Farm Tours for the Beef Industry Pedigree Limousins, the Beef Improvement Group’s Net Efficiency Unit and Commercial Yorkshire Suckler Herd highlights of the 2015 Beef Expo Farm Tours

This year for the first time ever East Yorkshire is to host the National Beef Association’s Showcase event, NBA Beef Expo, at York Auction Centre on Thursday May 21st. A highlight of this event is always the farm tours which take place the previous day and certainly this year will be no exception.
The farm tours are sponsored by Carrs Billington, and the host farms include Millington Grange, home to one of the UK’s largest pedigree herds of Limousin Cattle; G D Stephenson & Sons Ltd, a traditional and commercial Yorkshire family farm; and Wold Farm, home of the famous Givendale herd of Stabiliser cows and The Beef Improvement Group’s Net Efficiency Unit.
On announcing details of the farm tours Richard Tasker, Partner in the York Auction Centre and Chair of NBA Beef Expo 2015, said: “The aim of the farm tours is to share knowledge so that beef farmers can maximise efficiency on their own farms. The three host farms have been specifically chosen to give our visitors an insight as to how Yorkshire pedigree and commercial cattle enterprises are operating their businesses. Not only do they highlight the diversity of the beef industry, they will also demonstrate the latest technology being used to monitor and improve efficiency, maximise outputs and reduce costs.”
The Millington Grange Estate owned by Bob Bousfield is home of the famous Millington Limousin Herd. The farming enterprise totals 850 acres and the Limousin herd comprises of 50 pedigree Limousin cows and 20 Limousin cross bred cows. Over the years the Millington herd has won many awards and accolades, and in 2014 it was winner of the Extra Large Herd Competition. The cattle portfolio also includes a 13-strong Schoardale herd of pedigree Shorthorns.

At G D Stephenson & Sons Ltd near Market Weighton you will see a 200-strong commercial suckler herd of Limousin Cross, Salers Cross and South Devon Cross cows. Over 95% of the cattle are finished on the farm and all are sold, in the main, live weight, at York Auction Centre.

The visits to JSR Farm’s Givendale herd will give farmers the opportunity to see The Beef Improvement Group’s Net Efficiency Unit. JSR Farms is a family business which farms around 9000 acres of land in East Yorkshire. Part of this business is 1200 acres of land comprising Givendale and Wold Farms. Both are farmed together and are home of the renowned Givendale Herd of Stabiliser Cattle. Givendale was the first farm to have Stabiliser Cattle in the UK, with the herd being established in 1996. Today they have 240 spring calving suckler cows.
Covering all aspects of the industry, Beef Expo is the NBA’s annual showcase. This year there is a major focus on helping farmers boost their bottom line by getting to grips with the changing lifestyles and demands of modern consumers. The programme brings together the cream of Yorkshire beef breeding alongside classes for novice exhibitors and young handlers in the Future Beef Farmer Challenge. The very best in pedigree and commercial cattle will be shown at the National Spring Spectacular Show.
After the farm tours take place there will be a Beef Industry Dinner held on the 20th May at York Racecourse. The sit down three course dinner will include the best of British beef, sponsored by ASDA, and will be followed by tea and coffee. Entertainment on the night will be in the form of guest speaker Jim Wright, son of the renowned James Alfred ‘Alf’ Wright, OBE FRCVS, known by the pen name James Heriot.
The farm tours cost per person including a packed lunch is £25 inc Vat, and the cost per person for the Beef Industry Dinner is £33.33 + VAT, both must be pre-booked. The cost of the Farm Tour and entrance to Beef Expo for NBA members is £30 inc Vat, and for Non-Members, £35 inc Vat. Places are available on a first-come basis and can all be booked online at www.nationalbeefassociation.com/Beef-Expo-2015
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