News at NBA Beef Expo 2012

Press Release - Beef Expo 2012 invites straight-taking in two seminar areas

2012-05-16

Beef Expo 2012 invites straight-talking in two seminar areas.

Farmers are to join noted industry speakers to add a practical perspective in seminar sessions covering everything from bovine TB to technical developments in the grading and pricing of beef carcases at next week's Beef Expo 2012, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 24^th.

Paul Westaway, Beef Expo Chairman, says the seminar sessions - running from 10am to 3.30pm - will be major attraction at the event, organised by the National Beef Association and supported by Lloyds TSB Agriculture as major sponsors.

He says: "We have a huge wealth of experience among speakers, ensuring visitors get up-to-date advice from experts and a practical perspective from farmers like themselves on the ground.

"We have to accept and adapt to change. Many beef farms already balance the demands of different parties to make the business pay. With that in mind we are delighted to have Poul Christensen of Natural England to start the day looking at how to manage the balance between productivity and land stewardship."

With cattle prices currently creating much debate, the future of carcase grading and pricing will be discussed. Talking about Northern Ireland's experience, assurance officer Charlotte Moore and farmer Stephen Heenan will provide visitors with their perspectives on Video Imaging Analysis and how it has been received.

Mr Westaway predicts that a big crowd-puller will also be the TB session, which will focus on the practical side of the disease and minimising the spread from cattle-to-cattle and badgers-to-cattle. Bill Harper, NBA TB Committee Chairman, will look at current and future cattle controls, while Anthony Pope and Sophie Jones of the South West TB Advisory Group will look at badger behavior and top tips for reducing contact.

"Animal health is a real boiling pot of contention at the moment with Defra's plans to cut back its animal health budget, from which bovine TB is a huge drain," explains Mr Westaway. "We can expect some firm, frank discussion about plans for farmers to become involved in 'creative' solutions to tackle the disease.

In the dedicated Animal Health and Production seminar area, two practical sessions will look at out-wintering cattle and tightening calving periods, while three dedicated disease-based discussions will cover Schmallenberg, coccidiosis and neospirosis.

"As a world-leading beef industry we must prepare to meet future challenges. The programme of speakers will hopefully stand all those participating in the seminar sessions in good stead," says Mr Westaway.

The seminar programme and all event information can be found at www.beefexpo.co.uk.

	HOT TOPICS, in the Avon Hall	ANIMAL HEALTH AND PRODUCTION, in the Wye Hall	Speakers
10am	Productivity and environmental stewardship hand-in-hand		Poul Christensen, Oxfordshire farmer, and Natural England Chairman
10.30am		Health and management of out-wintered suckler cows and store cattle	- Andy Adler, Synergy Farm Health, XL Vet Group - John Hoskins, Dorset farmer
11am	The National Beef Association - ready for a brighter future		NBA Review Committee and Staff
11.30am		Is Schmallenberg causing my cattle to abort - or is it something much worse?	Toby Kemble, Wensum Valley, XL Vet Group
12 noon	The new Animal Health and Welfare Board for England - it's not Cost and Responsibility Sharing through the backdoor		Stuart Roberts, ABP, and Animal Health and Welfare Board for England
12.30pm		Coccidiosis: disease and control - sponsored by Pfizer, working with Denis Brinicombe	- Kate Ingram, Pfizer Area Veterinary Manager - Malcolm Huxtable, Devon farmer
1pm	QUESTION TIME in the main ring
2pm	What the Northern Irish have learnt from VIA carcase grading		- Dr Charlotte Moore, DARD Carcase Classification Officer - Stephen Heenan, Northern Irish famer
2.30pm		How to tighten suckler cow calving patterns	- Joe Henry, Alnorthumbria Vets, XL Vet Group - Simon Bainbridge, Northumberland farmer
3pm	Bovine TB - the latest update		- Bill Harper, NBA TB Committee Chairman - Roger Cunningham, BCVA - Anthony Pope & Sophie Jones, SW TB Advisory Group - Joanne Pugh, NBA Assistant Director (seminar chairman)
3.30pm		Neosporosis: it's too big for you to ignore	Dr Frank Katzer of the Moredun Research Institute, Penicuik, Scotland

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441870 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Important travel information for NBA Beef Expo 2012 on May 24th

2012-05-16

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR NBA BEEF EXPO 2012 ON MAY 24TH

If you are travelling to NBA Beef Expo on May 24th please be aware that the Olympic Torch is passing through theGloucestershire/Worcestershire area on the same day.

