite, The Devon Hotel, Matford, Exeter

Tuesday 26th March

16.45 Tea & Coffee

17.00 Annual General Meeting

18.15 Auction of Promises

19.30 Dinner

MENU

Thick Vegetable Soup or

Fanned Melon *

Carvery

with Fresh Vegetables and Roast Potatoes *

Fresh Fruit Salad served in a Tuille Basket or

Chocolate Profiteroles *

Coffee or Tea with Mints *

£23.50 per person

ACCOMMODATION

Rooms have been pre-booked by us at the Hotel – singles, doubles and

twins – all at £66 per room. If you would like to reserve

accommodation please let Debbie know as soon as you can, as there is

limited availability.

Page 4: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

4

NATIONAL SHOW NEWS

If you have exhibited South Devons previously at a show, it is likely that you

will be on a list of names already held by the Devon County and so therefore

will receive a Schedule. Otherwise please request one from the Livestock

Office, 01392 353705, or via their website www.devoncountyshow.co.uk and

follow the links.

Exhibitor discounts

All exhibitors except from Devon (host region) will receive from the Society

£10 per animal forward (not including calves), plus per animal forward:

From Regions 1 (Cornwall) and 3 (Wessex) £10

From Regions 4 (South East), 5 (East Midlands & Eastern Counties),

and Region 6 (Wales & West Midlands) £20

From Region 7 (North & Scotland) £30

Important note to exhibitors: if you require a caravan, you need to contact

Liz as soon as possible, who will pass on your name – there are only a limited

number available, and are quickly taken.

Our most grateful thanks to all our sponsors to date:

SOYA UK; MOLE VALLEY FARMERS; BARKERS ANIMAL HEALTH

M E & T E BROOME; MR & MRS R C BURROUGH & SONS

CORNISH MUTUAL; AGRICULTURAL CENTRAL TRADING

ACSTEDE DESIGN; WORTHAM JAQUES

HERDSURE; PHILLIP WARREN

There are still opportunities for sponsorship and any ideas/contacts would

be much appreciated!

Hospitality and Social Events

The Society marquee will be ringside, with South Devons being judged in the

adjacent ring. Wristband access to the cattle sheds will apply, as in previous

Page 5: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

5

years, and wristbands will be available from the stewards office next door, or in

advance from ourselves.

The marquee will be the focus for publicity and promotion, and all our sponsors

are invited to bring leaflets and other promotional material for us to make

available to visitors. If you are able to offer an hour or two to lend a hand in

the marquee please would you let Liz know.

The South Devon Cattle Breeders Club are planning to host a cream tea on

Thursday afternoon in the marquee; and the region will host a barbecue at

Friday lunchtime. The Society’s Dinner and Presentation of Awards will be

held on the showground on Thursday evening – bookings please.

The Young Handler Competition kindly sponsored by Towergate Farm Insurance

will be held on Saturday at 10.30 in the ring by the marquee. Entries are invited

from members, relatives of members or members’ employees, aged between 16

and 25.

Competitions – something for everyone:

Tidiest Cattle Line; Best Fruit and Sponge Cake; Best Show and On Farm

Photograph; Best Dressed Lady and Gentleman, fit for a country show; Best

Poem or Limerick

So now we sit and wait for the entries to come in – let’s make it just as

successful as previous National Shows, if not better!

