With Guy Fawkes night passed, the year ticks on and it being 5 weeks until dare we say it Christmas, we can say we are well into the cold and windy weather hitting many parts of the UK. We have been very busy here at the Society with having our Winter National at Agri Expo, the Northern Ireland Aberdeen Angus Club’s 15th annual calf show, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart, Skipton female show & sale then Stars of The Future Calf Show. The preparations are well underway for the Black Beauty Bonanza taking place at Thainstone on Friday the 22nd of November by the North East of Scotland Club. Have a look below at all the latest news from in and around the Society over the last 14 days!

News Roundup

Our Winter National Show was held at Agri Expo, Carlisle where we updated you with live results from the ringside, our judge on the day was John McEnroe from the Liss herd who picked out Duncanziemere Sportsman V307 from A Clark & Sons as Overall Winter National 2019 Aberdeen-Angus Champion. The 2019 January born bull calf who is by herd sire the Reserve Highland Show 2019 Champion Carruthers Grenadier R797 and out of a homebred cow. Sportsman was an eyecatcher and caught the eye of well-known breeders N F Massie & Sons, Blelack and Johnathan & Lisa Doyle, Drumhill when they snapped him up for a whooping £14,000. Reserve Champion on the day was Retties Lady Rose U033, this August 2018 born yearling heifer is by Water End Payton N108 and out of homebred cow Retties Lady Rose N271. This yearling heifer was first in her class, then went on to be Overall Female Champion and then she stood Reserve Overall Champion.

The Northern Ireland Aberdeen Angus Club’s 15th annual calf show, hosted by Dungannon Farmers’ Mart, judging on the day was Niall Lynch, Ceanannus Herd in Kells, County Meath who praised quality entry at 15th annual event in Dungannon. Securing the JB Lamb Memorial Cup and the Supreme Championship honours, sponsored by the Irish Aberdeen Angus Association, was the senior bull calf champion Coolermoney Ranger V902 from Adrian and Graeme Parke’s herd at Strabane. This nine-month-old calf is by the noted Black Banner X1 of Idvies, and is out of the prolific brood cow Coolermoney Raven L117 – one of nine cows in the herd ranked best small herd in 2019.
The supreme champion was described by the judge as a fantastic young bull. “He is a good square calf, very natural and oozing breed character. This one caught my eye as soon as he entered the showring.”

Pedigree Aberdeen Angus females were on parade at CCM Auctions Autumn sale on Wednesday the 7th of November, judging on the day was Andrew Shufflebotham, Cheerbrook Aberdeen-Angus. A leading sale price of 2600gns was recorded for the Carrington Park Time on B7 daughter Yearsley Royal Lady S257 sold with her Bull calf by Rawburn Makka Pakka. She sold to Messrs Robinson Bedale. John Walsh sold Buckhurst Jury Erica S184 which is by Blelack Entertainer, and along with her Bull calf which was by a homebred bull Buckhurst Endeavour itself back to Rawburn Boss Hogg out of the 10000gns Rawburn Ebony, the outfit sold for 2000gns to Messrs Raper, Thorne.
Mr Walsh also sold heifers, both by Blelack Entertainer, at 1700gns and 1600gns. David & Josh Isherwood held their annual draft sale of cows, topping at 2500gns for Airedale Eliza, itself a product of Weeton Lord Horatio and sold in calf to Lord Sinden. They also sold Airedale Ellen Erica, bred the same way and to the same service sire at 2400gns with a third cow, this time a Weeton bred cow by Te Mania Berkley incalf to Lord Sinden for 2350gns.

