Oh...that Blue bull......

The Ruminant

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Hertfordshire
Yes and no.
Yes, to buy semen etc. is in theory supporting a breed.
However, I don't think using a breed means that you can't criticise it, if anything you are probably in a better place to offer comments, as you have results from within your system to base your opinion on.
I take your point and agree - constructive criticism from users of the breed is fair enough. It’s the hypocrisy of condemning the breed and its perceived failings at the pedigree level, whilst benefiting from the breed in your own business that is wrong.
 
I take your point and agree - constructive criticism from users of the breed is fair enough. It’s the hypocrisy of condemning the breed and its perceived failings at the pedigree level, whilst benefiting from the breed in your own business that is wrong.

I have a theory where I reckon that, you'll learn more from a critique than you will from a fanatic.
 

Whitepeak

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just wanted to say after being stalled opposite the Newpole team at the Three Counties Show over the weekend, just how impressive Lomu is. He is a tremendous bull with excellent mobility for his muscling, and a very worthy Blue champion, and a bull I’d happily use at home. I’m happy the Blonde beat him in the Interbreed ;) but he would definitely have been in my top draw if I was judging.
Also @GenuineRisk the standard of your display and the professionalism of your team was second to none, I can only aspire to be as good as yourselves. Good luck at your next show!
 

GenuineRisk

Member
Location
Somerset
Aww... thank you @Whitepeak ! Needless to say, thicko here didn’t make the connection at all, the words TFF were never even mentioned ! It was a great show and the displqy of Blondes was extremely impressive at their National Show and they were worthy winners all round. Pleasure to be opposite you, @Whitepeak - you have a really lovely family and what was particularly nice at Three Counties were just how many families were showing alll different breeds on the lines with children or grandchildren all involved, helping or just playing and having fun.

We had a great show, Lomu was very well received and a good time was had on the lines.....! B*****y knackered now, though..!
 

GenuineRisk

Member
Location
Somerset
Blimey, yes he is old @shearerlad ! 1983 and pure Belgian Breeding,of course. Used by some notable herds, too, including Grahams and Wilodge and of course Lawns too. He sired 98 Pedigree progeny, so must have been a decent bull. Sadly, no idea of colour but could find out . Mt Tom Ashton has the distinction of having the number 1 BBCS membership number and his son, Richard, judged us only this summer - gave our bull Champion
 

shearerlad

Member
Livestock Farmer
Didn’t realise the bull was that old!! Hopefully there are still some straws at the vets. Would be interested to see how the calves would compare to today’s blues (British or Belgian)

Was it the Ashton’s that were heavily involved with the first imports of beltex sheep?
 

Martyn

Member
Location
South west
Just to say we have had 64 newpole easy calves this autumn, lost one born with hazzy eyes no go in it, every other one calved on their own, and all 63 calves have come out of calving shed weaned, also some sold hitting highest prices at Kivells
 

Sharpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
Just to say we have had 64 newpole easy calves this autumn, lost one born with hazzy eyes no go in it, every other one calved on their own, and all 63 calves have come out of calving shed weaned, also some sold hitting highest prices at Kivells
Sorry to go off topic, but in the calf was the eye sort of cloudy white? Just had similar here and stumped.
 

Pushdyke

Member
I have an old genus brochure that lists lawns Dominic and Lawns Eskimo Jo both priced at £3.00 a stawView attachment 750358
IMG_20181222_212519_hdr.jpg
 

goodevans

Member
Over the years we have bought hundreds of reared bbx weanlings and it has been noticeable many of the best show a white head,almost like a hereford but these are now becoming fewer.i presume this sire must be long dead but his straws still available ,would that be the case,not being a AI user ourselves
 

AGN76

Member
Location
north Wales
Over the years we have bought hundreds of reared bbx weanlings and it has been noticeable many of the best show a white head,almost like a hereford but these are now becoming fewer.i presume this sire must be long dead but his straws still available ,would that be the case,not being a AI user ourselves
They are by Brookfield Dev who only recently died I think
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Would the starws still be intact. I know i dont like to have straws over 5 years max
What’s the thinking behind that? Once frozen, it doesn’t change unless it’s thawed out.
We used a few straws of 20yr old Holstein semen at home and got normal conception rates, and I used some 18 yr old ram semen a few years ago too, with decent conception rates.
In both cases, the performance of the progeny proved how much things move forward over time, with most of the progeny not hanging around long.:(
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.3%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 66 34.9%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.9%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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