SHOW DATES & LINK COORDINATORS Newark County 11th-12th May Jo Rodger

Devon County 16th-18th May Gordon Tully

Shropshire County 25th May Richard Hartshorn

Royal Bath & West 29th May-1st June John Virgin

Rutland County 2nd June Richard Wright

Suffolk 29th-30th May Richard White

Royal Cornwall 6th-8th June Roger Clemens

& Roger Rundle

Page 6: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

6

Three Counties 14th-16th June Keith & Margaret Plain

Cheshire County 18th-19th June Richard Hartshorn

Royal Norfolk 26th-27th June Richard White

East of England 5th-7th July to be confirmed

Great Yorkshire 9th-11th July David Irving

Thame 13th July David Nixey

Liskeard 13th July Mervyn Rowe

Stithians 15th July Mervyn Rowe

Camborne 20th July Mervyn Rowe

Royal Welsh 22nd-25th July Richard Hartshorn

Launceston 25th July Mark Thomas

Mid Devon 27th July Elizabeth Bartley

Leicester County 27th July Jo Rodger

Totnes 28th July Gordon Tully

Nantwich 31st July Richard Hartshorn

Yealmpton 31st July Chris Savery

Honiton 1st August Elizabeth Bartley

Blakesley 3rd August Pat Rickett

Okehampton 8th August Ken Garrett

Camelford 14th August Suzanne Harper

Minsterley 17th August Richard Hartshorn

Gillingham & Shaftesbury 21st August Robert Dimond

Holsworthy & Stratton 22nd August Suzanne Harper

Aylsham 26th August Nick Hood

Bucks County 29th August Pat Rickett

Kingsbridge 7th September Richard Smaridge

Moreton-in-Marsh 7th September Mike Kettlewell

Dorset County 7th-8th September John Virgin

Frome 14th September Johnny Ward

Thank you to all these volunteers who give their time to try to ensure the

viability of South Devon classes at all the above mentioned shows, by

encouraging exhibitors to enter and to bring their cattle out. They also

arrange for promotional leaflets which are produced in the office to be

available to enquirers.

Page 7: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

7

FROM THE OFFICE

Please would you ensure that the correct postage is applied when sending

anything to us. Recently we have had a number of envelopes held back from

delivery to the office because the postage paid was insufficient. This delays

us dealing with your correspondence, which could be urgent registrations.

Debbie has ten South Devon calendars remaining in stock for 2013 – now

discounted to £4.50. Please let her know as soon as possible if you would like

one – the year has barely started!

REGIONAL/CLUB NEWS

The Annual Meeting of Region 1 will be held on Monday 15th April at 7.30 pm at the Victoria Inn, Roche

A meeting of Region 2 will be held on Tuesday 9th April at 8 pm at

The Oak, South Brent

The South Devon Cattle Breeders Club are looking for someone to

take over as Hon Secretary as of the Club’s AGM which is due to take place in mid-October 2013

Please contact Margaret Northey on 01548 830612 with a view to

attending a few committee meetings to learn the ropes; or the Club’s Treasurer Angela Smaridge on 01548 521414 to discuss the payment

that goes with the position

Page 8: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

8

COMPENSATION FOR BOVINE TB Payable during February 2013

NON PEDIGREE BOVINE

Male Female

Age Compensation due Age Compensation

due

Up to 3 months 239 Up to 3 months 188

Over 3 months

up to 6 months

367 Over 3 months

up to 6 months

329

Over 6 months

up to 9 months

654 Over 6 months

up to 9 months

550

Over 9 months

up to 12 months

777 Over 9 months

up to 12 months

649

Over 12 months

up to 16 months

975 Over 12 months

up to 16 months

816

Over 16 months

up to 20 months

1048 Over 16 months

up to 20 months

927

20 months and over,

non breeding bulls

1167 20 months and

over, not calved

1043

Breeding bulls 20

months and over

1,373** Over 20 months,

calved

951

PEDIGREE BOVINE

Male Female

Age Compensation due Age Compensation

due

Up to 6 months * Up to 6 months *

6 months up to 12

months

* 6 months up to 12

months

1,720

Over 12 months up to

24 months

4,515 Over 12 months

up to 24 months

1,784

24 months and over 2,612 24 months and

over (not calved)

2,132

Calved under 36

months

*

Calved 36 months

and over

1,900

*Compensation to be determined using individual valuation

**Compensation to be determined using previously ascertained market price

Page 9: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

9

BRITISH CATTLE BREEDERS CLUB CONFERENCE

This year’s Conference held at Telford in January was both interesting and

encouraging in its range of speakers and topics.

‘Rising Cost of Grain’, ‘World Population 9 billion by 2050’, ‘Pressure on Land’,

‘Grass-Fed Beef’, ‘Sustainability’, ‘Low Maintenance Cows’, ‘Quality Beef’, ‘If you

can’t measure it you can’t manage it’ were very much the buzzword messages of

the beef day – all good news for South Devon breeders.

Andrew Loftus, from Wm Morrisons Supermarkets, Woodhead Bros, gave an

overview of their cattle requirements – 100% British, 3,500 finished cattle per

week. Ten per cent (ie 350/week) were currently going into their Traditional

Scheme of which 100 were Beef Shorthorns, so 250 being from other native

breeds. He saw the cost of grain and straw going just one way – upwards – as

the world population continues to grow rapidly, so the focus will be more on low

maintenance hardy cows. There will be more competition for land use, and so

more focus on hill and marginal land for beef production.