For those travelling from the South, you are advised to check the route of the torch, but the best plan will be to stick to the motorway and not get off before the M5/M50 junction.

TRAVEL INFORMATION NBA BEEF EXPO 2012

2012-05-16

IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR NBA BEEF EXPO 2012 ON MAY 24TH

If you are travelling to NBA Beef Expo on May 24th, please be aware that the Olympic Torch is passing through the Gloucestershire/Worcestershire area on the same day.

For those travelling from the South, you are advised to check the route of the torch, but the best plan will be to stick to the motorwary and not get off before the M5/M50 junction.

Press Release -Take a free tea break with the NBA, for a chance to win £1400 crush or £750 EID reader

2012-05-11

Take a free tea break with the NBA, for chance to win £1,400 crush or £750 EID reader

A complimentary tea break being offered to all visitors at Beef Expo 2012, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 24th, promises to deliver more than a refreshing brew for two lucky show-goers

Event organiser the National Beef Association has teamed up with livestock equipment manufacturer IAE in a free-to-enter prize draw for a £1,400 Crusader cattle crush and separately with livestock supplier Gallagher to offer a £750 hand-held HR3 EID ear-tag reader.

With animal and staff welfare high on farmers' agendas, the opportunity to improve handling facilities on-farm through the free-to-enter prize draws should not be missed, says Joanne Pugh, NBA Assistant Director.

On arrival at Beef Expo 2012, visitors should pick up a registration card at pedestrian entry gates, fill in their details and hand it in at the NBA stand close to the event's main arena for a chance to win the IAE Crusader crush, she explains

On receipt of a registration card, each visitor will be offered a refreshing brew and, by the end of the day, one visitor's details will be plucked out as prize-winner of the UK-manufactured IAE Crusader crush worth £1400, she adds.

As well as a cup of tea or coffee, visitors will also be given a special EID eartag. They should take this down to the Beef from the Dairy Herd arena, an area focusing on options for rearing beef, including use of EID technology to help ease management. Whilst here, entrants details will be scanned off the tag and automatically entered for the draw.

The IAE crush is manufactured to a high build specification. It features a head yoke, rear gate, tread-plate floor, pallet fork and three-point lift connections, as well as captive rump bar facility, explains sponsor IAE.

The SmartReader HR3 is a portable EID reader that is light and easy-to-use. It can read HDX and FDX tags and is compatible with Gallagher and other brands of EID capable weighing and data collectors.

Throughout Beef Expo 2012, both IAE and Gallagher staff will be on-hand to discuss ways to improve the handling and management of livestock with visitors. Lloyds TSB Agriculture, who sponsor the whole event, will also be present to talk about finances and investment. For details of both prize draws and the full Beef Expo 2012 programme, go online at www.beefexpo.co.uk

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441870 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Press Release - Beef Expo to be halted by growing popularity of Question Time

2012-05-03

Beef Expo to be halted by growing popularity of Question Time

BBC Countryfile's Adam Henson, Natural England Chair Poul Christensen, FAI Farms Director Mike Gooding and ABP Director Stuart Roberts will bring this year's Beef Expo to a standstill.

Due to growing popularity, the 2012 Question Time panel will take over the main ring at Beef Expo on May 24th, held at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, and sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture.

Last year's Question Time pulled in such a crowd the show's seminar marquee was overrun with visitors wanting to question and listen to guest speakers, explains Paul Westaway, Chairman of Beef Expo 2012.

This year we have another cracking line-up of panel members, he says. So to accommodate the huge swell of visitors wanting to be involved, the National Beef Association has decided to create a break and halt the main arena livestock competition programme at 1pm to accommodate Question Time.

With strong demand for cattle, concern over supply, rocketing input costs and frustration over bovine TB among producers' concerns, there will be a wealth of experience among panel members to put producers in the picture, suggests Mr Westaway, who will chair the Question Time session.

