Tom Gubbins has just returned from the UK, where he was invited to speak on the “Application of Genetic Technology in Breeding Better Beef Cattle” at the British Cattle Breeders Conference in Telford, Shropshire.
Tom also presented at a number of farmer group workshops throughout Northern England, sponsored by the English beef and lamb peak body, EBLEX. The focus of these workshops was how farmers can best implement technology to further their breeding programs and improve their bottom line.
Tom visited a number of progressive cattle herds, many using Te Mania Angus genetics. He is pictured at Jeremy Price’s Oakchurch herd, with a daughter of Te Mania Berkley B1, by AI.
Tom said that “while the UK beef producers are progressive farmers who understand their costs of production well, the EU subsidies create an inflationary effect on their industry and a preoccupation with optimising the subsidy, sometimes at the cost of the herd’s production. However, their intensity of farming and the integration that they are kindling with retailers is something we can learn a great deal from.”