Adrian Ivory, from Strathisla Farms, Perthshire is a previous Farmers Weekly

Young Farmer of the Year, and has built up an impressive beef business,

including a 140 commercial herd of Simmental, Shorthorn and South Devon

crossbreds). He spoke very openly about his costings and returns, his attention

to business management detail is commendable, and he is fortunate to have

youth on his side!

Mike Powley is a long term supporter of the breed and of the Society, and he

did us proud once again commending the breed to the audience. The Powleys run

110 South Devon x Limousin cows that are put to high index terminal sires to

produce bull beef. The business objectives are: quality; growth rates; robust,

long-lived cows; maximum output; controlled fixed and feed costs; and supplying

what the market wants. Cows are housed in November, with a condition score

of 5, which reduces to 2 by calving time – calving difficulties are not an issue.

Average returns for young bulls are: at 409 days, 672 kg weight, 62% killing

out, giving an average dlwg of 1.52 kg and an average ddwg of 1.017 kg, with 73%

E grades and 27% U grades. It is an impressive business model, and a sound

recommendation for the use of the maternal South Devon.

Page 10: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

10

A ‘Maternal Genetics’ workshop was held the afternoon before the Conference,

and Robert Whitcombe bravely entered a competition to present his choice of

Maternal Champion. Well worthy of winning outright, Robert was just nudged

back into second place by a very witty demonstration of a Shorthorn rib dating

nearly 200 years. Robert’s presentation offers an excellent recommendation

and is reproduced here:

HAWKLEY SAS JAVELIN – MATERNAL CHAMPION

“The bull we are showing is a South Devon, a breed well known for its maternal

qualities. It’s very docile, with lots of growth, plenty of milk and a wonderful

ability to convert grass efficiently and wean off heavy calves. We have been

breeding them for 23 years.

“The ideal suckler cow that our Champion has been selected to produce will have

these qualities: she will be quiet to handle, be easy keeping, get in calf easily,

calve unassisted, wean a heavy calf cheaply off forage, and live a long

productive life.

“This South Devon bull caught our eye right from birth. His mum has the

qualities I just described: she’s 12 years old now, plus she has perfect feet,

never trimmed, and a tidy udder with small teats. Her sire is Powderham Gem

9, an AI bull who is a milk trait leader for the breed. He weighed 423 kg at 7

months, a gain of 1.6 kg per day with no creep feed.

“It cannot be over-emphasised how important it is for a top maternal bull to

have a good mother. Many of the mother’s traits pass on to their sons, which

are then transmitted to their daughters - traits such as their fertility and

ability to milk. So our Champion made a good start!

“He is now 22 months old and called Hawkley SAS Javelin. He is polled, a

valuable trait in a South Devon and although not homozygous, it is useful for

breeding suckler replacements. He is tested for myostatin and is clear of the

nt821 double muscling variant. He does have the F94L myostatin variant, known

in some circles as ‘the profit gene’ for its contribution to conformation without

causing calving issues.

“South Devons are recorded with Breedplan. Javelin has been measured and

scanned, and he has the figures we are looking for in a maternal bull. This

means having balanced and above breed average figures for five key traits, plus

a high Suckler Replacement Index.

Page 11: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

11

“Those key traits are calving ease daughters, gestation length, 200 day weight,

200 day milk, and scrotal circumference. Javelin is nudging top 10% in the

breed for calving ease daughters, and he has the conformation to back this up –

with wide hips and wide set strong hind legs. His gestation length is shorter

than average at top 30%; 200 day weight is top 18%; milk is top 5%; and his

scrotal circumference is top 6% - indicating good fertility in his daughters.

Javelin is long and level topped, with great legs and feet, lots of style and eye

appeal.

“So why do I think he’s a Champion? Well in November 2012 he caught Cogent’s

eye and they have bought him for their AI stud. He is the first South Devon

they have bought – for collection of sexed semen. Breeders will be able to buy

Javelin South Devon semen to produce female calves. Many more suckler

producers will be able to have South Devon influence in their cows in the

future; which I am convinced will give them a less stressful and more profitable

life!”

RECORDS!