Leading the way at this weekend’s Stars of The Future Calf Show held at United Auctions in Stirling was Tonley Lady Heather V591 who was crowned Aberdeen-Angus Junior and Native Junior Champion from N Wattie. The 10-month-old heifer Tonley Lady Heather is by the 19,000gns Blelack Evermore J231 (ET) and out of Blelack Lady Heather N202. In the senior section Ettrick Gladiator U218 led the way, this 2018 August born bull is by the 17,000 gns Linton Gilbertines President S021 and out of a homebred cow, Ettrick Gaenor S174. Ettrick Gladiator U218 was crowned Senior Male Champion then went on to be Overall Senior Champion. In the native pairs section, in the Joe Watson Memorial Pairs Competition, the Aberdeen-Angus team led the way with team Stephick taking the top title. The Aberdeen-Angus pair from Stephanie Dick’s Stephick herd won the Native pair section with Stephick Ezra V561 (ET) and Stephick Emilie V563 (ET). The two January 2019 born calves are full ET siblings by Weeton Diamond Mine P444 and Weeton Evora P439 (ET), the pair went onto be crowned Overall Pairs up against the continental pair.

The Munster Aberdeen-Angus Club held its first AI seminar and information evening at the Firgrove Hotel, Mitchelstown, Co Cork. The seminar was designed to give Aberdeen-Angus breeders a detailed and informative look at the various Aberdeen-Angus bulls in AI at present with guest speakers from all the leading AI companies taking part on the night. This new initiative proved to be a tremendous success with a very large crowd of over 40 people attending on the night, which would be a substantial increase on the average attendance for a regular meeting, with some of the more senior club officers remarking that they had not witnessed such a strong turnout of people at a meeting in over a decade. The Munster Aberdeen-Angus Club would like to thank Eustace Burke of Munster AI, John Lynch from Dovea Genetics, Mary Duggan of Eurogene and Bartley Finnegan from Elite Pedigree Genetics for giving up their time to attend and for giving the membership such detailed and enjoyable presentations.

Northern Ireland Aberdeen Angus Club Herds Competition, one of the highlights of the year at the N.I. Aberdeen Angus Club, the Herds Competition, was held during August 2019. This year’s judge was well known breeder Gayle Bersey from the Lynher Herd in Cornwall who said she had had a few very enjoyable days in Northern Ireland and had seen some spectacular cattle as well as sampling some fabulous hospitality. She remarked upon the consistency of the herds, especially the larger ones and the standard of the bull calves she saw was especially high. However, her Champion Calf was a heifer, Coolermoney Lady Heather V935 who Gayle expected to have a great future ahead of her.

The votes are in from our Winter Photo Competition!
We’d like to thank everyone who entered our #WinterPhotoCompetition where we received over 150 amazing entries! After an extensive review and much debate in Pedigree House, we have whittled it down to our top 3 photos from the competition.

Drumroll please..

Taking home the first prize of a luxury 2 night mini-break for their stunning Winter shot is Foggie Aberdeen Angus! The shot is beautiful and perfect for use in a marketing and promotional Society, hence it’s selection as the winner.

Closely following this was Steffi Oldenburg for her cracking sunset photo and Cara Thomson for her adorable photo of the kissing calves – for beauty and ‘cuteness’ reasons, these two couldn’t go unrecognised. You will both be receiving our runners up prizes of an Aberdeen-Angus boxed Charles Dickens pen and a Society engraved whisky glass.
A huge congratulations to our prize-winners and a massive thank you to everyone who entered. Make sure to keep snapping away and to get involved in our next photo competition! You can see the winning photographs here.

A reminder that the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association Premier Autumn sale, which was due to take place at The Showgrounds, Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim on Saturday, November 16th has been cancelled.

A reminder for members and businesses alike to get your booking forms in to Natalie at [email protected] for this year’s 2020 Aberdeen-Angus review! Make sure to get in early to guarantee your place in this year’s review. You can also book online by clicking here. CLOSING DATE – 29TH NOVEMBER 2019.

Reminder for all members that we have a stock for sale section on our website. If you would like something to be posted on this page, please get in touch with the Society office directly via [email protected]. Please note that for bulls advertised for sale, a minimum price of £2,000 applies in line with Official Society sales requirements. We only publish adverts for pedigree Aberdeen-Angus stock.

