 I
think that there are very few who will seriously argue that there
have not been significant changes in the breed since the start of
the last century. One only has to look at old journals to compare
the champion stock in the 1920’s to the champion stock, which
we see today. The Aberdeen Angus breed must move with the times.
The last 20 to 30 years have certainly seen a great number of imports
from America, Canada and further afield. The demands however of
the commercial farmer in other countries may not have been the same
as those of the commercial farmer in the United Kingdom. For example,
American farmers are not regulated by the same grading procedures
as exist within the EC countries. Our view is that the future lies
with the commercial breeders and it is our opinion that many do
not believe that the majority of Aberdeen Angus bulls are capable
of achieving progeny, which will grade well. Better grades mean
better returns and we earnestly believe that the success of any
breed lies in its demand in the commercial sector. It is for this
reason that we are seeking to introduce Limousin bloodlines on a
strictly controlled basis within a breed improvement programme.
We need to improve tops, ends and the quantity of saleable red meat
per carcase and we know this breed can achieve this. Some of you
may ask what about the horns, well we are in consultation with a
company in Holland who are gene marking our percentage cattle for
the horned gene, the polled gene, the red gene, eat ability and
most importantly the meat yield gene. Running along side with our
signet recording this Society will be able to identify bulls and
females that have all the desirable traits and Aberdeen Angus characteristics
for the commercial farmer but also will assist the pedigree farmer
in the choice of future stock bulls and replacement females. Of
course the company will also be registering purebred Aberdeen Angus
stock with the register being maintained by Holstein UK. We would
emphasise that not all of our members may wish to use the breed
improvement programme.
I also
think that it is worthwhile to mention at this stage that many breeders
may be wholly unaware of the current EC Legislation governing registration
of purebred cattle. Following on from EEC Directive 84/419 a society
cannot refuse to register in the main section of its herd book any
animal imported from another member state if it is judged to conform
to breed standard, whose mother and maternal grandmother are entered
in a supplementary section of the herd book and whose father and
two grandfathers are entered in the main section of the herd book.
In accordance therefore with the criteria laid down in Article 1
that animal shall be regarded as a pure bred female and be entered
in the main section of the book. This Directive applies of course
to the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society as well as to this company.
Whilst it might be said that cattle only containing 75% Aberdeen
Angus blood lines might be disadvantageous, with careful selection
and skilful breeding the application of gene marking could be beneficial
to the Aberdeen Angus breed in the long term. It is our view that
our breeders should not be placed at a disadvantage to our European
neighbours.
Andrew
Bryan (Chairman)
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