UK beef farmers have become increasingly concerned at the increasing volume of Brazilian and South American beef arriving in the UK. Of particular concern is the recent development of UK supermarkets retailing Brazilian and Argentinean steaks.
UK beef farmers are concerned because they are facing the consequential threats of decoupling and globalization at the same time. Decoupling is the change from production associated subsidies introduced by the EU in order to allow farmers to restructure and not produce uneconomic products purely to claim the subsidy revenue.
As markets for beef develop and become more globalised as a result there are huge pressures on domestic producers to remain competitive as cheaper supplies from overseas, particularly Brazil and Argentina, enter European markets.
This report clearly evaluates the Irish beef industry with reference to production, exports markets and European customers. Particular emphasis is given to the European markets, to which Irish producers supply around 40,000 tonnes a year. The author demonstrates how South American producers have much lower production costs and that EU policy, trade liberalisation, falling beef consumption and other factors have had a detrimental impact on the Irish beef industry. Despite poor traceability in South America, higher than expected abattoir standards were evident. Conclusions and recommendations are made as to how Irish producers can compete, focussing on quality and branded products rather than price, as cheap labour and shipping costs make this impossible.
The author visited Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay as part of the study to produce this report.
The worst foot and mouth outbreak for 30 years, combined with the aftermath of BSE and an outbreak of E-coli in Scotland left the beef industry very demoralised, worsened further by increasing globalisation and EU expansion.
This report clearly investigates the beef supply chain from producers to consumers identifying methods by which quality, consistency, traceability, productivity and animal welfare can be promoted. The author considers marketing strategies focusing on case studies such as Certified Angus Beef (CAB) used in America and other retailing initiatives. Pricing of beef is analysed criticising the UK system which is based on average prices achieved in the markets. Co-operatives are considered as a means to higher margins, where case studies of producing and processing enterprises are analysed before discussing the importance of food safety to consumers. Various conclusions are then coherently drawn and recommendations made to secure the future of the UK beef supply chains.
In addition to UK research, the author travelled to Ireland, Sweden, the USA and Canada.
In order to produce a high yielding dairy herd it is paramount to balance protein, energy and fibre intake. In addition to ration alteration this can also be conducted to a large extent through agronomic techniques in terms of altering the soil type on which forage is grown and also by studying the animal itself.
This report focuses on the importance of soil structure and composition in securing maximum supplies of biologically available mineral supplements and includes study of the animal (cow) itself to demonstrate the benefits of monitoring and reacting to these elements in terms of improving fertility, disease resistance and production performance. Considerable focus is given to chemical elements of the soil such as potassium and sodium alongside the effect of micro nutrient availability in soils on cow health and performance to reduce veterinary costs. This is linked to pro-active fertiliser selection and recognising the need for feeding supplements to provide missing vitamins and minerals. This is concluded emphasising the link between soil, plant and animal.
Australia and New Zealand were visited to produce the report.
Each type of cattle enterprise inevitably has its own characteristics which therefore require specific handling systems to meet the specific needs of the type of cattle held and the systems already used.
This report reviews dairy systems in the USA and the Southern Hemisphere, examining most aspects of the industry and relating this to the handling system utilised or required. This is evident with cow flow during milking particularly in New Zealand where swing over parlours are often used. Various design decisions are explained such as the need to consider the size of the plant, the yard type and the critical backing gate. Furthermore the author considers handling systems for beef animals which obviously require different techniques due to them being more cautious of people because they are handled less frequently. The features of a good beef cattle handling system are outlined with reference to the crush and the loading/unloading of cattle. This is finally concluded to show how a good handling system requires little human intervention, as safety is very important.
The author travelled to the USA, New Zealand, Australia and Ireland to produce this report.
The dairy industry is still suffering from the attitudes and relationships that developed since the deregulation of the milk marketing board (MMB).
This report begins by outlining the French dairy industry before analysing examples of relationships within the nation such as the National Park of Vercour, where all the links in the supply chain are working in harmony. Milk buyers and retailers are considered before examining other countries throughout North America in a similar way. Haagen-Dazs is focused upon within the USA and differences in attitudes towards and the importance placed on farm assurance and milk quality is explained. The author then concludes this comprehensive report outlining that France and the USA are very similar in terms of their milk processing industry as co-operation has a history here, whereas in the UK there is little evidence of working together and we need to recognise the importance of milk buyers as customers, to which to market our product. This emphasises the need to improve relationships here.
The author visited France, Canada and the USA to complete this report.
Within the dairy industry there is a huge quantity of information available as measures for success such as margins over feed per cow, cow yields and partial costings. This report, however, argues that much of these measures mask real business performance and are dangerous to financial management of the business.
This report explains benchmarking as "the identification and adoption of best practice," and through the use of overseas examples explains why the uptake of benchmarking within the dairy sector is low in the UK. The author develops this theme into how to conduct effective dairy farm benchmarking from the collection and interpretation of accurate data to choosing who to benchmark against. A model benchmarking system for the UK is outlined before coherently concluding that a group workshop is often the most appropriate format to train and guide farmers through the process.
The author visited Australia, New Zealand, and the USA to conduct research to enable the completion of this report.
In the developed world cow breeding is being conducted whereby their ability to produce milk is outstripping out ability to feed them, often leading to considerable weight loss and therefore compromising welfare during early lactation. Furthermore breeding for production often leads to a reduction in the performance of other important traits such as fertility and disease resistance.
This report therefore reviews various European countries in terms of the information that is held on the traits that breeders wish to influence, thus enabling breeders to make a clear assessment over the genetic ability of particular animals. The author develops this further by considering many different indices that are calculated for the various traits used in the breeding programmes of the countries that were analysed. These traits are then summarised in terms of a method by which they can all be combined in a breeding goal. The value of progeny testing schemes are also explained before clear conclusions are drawn and recommendations made for the UK.