To keep up with all other news from the Society as well as all the latest updates from shows, sales and other events, just head over to the appropriate sections on our website.

News & Features
Shows & Sales News

News and Notices from the CEO

• At the time of last writing we were on our way to Carlisle, a big thank you to Amy and Yvonne from the office for their support at the Winter National that was held at Agri Expo this year and to British Rail for their extremely delayed trip back to Perth!
• A huge thank you to Mary Hamnet as always for the nice touches around the stand and her ability with the rosettes and classes and thank you too Keith Jempson for his assistance in Stewarding alongside the Borderway staff, without your input we would be floundering!
• Had a catch-up meeting with David McKenzie from Harbro on Monday where some interesting research that is of great interest was discussed.
• Conference call with the Denvir Team and Natalie Cormack to keep the review moving along. Natalie is helping this year in assimilating some articles and with the advertising so many thanks to her for her efforts to date.
• A visit to the Castle of Mey for Barbara Webster and myself, for a meeting with Sainsburys to further progress their initiative that was started way back in 2008 is coming to fruition with commitment to the future. Lots of work going on to promote the Kinermony brand of Aberdeen-Angus.
• The trip back down to Perth from Caithness gave an opportunity to have a flying visit to Ballindalloch to drop off some essentials for the Black Beauty Bonanza on the 22nd, the NE Scotland Club do a great job and well worth a visit if you can.

• A couple of days in the office mainly working on the Review and then set up and attend the Stars of the Future. Good to see exhibitors and attendees alike on the Friday and Saturday and congratulations to the organisers for putting the well-attended event on.
• The AA stand at the Royal Show has now gone and the reinstatement of the area along with certain administrative assurances to sort out for the landlord services capped off correctly it.

• In the office over the weekend then preparing for the Biannual Remuneration committee meeting to review the staff performance with the committee and it’s the office staff’s opportunity to have their say.
• Monday evening was the Central Scotland Aberdeen Angus Clubs AGM the clubs business was followed by a presentation by the Souter Family on their Dunlouise business that has taken them to all corners of the world to see their Native Aberdeen-Angus genetics working in many different environments, a perfect example of how the Aberdeen-Angus breed above any other offers the opportunity to travel the world and should be an inducement for many especially our younger members to get into the breed!
• Identigen came into Pedigree House to carry on with the improvements of servicing and reporting DNA results and we also had an afternoon session on further development of our relationship in working on the Sire Verified scheme.
• The Scaffolding has gone up at the rear of Pedigree House to enable the roof and the roans to be given a dose of TLC before winter really sets in!

• Wednesday saw the group meeting in Pedigree House to further develop the Willie McLaren project of a chronicle of the changes to Aberdeen-Angus over the decades to meet the market requirements thanks to Eddie Gillanders, John Elliot Snr, Bob Anderson and of course Willie for their time.
• Wednesday also seen the live judging of the Premier Meat Exhibition at the Caledonian Mart, Stirling.
• Thursday seen two important meetings with two of our partners in the processing industry with a vested interest in Aberdeen-Angus.
• Saturday sees the results and presentations of the Premier Meat Exhibition at Scotbeef Bridge of Allan where a gathering of invited guests is treated to a highly informative display by the Scotbeef Staff on their products and services followed by lunch and the presentation of the awards.
• There is no let-up in the days ahead with plenty to keep us occupied, the English Winter Fair, The Royal Welsh Winter Fair, the Black Beauty Bonanza and a meeting at UA about the February Bull Sale and presentation, then we have council meetings on the 4th and 5th of December to prepare for.
• Many thanks to David and Susan Johnstone for representing the Society at the English Winter Fair and offering to assist in selecting the group of three for the group competition.
• An appeal from me to you all to get the advertising in the 2020 review in as early as you possibly can as we have deadlines to meet for this huge job and anything that you can do to help us is most welcome!