This year's panel members are:

Poul Christensen CBE is a partner in a family-run dairy farm in Oxfordshire and also chairs Natural England, the Government-backed scientific advisory and monitoring body. Natural England's role in co-ordinating the licensing of farmer-led badger cull projects and reporting back to Parliament on progress and efficacy will be key in determining the future well-being of cattle welfare and financial welfare of affected producers.

Mike Gooding is a director of FAI Farms, the Oxfordshire-based international farming, advisory and education specialist. On a practical level the company operates across 668ha alongside the River Thames, running 120 sucklers, 1,000 ewes and 100ha of animal feed crop trials. The international context of FAI Farms' operation will provide a worldwide perspective for visitors.

BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson has become a face of modern farming to the British public. A partner in Gloucestershire-based Cotswold Farm Park run with business partner Duncan Andrews and set up by father Joe Henson he farms 650ha with suckler cows, a commercial sheep flock and a range of arable crops under his care. His thoughts on getting UK farming's message across to consumers will prove invaluable.

Stuart Roberts is a director of Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) and is very much aware of the issues surrounding security of supply, pricing and pressures of the retail marketplace for beef. Having been involved in the updating of carcase grading to include VIA, his thoughts on future pricing policy may prove invaluable to those finishing cattle. His role within the new Animal Health & Welfare Board for England will add another element to the questions farmers will want to ask.

There is a huge wealth of experience among this year's speakers, says Mr Westaway. Question Time will, once again, give visitors to Beef Expo a unique chance to access the collective thinking of those at the sharp end of the beef industry.

As organiser, the NBA hopes the move to the main arena will ensure as wider audience participation as possible. It promises to be a very lively and thought-provoking session, before competitive classes resume in the afternoon.

Details of the Question Time session and full details for Beef Expo 2012 can be found online at .

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441870 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Press Release - Beef Expo to encourage producers to milk the potential profit from dairy-bred beef

2012-04-26

Beef Expo to encourage producers to milk the potential profit from dairy-bred beef.

Dairy-bred beef needs to be championed rather than seen as second class, encouraging producers to milk the potential profit from an enterprise which accounts for half of all UK beef produced.

That will be the message at Beef Expo 2012 on May 24th at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, sponsored by Lloyds TSB.

In a dedicated Beef from the Dairy Herd area, event organiser the National Beef Association has teamed up with key industry partners to promote essential aspects of dairy-bred beef aimed at improving producers' profits, explains event Chairman Paul Westaway.

As an industry we cannot afford to see the major contribution dairy-bred beef provides as a by-product, especially when Eblex figures show it is a major player in the supply of UK beef, he says.

Nor should producers be made to feel second class we want them to feel and be world class. The aim should be to have a supply of quality, healthy, productive and profitable cattle from dairy and beef herds.

The potential is there. Visitors to Beef from the Dairy Herd will get practical, no-nonsense help on all aspects, from initial sire selection right down to the correct finishing diet.

The Beef from the Dairy Herd area will include several pens of live cattle, showing the wide range of different stock within dairy-bred beef enterprises. The NBA is also delighted with the large number of organisations and experts involved.

Jamie Robertson will be running a clinic to share his world class knowledge on ventilation in livestock buildings. XL Vets will give advice on calf health planning including vaccination. Meadow Quality and Blade Farming will explain options for calf rearing and cattle finishing. And Eblex will be providing both technical and economic advice.

According to Mary Vickers, Eblex senior beef scientist, the potential to improve margins is considerable.

Between £20 and £40 can be added to the value of a dairy-bred beef animal by using semen from sires in the top 25% of their breed compared with below average sires. This is down to better feed conversion, fewer days to slaughter and higher carcase value, she explains.

And the one critical step all producers should address is improving calf health. This pays dividend throughout the animal's life but, like all livestock enterprises, dairy-bred beef is a system so no one part can be improved in isolation.

Details of Beef from the Dairy Herd as well as the full event programme for Beef Expo 2012 can be found online at www.beefexpo.co.uk.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441870 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Press Release - Beef Expo 2012 to serve up the best of home-reared beef-and raise money for charity

2012-04-19

Beef Expo 2012 to serve up the best of home-reared beef – and raise money for charity.