The author travelled to Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Holland and France to collect information to enable the compilation of this report.
At the end of 2005 antibiotic feed additives were no longer permitted for use within the EU therefore increasing production costs particularly for poultry and pig enterprises. This prompted the development of an alternative strategies to replace and do without them.
This report begins by clearly reviewing the nature of feeding additives and supplements used in the UK and across Europe through a history of livestock production and placing importance on the need to be aware of antibiotic resistance when using antibiotics. The author continues by summarising the practices used globally, some of which are options for the UK industry to consider. Alternative products are discussed and manipulation of the diet to assist the growth of helpful bacteria in the gut is considered.
The author travelled in the UK, France, Switzerland, Holland, China and ended his journey in Canada and the USA.
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Livestock diseases such as BVD in cattle and Enzootic Abortion in sheep can create huge costs within framing businesses each year. Therefore health planning and the associated disease eradication are very important to many livestock enterprises. However devolution is evident within the UK where different countries have varying health strategies typically undertaken by the farmers and their vets, and also the ministers of agriculture have conflicting views on the most effective methods of disease control.
This report presents how Australia has a less conscientious approach to animal disease control than that in Scotland, despite the fact that parts of the country conducted a rigorous foot rot eradication programme enabling the country to enjoy considerably reduced risk from this disease. New Zealand, however, operate few health schemes as they believe the risk is so low, as most stock are sold directly and not through markets. This is concluded demonstrating how Scottish producers should be able to enhance their margins as is evident abroad by paying considerable attention to disease reservoirs such as markets and shows.
The author visited Australia, New Zealand and the USA to assemble this report.
As the decoupling of support occurs, all cattle systems will have to at least cover direct costs from market returns. This proposes the need for change with the potential to learn from beef producers in New Zealand who operate in a strong industry without any direct subsidy payments.
This report therefore assesses the key elements that lead to profitable beef production from a suckler herd. The author analyses the New Zealand system in considerable detail through its potential to be applied to the UK and Ireland, as post mid-term review beef systems here will also have to be financially viable without direct support. Many factors that need to be considered to change UK systems are discussed such as breeding policies and other major elements influencing profit, emphasising the importance of fertility in providing as many animals for sale as possible. This is effectively concluded demonstrating that the main method by which to achieve long-term profitability in Britain is to supply high meat yielding animals that the market demands.
The author visited New Zealand to complete this report.
UK dairy farming is experiencing very low margins and with the prospect of losing all direct support payments in the future there is a need to innovate and implement new ideas and systems within the industry. Roly Tavernor explains how to successfully replicate the low cost, low yield per cow system that he has adopted, similar to that adhered to across New Zealand.
This report identifies the characteristics of a successful New Zealand system, with particular emphasis on effective grass production and examines why replication of this would be beneficial to farmers across Australia, the UK and Ireland. Furthermore the New Zealand grazing model is presented here, with how the various business practises can influence cow yield and ultimately profitability. Finally using a coherent structure, a guide of how to develop the model through innovation, quantification and implementation is included to enable the reader to replicate this system into their business via methods used in New Zealand such as sharemilking and franchises. In addition many recommendations are displayed at the end of the report to assist any farmers considering adopting such a system.
The author travelled to New Zealand, Australia and Ireland to assemble this report.
As farming experiences some very important changes it is vital that the allied service industries also change to ensure long-term profitability.
This report begins by outlining the traditional role of the veterinary surgeon in the UK and how this may change into the future, identifying that the farm vet will become less important in terms of general procedures which will soon be done automatically by detectors and systems in place in the parlour for example. However the role will involve a more consultative approach whereby assistance in developing herd health will be required by the farmer. The author also focuses considerably on the control of mastitis and the role that vets will play in its future management. This is concluded emphasising the need to develop a partnership between the vet and the farmer therefore enabling the UK to lead the world dairy industry in terms of excellent livestock health and production.
The author travelled through North America and the UK to complete this report.
Growth in the sales of organic food and drink products was phenomenal from the early 1990's but since 2001 there has been a considerable slow down in demand for organic dairy products leading to the development of the various problems that are associated with overproduction.
This report demonstrates that despite the decrease in demand, the organic sector is by no means a fad and does have a future ahead of it but needs to recognise that the industry is part of the mainstream market, as shown by the increase in its prices as the conventional market loses its value. Furthermore the potential size of the market can only be fulfilled by considering new marketing techniques recognising that customers are attracted to buy because of other reasons rather than just the environmental and health element. In addition it is recommended that market reactivity must be improved, to prevent future oversupply.
The author visited America, Denmark and Sweden as part of her study to relate he various differences across these nations to how the UK industry could adapt and improve.
The UK dairy industry is experiencing extremely tough times at present with the average cost of production being above the price paid per litre of milk. As a result many farmers are considering and have adopted new production systems in the search of sustainable profit margins.
This report therefore focuses on the contrast between high input intensive systems and lower input grazing systems. Firstly the author focussed on milk production techniques used across the USA in particular the Californian system consisting of a housed system where all feed, alfalfa being the main forage crop, is transported in from arable farms elsewhere. The New Zealand grass system is compared where producers make a living from 9-11 pence per litre. Other practices such as nutritional management and cross breeding are discussed before concluding the report from a global perspective, an EU view and from the UK's position. Recommendations are made focussing on long-term investment and identifying what factors lead to successful dairy farming.
The author travelled to New Zealand, Australia, and the USA to produce this report.