You may not realise it, but noting full birth information for all your females has

several advantageous implications for your herd, and for your breed:

If you record every birth, pedigree or commercial, then the dam’s

breeding records and the sire’s progreny records will be intact - good for

you and good for the parents

Noting a calving score, and a birth weight where possible, contributes to

the individual sire and dam performance records, and to overall breed

information

But please don’t estimate weights – better to have no information than

false information

Retailers are increasingly interested to know the breed (and the species!)

they are buying – and a premium is payable in some schemes for breed

specific beef – so please take a moment to note the sire on your passport

application

We can already prove the sire of an animal through DNA testing, but the

passport is the first check-point both in the sale ring and in the abattoir

Help us to help you!

Page 12: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

12

HEALTH ISSUES

SCHMALLENBERG

As the lambing season gets further advanced, so the number of reported cases

of Schmallenberg rises – and most of the country seems to be affected,

although the severity is very variable within and across counties. The positive

news (still not confirmed) is that there has been a breakthrough on the vaccine

front, and with luck it should be available before this spring’s turn-out.

Veterinary advice is to proceed with other vaccination programmes (for BVD

and Lepto) now, to be ready for the new vaccine when it becomes available.

BVD

The eradication programme for BVD is now firmly in place in Scotland, and as of

February 1st, all breeding herds should have at least tested for the disease, and

must test annually thereafter. In addition measures will be put in place to

reduce the spread of the disease, to include: preventing the sale or movement

of a known PI (persistently infected animal); mandatory health declarations at

sales; and increased biosecurity.

In England there are a number of regional initiatives to tackle BVD, such as the

Healthy Livestock scheme in the South West which has now been extended until

October 2013; and Breed Societies are setting standards for their own Sales.

In Wales the Levy Board is offering a subsidy to herds testing for BVD.

So the whole of the UK is addressing the disease, with Scotland the most

advanced towards eradication. To sum up with a quote from the Scottish CVO,

Sheila Voas: “Tackling BVD is important as it can cause abortion, infertility,

failure to thrive and often death. That’s why we have embarked on a BVD

eradication scheme and testing is the cornerstone of that. As the case studies

demonstrate, BVD eradication can improve herd health and reduce vets bills as

well as reducing the use of antibiotics which ultimately will help to reduce drug

resistance.”

CHECS MEMBERSHIP & SOCIETY POLICY

Most of you will be aware that, should you join a CHeCS health scheme (such as

Herdsure, Biobest HiHealth Herdcare, or SAC’s Premium Cattle Health), the

Society will credit £5 per pedigree registration in your herd over a two year

period, to help with the initial costs of screening. For further information

please speak to Debbie.

Page 13: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

13

As of the Spring 2014, all cattle coming to Society and Midland Club Sales

(Exeter, Stratford, Bristol and Skipton) must be from CHeCS member herds

that are accredited for BVD and double vaccinated (to protect animals going

into new herds with a different health status).

As of the Spring 2017, a further measure will be brought in for Society and

Midland Club Sales whereby cattle must be from CHeCS member herds with a

Risk Level 1 for Johnes (three consecutive annual clear tests). Testing can be

either with blood or dung samples. Blood sampling may give false positives if

your testing is close to a TB test; dung sampling will not be complicated by TB

testing. Please speak to your vet for further advice/information.

BULL SELECTION & THE USE OF EBVs

With the Spring Sale just a few weeks away (27th March) it is an opportune

time to dig out another of EBLEX’s Better Returns Programme manuals –

“Choosing Bulls to Breed for Better Returns”.

In it there are some useful and understandable explanations about how to

prioritise EBVs to select the correct bull for your production system and

objectives. For example, it lists important EBVs as follows, for:

Terminal sire for a suckler herd, with progeny finished for slaughter

Calving ease direct; Birth weight; 400 day growth; Eye Muscle Area; Fat Depth

Terminal sire for a suckler herd, with progeny sold at weaning

Calving ease direct; Birth weight; 200 day growth; Eye Muscle Area

Terminal sire for mating to maiden heifers in a suckler herd

Gestation length; Calving ease direct; birth weight; 200 day growth

Maternal sire for a suckler herd, with female progeny retained for

breeding purposes

Calving ease direct; Calving ease daughters; Birth weight; 200 day milk; Scrotal

circumference

Ease of calving

Difficult calvings reduce herd profitability, risk the life of cow and calf, and

may reduce fertility. Calving ease EBVs are a useful guide to avoid losses:

Birth weight EBV is an indicator of size of calf that the bull is likely to produce,

with positive (+) figures meaning heavier weights.