Beef, arguably the best ingredient for the nation’s table, will be under a spotlight in new cookery and taste demonstrations hosted by Eblex and Ladies in Beef at Beef Expo 2012, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 24th, helping raise funds for Help for Heroes.

The cookery show will provide the final link in a chain showcasing all aspects of beef production from field to fork, says Beef Expo 2012 Chairman Paul Westaway.

He says: “In my mind there can be no better way to champion what we as beef and dairy farmers produce.

“As organisers, the National Beef Association’s aim for Beef Expo 2012 is to provide the latest technical and business advice for visitors. But as an industry event it would not be complete unless we also celebrate what we provide for the nation’s table.”

At hourly intervals, visitors to the beef industry’s must-see event of the year – sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture – will be able to watch Eblex development chef Denise Spencer-Walker cook three mouth-watering recipes using quality home-reared beef. Assisting Denise are the formidably talented Ladies in Beef, who will also be raising funds at the cookery area in aid of the charity Help for Heroes.

Mr Westaway explains: “If the cookery demonstration whets your appetite, we are also delighted to have joining the event this year South West butchers Gerald David and their mobile retail display. If you’re tempted by any of Denise Spencer-Walker’s recipes then what better way to end the day than buying quality home-reared beef and cooking it for yourself at home?

“As producers we get very involved in the business side of producing beef, but we are also consumers and – as such – our own best critics. The cook-off will be a lighter side to the core business themes of the event, but also serve to remind us that we all play a role in putting the ‘Great’ in front of home-reared beef.”

Full details of the cookery demonstration and wider event programme for Beef Expo 2012 can be found online at www.beefexpo.co.uk

** STOP PRESS **

Butchers Gerald David have prepared several Show Specials for visitors. These include: 28-day matured topside £8.99/kg sold on the bone; beef ribs £5.45/kg on the bone; minced steak (5lb or more by weight) £1.50/lb; plus other specials on beef, lamb, pork and poultry.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441870 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Press Release - Rear it, sort it, cook it, eat it - are you ready for the British beef challenge at Beef Expo 2012

2012-04-12

Rear it, sort it, cook it, eat it - are you ready for the British beef challenge at Beef Expo 2012?

Producers old and young are being encouraged to pit their skills and win a share of a £1,500 prize fund by taking part in stockjudging competitions at the National Beef Association's Beef Expo 2012 sponsored by Lloyds TSB Agriculture at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 24th.

The stockjudging challenge a firm favourite among farmers will be run alongside the Eblex-organised English National Farm Shop Butchery competition, cookery demonstrations and a planned beef retail area, say organisers.

Paul Westaway, Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, says stockjudging will be a key focal point for the event: We are delighted to be working with Eblex to bring together a colourful and practical display highlighting the importance of judging stock accurately. It is a skill which plays a critical role in the profitability of beef enterprises nationwide.

Visitors can take part in either the main competitive classes, split by age groups, for a share of a £1,500 prize fund or test their knowledge in an open, timed challenge with the help of Eblex specialists in the main exhibition area.

With live cattle penned and a virtual carcase hall displayed on screens, we're aiming for a very practical, hands-on demonstration, explains Mr Westaway. Eblex staff will be on hand to help advise producers on how to hone their skills throughout the day. The competitions will provide a fun, as well as educational, aspect to the event.

Another element of Eblex's involvement at Beef Expo 2012 will be hosting the English National Farm Shop Butchery competition and such is the popularity of this competition that so many competitors have applied the entries have had to be closed early.

Mike Richardson, Eblex Direct Selling Programme Manager, says more and more on-farm food outlets are promoting beef via fresh meat counters, hence the importance of the competition. Competitors will be tested on key attributes an eye-catching display, innovative use of beef as an ingredient, and a taste-test of what they've produced for the consumer, he says.

The competitive elements of this year's Beef Expo ensures a varied and informative day awaits show-goers, says Mr Westaway.

We believe the wealth of experience at the event, broad range of trade stands, access to information and advice services, as well as the entertaining competitions make Beef Expo 2012 the must-see event of the beef industry's calendar, he says.

Full details on Beef Expo 2012, as well as advance priced tickets, can be found online at www.beefexpo.co.uk.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo Organiser, 01430 441523 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, 07814 537462

Helen Dobson, NBA Head Office, 01434 601005

Press Release - NBA Beef Expo already seeing encouraging signs for exports of UK genetics

2012-03-29

NBA Beef Expo already seeing encouraging signs for exports of UK genetics.