News and Notices from Laura Stewart the Office Manager

• Preparations continue for the forthcoming committee meetings and Council with agendas and papers being circulated this week. The next Council meeting is on Wednesday 4th December. Any member wishing to raise any matters for the attention of Council should do so through the Council member in their constituency (contact details on the website if you are unsure who to contact) click here for contact details.

• A reminder that the closing date for UK nominations to Council 2020 is 26th November.

• The IAAA Council nomination paper for 2020 has been mailed out this week so members in the ROI and Northern Ireland should watch out for this in the post.

• I am pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 Aberdeen-Angus Show Herd of the Year Competition generously sponsored by Walkers Shortbread –

The results are as follows:

• First place for the second year running: Kilmaluag Herd – Donald Rankin.
• Second: Shadwell Herd – Shadwell Estate Company Ltd.
• Third: Retties Herd – Messrs R & C Rettie.

Thank you to all those who took part in the competition this year.

News and Notices from Angela Cumming in the Finance Department

• FINANCIAL YEAR END
  If you have any outstanding invoices, prompt payment would be very much appreciated as our financial year end was on the 31st October 2019. You can pay by cheque, internet banking or credit card.
• INTERNET PAYMENTS
  When making payment through the internet banking, please ensure that you quote your MEMBERSHIP NUMBER and SURNAME as a refence. This ensures that your payment is allocated to the correct account.
• RECEIVING SOCIETY INVOICES BY EMAIL
  In order to try and save on postage costs we would like to send our invoices by email. If you have not already done so, can you please provide us with your details?Please click here

News and Notices from the Registrations Department

• We had a meeting this week with Identigen to iron out small glitches in the DNA testing process. Both sides agreed that the programme was working well and the tests were being completed in a timely manner. When they have been unable to get a result from the tissue sample we will then send members a bag for a hair sample. Please return this to us as soon as you can, we require clean hair pulled – not cut – not from the top of the tail.
• Registrations for 2019 are up to date so if you are still waiting for Certificates of Pedigree please make sure that you have submitted DNA samples to Identigen. When submitting the samples please enclose the form sent from your tag supplier with your details and a list of the samples received. This makes it easier at Identigen when they are logging the samples and also gives us an extra check if samples go missing.
• One final reminder for members to give us details of any bulls that are entered for the Spring Sales. We have had a good response so far and testing is underway for all the bulls entered and that we have been informed about. Anyone who has not yet been in touch with us, time is running out to get results back in time for February 2020.

News and Notices from the Pedigree Cattle Services Department

• Understanding scrotal size EBV’S  – The scrotal circumference of a bull provides an important indication of his genetic merit for several important fertility traits. Increased scrotal circumference is associated with earlier age at puberty, increased semen production and improved semen quality. Increased scrotal circumference also has a favourable relationship with female fertility, both in terms of earlier age at puberty, earlier return to oestrous and shorter days to calving. To find out more please click here

Shows, Sales and Events

• East of England Smithfield Festival – East of England Showground – 14th – 15th November
• English Winter Fair and National Pedigree Calf Show – Stafford Showground – 16th – 17th November
• Black Beauty Bonanza – ANM, Thainstone, Inverurie – 22nd November
• Livescot – Lanark Agriculture Centre – 23rd November
• Welsh Winter Fair – R W A S Enterprises – 25th – 26th November
• Winter Stock Festival – East of England Show Ground – 29th – 30th November

Merchandise

With the chilly mornings and colder nights, wrap up warm with one of our Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society wool scarves for £25.00. Keeping you warm and cosy as we now enter the colder weather months.

You can purchase by emailing Yvonne at: [email protected], who can deal with and dispatch your orders for all our merchandise. You can pay over the phone by card or simply add it to your next invoice. Full range of merchandise available to view online here.

From all at the Society, have a great weekend