Report by Fiona Sloan

Following a recent UK presence at the Farma Exhibition in Poznan Poland, a fact finding inward mission was organised by the newly formed British Cattle Breeders Export Group to allow Polish Industry and Government representatives to visit the UK thanks to the backing of IATC.

The mission was designed to allow them to look at the potential for setting up a national suckler herd along similar lines to the current structure in the UK and to look at traditional and Organic systems, using Simmental, Hereford and South Devon cattle.

The Polish cattle system currently relies heavily on the Polish Black and White, a small type of Holstein, many of whom are still milked in a “byre” system, with the progeny being fattened for the beef market.

The setting up of such a visit has taken two years in the planning and we were delighted with the outcome. The group included :- Mikolaj Jankowski. Vice Marshall of the Podlaski Region Andrzej Bobrowski. Marshal's Office of Greater Poland Professor Henryk Jasiorowski. Warsaw Agricultural University (Professor of Animal Husbandry) Alicja Woznak - Meat Processing Industry and driving force behind QM schemes in Poland. Jurik Wierzbicki President. Polish Beef Association Andrzej Padzior Vice president Polish beef Assocaition Agnieszka Wierzbicka, Warsaw University (Lecturer in Food Quality Standards) Simon Gill, Agro Irladia Exports.

The group picked up their pre booked hire cars at Teesside Airport and proceeded to Tom and John Kemps’ award winning Auckvale pedigree Hereford herd in County Durham, where they also run 50 Hereford X Friesian Cows which are crossed back to the Hereford. The Kemp family also provided lunch for the delegates after their long journey.

After travelling north to their base in Kelso for the next few days, the group visited three Simmental based herds at Innerwick, Woodhall and Aikengall near Dunbar. The group began their day with a look at a mixed cattle and sheep farm where, Hector Macaskill had arranged transport to take them round the unit, which during a torrential rain storm was much appreciated. The group saw their first Blackfaced ewes and Bluefaced Leicester ram together with both commercial and pedigree Simmentals, currently wintering outside.

Dorothy and Lesley Moffat at Innerwick Simmentals then hosted the visitors at their Pedigree herd explaining the techniques involved in Embryo transfer and breed selection for quality stock. The quality of the pedigree stock in comparison to what they have in Poland was of great interest. The new addition of a large shed and handling facilities was of particular interest to the group and the Moffat family furnished the visitors with the plans for the building in order that they could replicate them in Poland. An outstanding lunch of traditional Scottish fayre was served by Dorothy before coats were donned once again and we headed off to view the 350 strong organic suckler herd run by John and Vanessa Hamilton at Aikengall.

Recently awarded with the organic producer of the year from Dovecote Park and Waitrose, John’s experience in setting up the herd following foot and mouth was appreciated by Polish visitors and guests alike. They saw the cattle being out wintered on kale at 1000 feet. John made a huge effort to explain everything to his guests and provided each with a summary of the farm and its business. The day ended with a talk from Andy McGowan, QMS on the way to set up a quality assurance scheme and was followed by a traditional Scottish banquet at the Cross Keys in Kelso with recitations and singing from Joan Wilson from Cowbog Herefords and Fiona Sloan the Development Manager of the Simmental Cattle.

Next morning it was off to the Border Showground where the Secretary Ron Wilson showed them around and then afterwards, Jack Clark, MD at St Boswells Mart hosted the visitors for their first insight into a market system. Poland does not have a livestock market system as such so an insight into the new plans for St Boswells Mart was a good template on which to base their own future system.

One of the oldest Hereford herds in Scotland at Cowbog, Kelso, was their next port of call with Ron and Robert Wilson introducing them to stock bull Romany Cosmonaut, who has twice this summer been on his way to Poland, the first in 40 years, only to be stopped by movement restrictions. Hopefully, early in the New Year he will join a beef breeding programme there, together with Simmental and South Devon bulls, all of which will be used to advertise the breeds at demonstrations throughout Poland over the next two years and will be progeny tested for use in the foundation stock of the Polish National Suckler herd.

The group then moved on to the Beef Farmer of the Year, Robert Neill, Upper Nisbitt unit to look at his outstanding handling system and cattle.

Another hectic day was followed by a trip to the Scottish Winter Fair, where George McFadzean, the Chairman, showed them around the event together with QMS who jointly hosted the day. The delegates thoroughly enjoyed their day looking at the machinery and feeding systems on offer and in particular the cattle being shown. George McFadzean went out of his way on a busy day to make them very welcome, even inviting them to join him in celebrating his Aberdeen Angus breed Championship. The group thoroughly enjoyed the Scottish hospitality before heading back to their hotel for a well earned rest.

The trip finished with a visit to Shaw Eggleston’s commercial suckler unit at Thornham Hill, Matfen. Shaw provided summaries of the breeding programme and made great effort to explain the farming system in place. The visitors were able to get a view of how the various breeds of cattle are used in a cross breeding programme to produce quality beef calves in a grass fed system. Of particular interest was the use of South Devon bulls to breed female replacements. The information gathered by the Polish team on the working of our suckler cattle industry will no doubt help towards a nationwide project to set up a similar system in Poland.

A commitment has already been made to continue with the support and input to the fledgling beef industry in Poland. Two years of work with this team has resulted in a very special relationship with people of influence in the Polish Cattle industry and I have no doubt that both countries will share in the benefits that such a relationship brings. It is a sobering thought that we have all been involved in further developing an industry in a country which has made us all so welcome, despite out health issues in the UK at this time. Our own commitment to the UK industry will ensure that the information and cattle required to continue with this development in Poland will be available for many years to come. My thanks go to all of those who helped bring this together both here and in Poland. It has been a great achievement!

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