Page 14: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

14

Calving ease direct EBV helps identify bulls whose progeny will be born without

assistance, with positive (+) figures meaning easier calvings. Good for selecting

bulls to use on heifers.

Calving ease daughters EBV (not to be confused with calving ease direct) helps

identify bulls whose female progeny will calve without assistance, with positive

(+) meaning easier calvings.

However, it is easy to over-simplify the interpretation and, if not careful, you

might select a bull just on calving ease direct that produces small calves which

in turn will produce small calves, and so on, and the size of your sucklers will

diminish quite quickly.

Growth rate

Selecting bulls with high 200 and 400 day growth EBVs should help you breed

heavier calves at weaning and slaughter. However the potential for high growth

rates is only realised under good management (adequate feed and good herd

health status).

Beware selecting for high growth rate alone as this can lead to an increase in

birth weights which might lead to calving problems. Choose a balance between

growth and calving ease.

Carcase quality

Carcases that meet market specifications optimise profit potential. Select

sires with high eye muscle area EBVs, and high Retail Beef Yield.

Remember …

An Index combines a number of individual EBV traits to give an overall first

impression.

But use individual EBVs for specific breeding objectives.

The accuracy percentage of an EBV is very important – the higher it is, the less

likely the EBV will deviate greatly with the input of new performance data.

Similarly if the accuracy is not high, the EBV is less reliable.

Structural and breed characteristic appraisal using your eye; the bull’s

pedigree; its frame score; its myostatin status; and an assessment of the Herd

Health Declaration are a must. EBVs are just one of the selection tools in the

box!

Page 15: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

15

HOW TO FEED THE WORLD POPULATION - THE

GM DEBATE AND FOOD WASTE

The GM Debate was loudly reawakened at the recent Oxford Farming

Conference, following a particularly impassioned speech from former ‘anti-GM’

protagonist Mark Lynas. His presentation can be read in full at

http://www.ofc.org.uk/files/ofc/papers/mark-lynas-lecture-oxford-farming-

conference.pdf, and it really is food for thought. For example:

“I’d assumed that it (the use of GM) would increase the use of chemicals.

It turned out that pest-resistant cotton and maize needed less

insecticide”

“I’d assumed that GM benefited only the big companies. It turned out that

billions of dollars of benefits were accruing to farmers needing fewer

inputs”

“I’d assumed that no-one wanted GM. Actually what happened was that Bt

cotton was pirated into India and roundup ready soya into Brazil because

farmers were so eager to use them”

“We no longer need to discuss whether or not it (GM) is safe – over a

decade and a half with 3 trillion GM meals eaten there has never been a

single substantiated case of harm. You are more likely to get hit by an

asteroid than to get hurt by GM food. More to the point, people have died

from choosing organic, but no-one has died from eating GM.”

Another issue hitting the headlines at the moment is that between 1.2 and 2

billion tonnes of food is wasted each year worldwide – ie, between 30 and 50%

of all food produced! This information comes from a report – Global Food:

Waste Not Want Not, which discusses how food waste occurs, including:

Inefficient harvesting, inadequate local transportation, and poor

infrastructure in developing economies

Modern consumer culture in developed countries with exacting marketing

standards, such as ‘the right shape or colour’ vegetables

Supermarket practices such as encouraging ‘2 for 1’ offers, and the

encouragement of spontaneous purchasing

There is a lot more to the report which can be read in full from this link:

http://www.farming.co.uk/news/article/7777

Page 16: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

16

DIARY

Mar 26th Annual General Meeting, Auction of Promises &

Society Dinner, Devon Hotel, Exeter

27th Spring Show & Sale, Exeter Livestock Centre

April 9th Executive meeting

Region 2 (Devon) meeting

15th Region 1 (Cornwall) annual meeting

16th Council meeting

17th Truro Club store sale, Truro market

18th Breed Promotion meeting

May 4th Midland Club Sale, Stratford

16th/18th NATIONAL SHOW, Devon County

21st Breed Improvement meeting

23rd NBA Beef Expo, Malvern

July 3rd/4th Livestock 2013, NEC

LINDA’S TROPHY – FINAL REMINDER

If you think a particular member of the Society deserves recognition for the

work he or she has done in the past year towards promoting the breed, then

you are invited to make a nomination for the Linda Turpie Rounsevell Memorial

Trophy which is awarded at the AGM. Just tell us who, and why (in no more

than 300 words), by Friday 1st March, and the nomination will be put forward to

the judges. Thank you.