The multi-million pound export market for UK cattle genetics is to be given a boost at the National Beef Association’s Beef Expo 2012, as organisers prepare to host overseas buyers from Brazil, Germany, Poland and Ireland, as well as newcomers Armenia, Georgia and Serbia.

They will be invited to the farm tours, UK Genetics Showcase and preliminary National Spring Spectacular Show judging on May 23rd, as well as the Expo itself on the 24th, which is supported by Lloyds TBS as the major sponsor.

According to NBA co-ordinator Henry Lewis, executive chairman of British Livestock Genetics (BLG), many will be at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, to see the sterling work done by UK breeders while exports were limited, eager to find opportunities now that exports are an option again.

He says: “The UK needs exports to thrive. While the temporary suspension of exports was an obstacle, our breeders did what they still do best and carried on improving UK livestock.

“We have been working with Eblex and BLG to bring this to the attention of overseas buyers and thereby broaden export opportunities. For many visitors, the UK Genetics Showcase at Beef Expo 2012 will be the first window of opportunity to view those improvements.

“There is no getting away from the reality – the UK cattle industry needs export opportunities to create and maintain a competitive edge. It affords the sector the widest possible marketing opportunities, which add multi-millions each year to revenue.”

The combination of the farm tours, UK Genetics Showcase and National Spring Spectacular Show will offer visitors something unique, says Beef Expo committee member Rob Wills. “By promoting pedigree and cross-bred cattle within the one arena we will demonstrate the hard-nosed commercial reality. That matters because it is where profit is made.”

To date 19 breed societies have confirmed attendance at the event, as well as a host of genetic suppliers all eager to promote UK livestock to domestic and overseas buyers. The majority of the breed societies will participate in the UK Genetics Showcase on the 23rd, which will show off the best of British to visitors from across the UK, Europe and the world, including a special grand parade of the range of genetics available in this country.

Away from the ringside and trade exhibition areas, Beef Expo 2012 will provide the opportunity for informal talks between breeders and buyers to continue at the annual Beef Industry Dinner, held in the showground’s Severn Hall on the evening of May 23.

Diners will sit down to beef supplied by the Hereford Cattle Society before being entertained by Deryc Rhys – a Carmarthenshire dairy farmer and after dinner speaker of renown – ahead of the Beef Stockman of the Future award ceremony.

Tickets for the dinner cost £35 each, and can be booked individually or as whole tables at www.beefexpo.co.uk, where details of the farm tours and the show can also be found. Alternatively, tickets can be secured by contacting Euan Emslie, NBA Beef Expo 2012 Organiser, on 01430 441870 or emailing euan@nationalbeefassociation.com.

Breed societies confirmed as attending are: Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, Beef Improvement Group (Stabilisers), Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, British Bazadaise Cattle Society, British Blonde Society, British Blue Cattle Society, British Charolais Cattle Society, British Limousin Cattle Society, British Piemontese Cattle Society, British Simmental Cattle Society, Galloway Cattle Society, Hereford Cattle Society, Highland Cattle Society, Highland Cattle Society, Lincoln Red Cattle Society, Longhorn Cattle Society, Murray Grey Beef Cattle Society, Red Poll Cattle Society, Salers Cattle Society of the UK, South Devon Herd Book Society and Welsh Black Cattle Society.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie NBA Beef Expo Organiser 01430 441523 or
07718 908523

Paul Westaway NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman 07814 537462

Helen Dobson NBA Head Office 01434 601005

Press Release - Tempo at Beef Expo lifted with fresh pair of eyes for National Spring Spectacular judging

2012-03-15

Tempo at Beef Expo lifted with fresh pair of eyes for National Spring Spectacular judging.

Hotly contested competitive cattle classes will once again be an important part of the National Beef Association’s Beef Expo 2012, held this year at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on May 23rd and 24th.

With Lloyds TSB Agriculture as major sponsors, Beef Expo 2012 will be the essential technical event for UK producers, says Neil Lloyd, chairman of the event’s National Spring Spectacular livestock showcase.

