UK Shorthorns Showcased to Worldwide Audience

UK Shorthorns Showcased to Worldwide Audience
2010-05-28

The Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society hosts the 2010 Shorthorn World Conference this summer - the first time since 1989 that the conference has been held in the UK.

The 13th World Conference includes a tour of 14 farms using Shorthorn genetics to great advantage in a diverse range of farming conditions from the Scottish Highlands to East Anglia and the Midlands, hosted by Beef and Dairy Shorthorn breeders.

Delegates from across the world and the UK arrive in Edinburgh on June 23 in time to attend the Royal Highland Show the following day. They will see the biggest entry of shorthorn cattle ever seen at an agricultural show in living memory, as breeders bring out their cattle to showcase British Shorthorn genetics to a worldwide audience.

It ends with a two-day World Shorthorn Conference with keynote speakers in Stratford upon Avon on July 7-8 and a gala dinner.

The Shorthorn Society’s patron The Princess Royal has agreed to host a reception during the conference tour.

Main sponsors for the conference are Crystalyx and major food retailer Morrisons, which is establishing its own pedigree Beef Shorthorn herd in Scotland.

Shorthorn Society president James Playfair Hannay, who is opening his farm, Morebattle Tofts, near Kelso, to the tour, said: “The Shorthorn is a breed of influence in a world of opportunity.

“For the last 20 years because of trading restrictions we have not been able to demonstrate the quality of the cattle we have in the UK to a worldwide audience.

“This is the ideal opportunity for us to show overseas breeders the changes we have made to our industry and our breed and it provides a huge opportunity to promote our cattle.

“Over the last 30-plus years, the features of the breed and its breeders have changed dramatically. From the lows of the late 1970s to the current highs, our breed has been transformed.”

More than 120 delegates from 10 countries, including delegates from Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay are expected to attend the event which, as well as enabling them to see leading Beef and Dairy Shorthorn herds allows them to sample our diverse landscape, history and culture in the UK.

The herd visits include leading pedigree herds in the Scottish uplands and Border country as well as a large commercial cattle enterprise involving Shorthorns on an historic Scottish Estate.

In England the visitors will see a unique milk marketing business using pedigree Dairy Shorthorn milk on the edge of Hadrian’s Wall country, the oldest Beef Shorthorn herd based on a north Yorkshire estate, commercial and pedigree beef enterprises in East Anglia and the Midlands and two Dairy Shorthorn herds - one organic and the other the last remaining in what is now a specialist arable area.

Frank Milnes, Shorthorn Society secretary, said: “ This will be the biggest World Shorthorn Conference ever, reflecting the breed’s resurgence not only here in UK but across the world.

“As well as seeing Shorthorn herds across the UK, the delegates will also see some of the UK’s culture and heritage and will have the pleasure of a private reception hosted by our Patron HRH The Princess Royal.

“The conference itself, held over two days at the Alveston Manor Hotel, Stratford upon Avon, will feature 14 keynote speeches as well as 14 country/society reports from all the member societies of the World Shorthorn Council. The delegates will have an interesting, enjoyable, and with the help of our sponsors, affordable visit to the UK. “

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