FOR SALE

VOLVO FLC 7.5 TONNE LORRY

‘P’ registration, mileage 132,820

With 19 ft Williams livestock container

complete with sheep decks and partitions

All in good order

Good tyres, 2 new batteries, service history

Lorry/trailer can be split

Malcolm Broome: 01858 545243/07732 331372

Page 17: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

17

CATTLE FOR SALE

Bulls

Levaton Gem 3 Mr & Mrs J Fanshawe 01604 740308/

UK364304 200056 Northamptonshire – Region 5 07802 794553

Born 17/04/2006

Trewint Excalibur 2 L E Walters & Son 01404 841403

UK383029 400541 Devon – Region 2

Born 16/05/2006

Bedford Hadrian 14 T R G Martin 01769 580737

UK382333 200183 Devon – Region 2

Born 08/09/2006

Welland Valley Explorer 9 P Shubrook 01252 703658/

UK201140 500995 Surrey – Region 4 07824 357684

Born 05/10/2007

Z Embury Ben 10 Mr & Mrs D Barlow 01298 84820/

UK364027 500828 Derbyshire – Region 7 07973 468177

Born 15/05/2008

AI Waddeton Homer 6 The Tully Partnership 01803 842394

UK364027 500828 Devon – Region 2

Born 22/03/2009

Raphael Warrior F & J Rowe 01503 272766

UK382939 100792 Cornwall – Region 1

Born 22/02/2010

Glebe Duke 1 J Virgin 01258 817171/

UK340654 300343 Dorset – Region 3 07836 661365

Born 20/03/2011

Mutterton Tom Putt A H & E M Bartley 01884 38964

UK361746 300247 Devon – Region 2

Born 24/04/2011

Females

6 maiden heifers G K & M A Garrett & Son 01837 54348

Devon – Region 2

2 x 2 year old in-calf K V & M A Plain 01684 772096

heifers Gloucestershire – Region 3

12 bulling heifers C Salmon 01603 270000/

Norfolk – Region 5 07768 713680

Page 18: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

18

Cows in calf & bulling D P Crow 01952 222134/

heifers Shropshire – Region 6 07811 593260

6 bulling heifers & T R G Martin 01769 580737

4 in-calf heifers Devon – Region 2

NEW MEMBERS

Full

Region 1 Mr K & Mrs J Quick, 6 Roskear Road, Camborne, Cornwall, TR14 8BT

Prefix: BOTETA Region 2 B J & W A Heard, Deptford Farm, Hartland, Bideford, Devon, EX39 6HD

Mr D Booty, West Sherril, Poundsgate, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ13 7PS

Region 3 Mr M Giles MRCVS, The Well House, Bayford, Wincanton, Somerset, BA9 9NJ

Mr P Garavelli, Farfield Farm, Cricklade, Wiltshire, SN6 6HZ Prefix: FARFIELD Region 5 Mr R Butcher, Taylors Farm, Heathencote, Towcester, Northants, NN12 7LE

Prefix: TOVE VALLEY J K & M J Rogers, Glebe Farm, Church Street, Byfield, Daventry, Northants,

NN11 6YN

Region 7 Mr P Halder, Hooks House Farm, Robin Hoods Bay, Whitby, Yorkshire, YO22 4PE

Prefix: HOOKS HOUSE Mr M Lyle, Grandpond Ltd, Foremill Farm, Caputh, Perthshire, PH1 4JL

Prefix: TAY VALLEY

Region 8 Mr C Ryan, Ballylusk, Ballindaggin, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, Ireland

Introductory

Region 2 Mr K & Miss H Stone, Stone Farms, Hartstone Farm, Shaugh Prior,

Plymouth, Devon, PL7 5EP Introduced by Mark Thomas Region 3 Mr E Hemmings, t/a E R Hemmings & Co Farmers, Hay Lane Farm, Horsley,

Nailsworth, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL6 0QD Introduced by Hugh Lello Region 4 Mr P Bywater, Thenford Grounds Farm, Thenford, Banbury, Oxfordshire,

OX17 2BY Introduced by Robert Hadley Region 7 Mr T Woodliffe, 41 Old Mill View, Sherriff Hutton, York, Yorkshire,

YO60 6SW Introduced by Alex Welch

Retiring

Region 1 P A & A F Hambly, Lethytep, Penadlake, Lanreath, Looe, Cornwall, PL13 2PG