“The combination of farm tours, UK Genetics Showcase and Beef Industry Dinner on May 23rd, which precede competitive cattle classes and technical advice within the show arenas and seminars on May 24th, make it a must-see event,” he says.

“Visitors can once again expect to see strong competitive cattle classes within the event’s National Spring Spectacular Show. This encompasses classes for continental and native breeds, baby beef and both junior and senior stockmanship. Entries are now invited ahead of the closing date of April 20th for paper-based applications.”

Presiding over the cattle competitions, Beef Expo 2012 is delighted to welcome Pearse McNamee of Donegal, a reputed showman and breeder from the Republic of Ireland, to judge this year’s event.

Mr McNamee has recently won the All Ireland Championship beef competition at Tullamore, Republic of Ireland, and has mainland UK show ring champions including KilKenny Classy Lassy. But his says his relative anonymity on UK shores will ensure ‘fresh eyes’ are brought to the show ring.

He says: “I judge without fear of favour and look for style and correctness. UK beef cattle have more style than I normally see here in the South, as finishers are producing to the market, clean and lean.”

National Spring Spectacular judging will commence on the evening of May 23rd, continuing on the 24th and culminating that afternoon. Combined with a wide range of other attractions, Beef Expo is designed for all aspects of the beef sector, be it pedigrees, commercial sucklers, dairy-bred beef or dedicated finishing units.

Tickets bought in advance of the event are £8 for NBA members and £12 for non-members. Full details, plus information on the farm tours, are online at www.beefexpo.co.uk. Other enquiries – including sponsorship and trade stand space – can be directed to Event Organiser Euan Emslie on 01430 441870, 07718 908523 or euan@nationalbeefassociation.com.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie NBA Beef Expo Organiser 01430 441523 or 07718 908523

Paul Westaway NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman 07814 537462

Neil Lloyd NBA Beef Expo 2012 NSSS Chairman 07970 061796

Helen Dobson NBA Head Office 01434 601005

Press Release - The hunt is on for the 2012 Beef Stockman of the Future

2012-02-24

The hunt is on for the 2012 Beef Stockman of the Future.

The National Beef Association (NBA) has joined the hunt to find the best young beef farmers and stockmen – and is putting the call out to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland for both entries and nominations for this tremendous competition showcasing the best of British beef production.

Now in its third year, the competition champions talented individuals who strive to make a difference in beef farming. Regardless of where they operate or how big their enterprise is, it recognises strong technical management and determination to succeed in today’s challenging environment. Anyone aged under 45 is eligible to enter, as long as applications are received before March 9th.

Joanne Pugh, NBA Assistant Director says: “It doesn’t matter if you are running half a dozen suckler cows or a large-scale finishing unit, whether you own your own stock or work for someone else – it’s about having dedication and vision for the future, believing in beef production and knowing exactly where you want to go and what you want to achieve.

“Huge demand and rising prices means this is a positive time for the beef sector and this competition is a wonderful opportunity to promote some of the devoted and talented young people who will drive the industry forward in the years to come.”

Nick Davis was named Beef Stockman of the Future in 2010 and was part of the judging panel last year. Through his involvement in the competition, he has gone on to become chairman of the NBA’s Welsh region. He says: “Entering the Beef Stockman competition really made me think about what I had achieved with my suckler cows. It was a great feeling to win and a real boost.”

As well as the Frank Momber Memorial Trophy, the winner will receive £600 and the second and third place winners £400 and £200 respectively.

The NBA runs the competition in conjunction with Farmers Guardian and full details can be found at www.farmersguardian.com/bsf2012. The competition is sponsored by NatWest and Rumenco. For more information contact Joanne Pugh: 01772 734707, 07579 009648 or joanne@nationalbeefassociation.com.

Press Release - Biggest ever NBA Beef Expo will include top farm tours

2012-01-27

January 27th, 2012

Biggest ever NBA Beef Expo will include top farm tours.

Plans for the National Beef Association’s renowned Beef Expo – held this year at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, Worcestershire, on Thursday, May 24th – are moving forward fast.

The two farm tours, held the day before the main event, on Wednesday, May 23rd, have now been confirmed, with two exceptionally forward-looking and exciting units opening for visitors.

