Bi-Weekly Update: 18th October 2019
October is always a month full of preparation and anticipation with some large and exciting events just around the corner, with the major sales at Stirling this weekend and the start of the calf show season almost upon us. It’s been business as usual at the Society with plenty going on in and around Pedigree House. Here is your latest bi-weekly news update with all you need to know.
News Roundup
The Autumn show & sale of Aberdeen-Angus bulls at Carlisle took place on the 4th of October, where the show was ably judged by Ruth Perry from the Hartley Herd. The Overall Champion of the day was Wensleydale Esquire U110 from CD Timm where he topped the sale and sold for 4000gns. The Reserve Champion was Kilmaluag Jiggerypokery Eric T222 from Donald Rankin which sold for 3400gns. Ruth’s overall comment on the bulls she judged on the day was “good small selection of bulls, very delighted with my young Champion”. There was also the dispersal from the Rugley Herd, where RUGLEY GERALDINE S761 and her calf at foot RUGLEY GRACIE V942 topped the dispersal sale at 2020gns. To view the full results please go to our Shows & Sales section on the website.
The Borders Aberdeen-Angus club held their annual Herd Competition, judged by Donald Graham from the Carruthers herd. Well done to all the herds! Head over to our website to view the full results.
The final major event of the Irish showing calendar took place over the weekend with the National Aberdeen-Angus calf show attracting the cream of Aberdeen-Angus young stock to The Showgrounds in Carrick-On-Shannon for the annual autumn showcase. Cattle from both sides of the Irish border competed for the day’s top prizes with all four provinces well represented in the show ring with 12 entries catalogued for some of the classes. Judge for the occasion was Mr Dallas Allen of the Stouphill Aberdeen-Angus herd in Northumberland, UK who has officiated at several major events across Ireland and the UK and was incredibly pleased with the quality of the calves forward on the day. The overall female championship went to Adrian Parke & Family, 23 Coolermoney Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone NI with Coolermoney Rosita V924. Thomas Mulligan & Family, Currycramp, Dromod, Co Leitrim reigned supreme in the male section, taking the top championship honours with Clooncarne Rossiter. To view the full results from the Irish National Aberdeen-Angus Calf Show head over to our Show & Sales news section on the website.
Its Review time again!
For the first time this year, we have made it possible for you to book your adverts in the Aberdeen-Angus Review online. Click here to access the online booking form and the print out booking form, simply fill in all the fields on the online form to get your booking in. Booking closes on the 29th November – please submit your bookings as soon as you can to make the process run as smooth as possible. Many thanks in advance! Forms should be sent to Natalie Cormack using the details provided on the form.
Winter Photo Competition, after the amazing response we received in our last photo competition we’re back again looking for the very best pics of your herds, farms, and families. They can be funny, serious, artsy or anything in between – new or old photos accepted.
Just submit your favourite photos in the comments section on our Facebook page or via email to [email protected] for your chance to win a fantastic prize!
1st Prize – A luxurious 2 night mini-break. Choose when and where you want to go from a range of locations from across the UK. See T&Cs for full details.
2 x Runner-up Prizes – Aberdeen-Angus boxed Charles Dickens pen and a ‘Society engraved whisky glass’.
All winners selected on Friday 25th October. Full T&Cs apply.
The online entry is now open for November’s Stars of the Future Calf Show. Taking place at United Auctions in Stirling, this is always a highly anticipated event and we hope to see a strong entry from the Aberdeen-Angus breed. If anyone would like more information about the event, we encourage you to get in touch with Carol Rettie on: [email protected] The closing date for entries is 18th October.
The North East of Scotland Club will be hosting the annual show of Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings on Friday 22nd November at Thainstone Agricultural Centre, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire. The event is one of the largest shows of Aberdeen-Angus calves and yearlings in the country, we anticipate an entry of 100 head from many herds. For more information contact Janelle Anderson, Black Beauty Bonanza Event Co-Ordinator: Email: [email protected] The closing date for entries is 28th October.
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 and Features
Shows & Sales News
News and Notices from the CEO
• Owing to some changes in the workload at Pedigree house we are reassigning some of the tasks that we do with some responsibility changes a meeting with our HR consultant to go through the changes and make sure everything was compliant.
• The reassigning of the tasks is to help free myself up to put some focus in on some of the important issues that can take the Society forward. Certified Aberdeen Angus Beef scheme implementation being the number one on the agenda.
• Thanks to all the team at Pedigree house for stepping up and taking on some new challenges as we gradually implement the new structure.
• The sale at Carlisle seemed to be a reflection of the climate with buyers not eager to be spending money possibly due to the uncertainty of the beef industry.
• I believe that I have finally agreed the last point that was a sticking point in the Breeding programme with the Scottish Government. A wording change and I will be putting this around to the technical committee and Council over the next few days for their comments.
• A morning in the company of Willie McLaren, John Elliot and Bob Anderson at Denvir sorting out the format for the breed history that Willie has been putting together thanks to Rob at Denvir for his input too!
• We had the pleasure of a visit from Julie Mais the editor of the Angus Journal, the American Angus monthly publication and her husband who are on a tour of Scotland. They will be at the Show at Stirling on Sunday so I will hopefully have the chance to introduce them to you.