Prefix: LETHYTEP Region 2 Mr J L Starrenburg, Reveton Farm, Loddiswell, Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 4RY

Prefix: REVETON Mr H W Upham, Gratner, Langaller Lane, Bovey Tracey, Devon, TQ13 9JP

Prefix: LANGALLER

Page 19: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

19

Region 3 Mr J A Wadsworth, Court Farm, West Huntspill, Highbridge, Somerset,

TA9 3QZ Prefix: COURT FARM Region 4 Mr P M J Watson, Burford Farm, Everton Road, The Heath, Everton, Sandy,

Bedfordshire, SG19 2JJ Prefix: BURFORD Region 6 Mr T G Davies, Broadgate, Colwinston, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales,

CF71 7ND Prefix: MONKTON Resigning

Region 1 P & J Badcock, Rospeath Farm, Ludgvan, Cornwall, TR20 9BL

Prefix: ROSPEATH W D D Hutchings & Son, Restormel Farm, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0HN

Prefix: RESTORMEL Region 2 L J & L G Glanville, Fairview Farm, Northleigh, Colyton, Devon, EX13 6EL

Prefix: BROOMFIELD Mr I McKie, Lashbrook, Thornbury, Holsworthy, Devon, EX22 7BA

Prefix: LASHBROOK S M & P D Smith, Wood Farm, Colebrook, Crediton, Devon, EX17 5DN

Prefix: CLAYPARK Mr C Manley, Windsor Farm, Hemyock, Cullompton, Devon, EX15 3QS

Prefix: WELLCROFT Region 3 Mr J & Mrs L Barton, Leaze Farm, Gipsy Lane, Leonard Stanley, Stonehouse,

Gloucestershire, GL10 3PE Prefix: LEAZE Mr R Arundell, Park Gate Farm, Donhead, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 9EU

Prefix: WARDOUR Region 4 Mr R M R Wingfield, Barrington Park Estate, Great Barrington, Burford,

Oxfordshire, OX18 4US

Region 6 Mr D A Yeomans, 9 Wolverhampton Road, Pelsall, Walsall, West Midlands,

WS3 4AA Prefix: WARREN Mr R Davies, Dre Goch Isaf, Bodfari, Denbighshire, Wales, LL16 4HY

Prefix: DRE GOCH Region 7 S Abbot & Son, Grey House Farm, Crank, St Helens, Merseyside, WA11 7RT

Prefix: GREY HOUSE Mr C Davidson, Skaill Farm, Sandwick, Orkney, Scotland, KW16 3LR

Prefix: SKAILL Mr W Cooper, Haddon Park Farm, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 1ND

Prefix: WOODHOUSE Mr B Kaye, Estate Manager, Culfargie Estates Ltd, Tarrylaw Farm,

Balbeggie, Perth, Scotland, PH2 6HL

Page 20: South Devon Newsletter February 2013

20

AND FINALLY …

I could give you some horse jokes – there are a lot circulating at the moment –

or I could ask whether the £662 cost of vaccinating a badger in Wales is itself

a ludicrous joke. But I’ve decided a better topic is this one, again thanks to the

RASE:

At a recent computer expo Bill Gates reportedly stated that “if Ford had kept

up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25

cars that got 1,000 miles to the gallon”. Ford allegedly replied:

If Ford had developed technology like Microsoft, we would all be driving cars

with the following characteristics:

Occasionally your car would die for no reason. You would have to pull off

the side of the road, close all the windows, shut off the car, restart it,

and reopen the windows before you could continue

For some reason you would simply accept this

Occasionally, executing a manoeuvre such as a left turn would cause your

car to shut down and refuse to restart, in which case you would have to

reinstall the engine

Macintosh would make a car that was powered by the sun, was reliable,

five times as fast and twice as easy to drive – but would run on only 5% of

the roads

The oil, water temperature, and alternator warning lights would all be

replaced by a single ‘This Car Has Performed An Illegal Operation’ light

The airbag would ask, ‘Are you sure?’ before deploying

Occasionally, for no reason whatsoever, your car would lock you out and

refuse to let you in until you simultaneously lifted the door handle, turned

the key and grabbed hold of the radio antenna

You’d have to press the ‘start’ button to turn the engine off

When all else fails, you could call ‘customer service’ in some foreign

country and be instructed in how to fix your car yourself!