One is the farm of Beef Expo 2012 Chairman, Paul Westaway, at Dymock, Gloucestershire. Between his pedigree Aberdeen-Angus suckler herd and finishing unit for Angus cross Holsteins heifers and Holsteins bulls, Mr Westaway and wife Kirsty run 230-head on their 55ha (135-acre) county council holding.

Mr Westaway will invite visitors to consider many elements of beef production, given his passion for Aberdeen-Angus suckler cows, his own AI sales business, and an active involvement in Blade Farming’s dairy beef model, including a forage feeding trial with Holsteins and Angus cross Holsteins.

The other farm is the home of Charles and Sue Warner, son Roger and his wife Laura. They finish more than 1,000 cattle a year at Tirley, Gloucestershire, with 600 head of stock on the farm at any one time.

Mr Warner will tell visitors that “pretty” just does not cut it on his farm – opting instead for any bought-in store he thinks he can finish at a profit. These are mainly Friesian-type steers, purchased around 12 months of age, and finished quickly on a combination of grazing (in the summer) and total mix rations. With wheat, barley, fodder beet and maize and grass silage all grown on the 160ha (400-acre) farm, there is plenty of variety for the growing cattle.

Mr Westaway says: “Between the two farms, visitors will get to see very different farming enterprises and a selection of approaches to beef production – be it top pedigree suckler cow genetics, intensive finishing or beef from the dairy herd.

“Myself and Mr Warner are both looking forward to welcoming visitors as part of Beef Expo 2012 – and are excited about being involved in what will be the biggest beef event in Europe this year.”

The tour is open to all at a cost of £15 per person, to include the bus trip and lunch. Visitors will also have access to the UK Genetics Showcase, to be held that evening at the Three Counties Showground, ahead of the Beef Industry Dinner that night.

The main Beef Expo event, with Lloyds TSB Agriculture as Major Sponsors, runs on Thursday, May 24th. Full details on the Wednesday and Thursday events are at www.beefexpo.co.uk, where tickets for the Tour and the Expo can be purchased.

All enquires, including sponsorship and trade stands, to event organiser Euan Emslie – call 01430 441870 or 07718 908523, fax 01430 448432 or email euan@nationalbeefassociation.com.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie        NBA Beef Expo Organiser   01430 441523/07718 908523

Paul Westaway   NBA Beef Expo 2012 Chairman 07814 537462

Helen Dobson     NBA Head Office   0143

The annual Beef Expo, hosted by the National Beef Association, is back at Malvern for 2012.

2011-08-31

The annual Beef Expo, hosted by the National Beef Association, is back at Malvern for 2012.

The National Beef Association is to stage its renowned annual industry showcase, Beef Expo 2012, at the Three Counties Showground, Malvern, on Wednesday May 23rd and Thursday May 24th next year.

The Beef Expo is the premier event for the cattle industry in the 2012 agricultural calendar and according to the Expo Chairman, Paul Westaway, is a must attend occasion for every commercial and pedigree cattle breeder and producer in the UK.

“If you are serious about cattle farming, you should mark May 23rd and 24th 2012 in your diary now, because there will not be another beef related event at any other venue, anywhere in the UK, that can beat it,” said Mr. Westaway who runs Grange Farm near Dymock in Gloucestershire.

Beef Expo was last staged at the Three Counties showground in Malvern in 2009. Day one begins with visits to leading farms in the counties of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, following by the highly successful annual industry dinner that attracts over 500 guests including farmers, auctioneers, processors and retailers, to government ministers.

Day two is the main day of the Expo when visitors can experience a huge array of trade stands, the biggest exhibition of pedigree and commercial cattle in the UK, and a vast array of demonstrations and seminars to meet everyone’s business needs.

Sponsor and trade stand exhibitors should contact event organiser, Euan Emslie, as soon as possible on Tel: 01430 441870. Fax: 01430 448432. Mobile: 07718 908523, or E-mail: euan@nationalbeefassociation.com to book the spaces they want for the Expo.

For more information contact:

Euan Emslie, Beef Expo organiser, Tel 01430 448 432/07718 908523

Paul Westaway, Chairman Beef Expo 2012. Tel 07814 537462

Kim Haywood, NBA director. Tel 0131 336 1754/07967 798936

Helen Dobson, NBA office. Tel: 01434 601005