• An invitation to Pickstocks Telford open day for myself and Paul Jeenes where we were given a series of presentations and a tour of the “state of the art” beef unit which is an outstanding piece of work and some insights into the fantastic work they are doing for the benefit of the industry.
• The operation is very much focussed around Aberdeen Angus and was a wonderful advert for what our breed is all about.
• It is the October bull sale weekend at Stirling and preparations have been the priority since returning from holiday contacting buyers and vendors to see where we are likely to be!
• The beef industry climate is not ideal now but there are a number of people who will be coming to Stirling intending to purchase Bulls and females so we will see how that works on Monday!
• I was being asked by a number of potential overseas buyers about exporting and quarantine etc, I have assurances from both the Scottish Government and DEFRA that the export trade will not be affected and animals can leave for any EU destination as normal whether we are in or out of the EU on the 1st November with or without a deal.
• Many thanks to the team downstairs for battling through the preparations for the sale and we will all be delighted when bulls forwarded in 2021 are all tested sire verified and myostatin status complete.
• The process of sorting the above out is an onerous one and requires a great deal of effort from the office and yourselves when samples on file don’t work for some reason we will get through it!
• In the meantime it would be very helpful if you have a team of bulls that are destined to go to the sale in February let us know next month and we can start the process it will be time and money well spent to do so and save results not being available to go in the catalogue.
• The sale also offers the opportunity to progress matters with many of the council being present and we have the Board meeting for Pedigree Cattle Services arranged for Monday morning.
• Friday the 1st of November sees the Winter National at Borderway mart, a tremendous turnout with 120 entries will make this a great showcase for the breed and an opportunity to integrate and promote the breed and the brand.
• Many thanks to AK Stoddart for their sponsorship of the event and I look forward to seeing you all there.
• That’s a summary and only scratches the surface of what we do in a fortnight in the office looking forward to catching up with as many of you as possible over the weekend.
News and Notices from Laura Stewart the Office Manager
- The past fortnight has had its challenges I.T. wise with hardware failure of one of the staff workstations within Pedigree House and issues with the expiry of the domain name for the Irish Aberdeen-Angus Association website address. Both issues were time consuming but have been resolved with www.irishaberdeenangus.com up and running again after the renewal of the domain name and new hardware ordered to replace the temporary workstation set up, which our IT specialist will install on his return from holiday.
- I have been putting together the UK Nomination form for Council 2020. This is currently being printed and will be mailed out to you by end of the month. There are vacancies in all constituencies and it is an opportunity for members to make a difference to the Society and add valuable input towards taking the Aberdeen-Angus breed and brand forward. There is an article in the recent edition of The Cud (page 13) where we highlight that “Your Council Needs You!”. Please take a few minutes to read the article, if you haven’t already done so, and I look forward to receiving your nomination to sit on Council should you feel you can help take the Society forward.
News and Notices from Angela Cumming in the Finance Department
- Statements were posted out at the start of October. If you have any outstanding invoices, prompt payment would be very much appreciated as our financial year end is 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 on the link here
News and Notices from the Registrations Department
- As from 1st Nov the fees for late registrations will be automated by the accounts system.
Please read the inside page of The Cud for full details and charges. - Also, if you have any bulls going to the Spring sales in 2020, please advise the office to begin the process of DNA testing as soon as possible.
News and Notices from the Pedigree Cattle Services Department
- Milk EBVs provide an estimate of the maternal contribution of a dam to the 200 day weight of her calf. In the case of sires, this estimates the maternal contribution that his daughters will make to the 200 day weight of their progeny.
Click here to see the tip sheet on understanding Milk EBV’S. - If anyone wants to start on the performance recording please contact Barbara, Helena or Amy in the Breedplan office. This makes data available that you can use to develop your enterprise and breeding programme. It helps monitor your herd and individual animals’ performance and benchmarks against breed average, which is a very worthwhile thing to be part of.
Shows, Sales and Events
• 20th – 21st October Stirling Bull Sales
• 1st November – Winter National Show – Agri Expo, Carlisle
• 2nd November – Northern Ireland Calf Show
• 6th November – Skipton Female Sale
• 9th November – Stars of The Future – Stirling Agriculture Centre
• 14th – 15th November – East of England Smithfield Festival – East of England Showground
• 16th – 17th November – English Winter Fair and National Pedigree Calf Show – Stafford Showground
• 22nd November – Black Beauty Bonanza – Thainstone Agriculture Centre
• 23rd November – Livescot – Lanark Agriculture Centre
Merchandise
We have a new range of clothing coming out and the CEO has been modelling the shirts at recent events, with a branded gilet and jacket also set to be available. We will be introducing these in due course, with an introductory offer just in time for Christmas.
Get ahead of the bad weather as Winter approaches by grabbing one of our Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society wool scarves for £25.00. Keeping you warm and proudly sporting the Society colours, help fly the flag whilst you’re out and about.
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 at: https://www.aberdeen-angus.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Merchandise-poster-2018-web.pdf
From all at the Society, have a great weekend!
