Newsletter August 2025 - British Friesian Breeders Club

‘Everything that has ever Lived has been the process of Natural selection’ New Scientist 3/2/24

So, we ask again, why do Geneticists promote breeding from younger animals? The inevitable increase in the inbreeding % with shortening generation turnover not only risks the emergence of genetic faults but, as vet, Dr Rob Hall points out, with a short livestock cycle it leaves a new population open to infection. He was referring to Schmallenberg as cows that have built up immunity to this, and other viruses, drop out of the system. This is one aspect of why British Friesian Breeders prefer to breed from a proven background, incorporating all those assets that add up to profitability and conveying them to their progeny. Data provided by the NBDC show highest average BF yields climb steadily to peak at the sixth lactation so, together with many opportunities for heifer replacements or viable male calves, this is a very valuable animal. Those not up to the job naturally cull themselves out!

HUK HERD OF THE YEAR AWARD

We could not find a better example of this practice than this year’s winner, the Castle family’s Petham Herd in Kent. The award is based on the number of animals achieving the CP joint classification and production award. Details of the herd can be found on the HUK website and will appear in the next Journal. Some members will remember the Club’s earlier visit in 2013. Many congratulations to the Castle family. This CP Award for British Friesians was suggested by a Club member to better reflect the efficiency of the individual animal.

HERD VISITS

Also appearing in the Journal will be features on the very enjoyable herd visits this summer. The Club is most grateful to our hosts and their families in the border country, Mr Robert Neill of Thornington Farm in Mindrum, near Cornhill-on-Tweed and Mr R P Shanks of Queenscairn Farm, Kelso. Both farms are very successful commercial operations with British Friesian at the centre of their enterprises.

The visit also provided the perfect opportunity to meet the Club’s new Chairman, Huw Rees and his wife, Elizabeth (Crugside).

BRITISH FRIESIAN HISTORY UPDATED

The History of the Society and the Breed was first written and published by Mary Mead in 2012, and the addition of a new chapter now brings our History right up to date. The revised edition is available by clicking on the link in the Breed’s History page on the Club’s website.

SEPTEMBER 10th : UK DAIRY DAY

Telford, Shropshire

The Club very much appreciated being represented on the main HUK stand beside the Show Ring which proved such a successful move last year. Please do visit again this year.

With ever fewer dairy farmers, we need to support our great organisations and pedigree breeding with its valuable real time data. British Friesians with their proven superior fertility and lifespan can add benefits as can the Holstein cow with her superior yields, building a UK pedigree black and white cow to suit the very differing farming situations.

SEPTEMBER 19th - 21st : ALL BREEDS ALL BRITAIN CALF SHOW

Staffordshire County Showground, ST18 0BD

All enquiries to Adam Lawson on lismulligan@btconnect.com or phone 07815 055476. Judge - Will Williamson. Please support this Showcase of next generation British Friesians.

OCTOBER 1st : SOUTHWEST DAIRY SHOW

Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

We look forward to meeting up on the HUK stand as usual.

OCTOBER 22nd : IRISH PURE FRIESIAN SEMINAR

Cillin Hill, Kilkenny Mart, Eire

There will be an afternoon seminar with a showcase sale of excellent stock from a few of the club’s breeders that evening. The sale is an export sale and will be available online.

Please contact Adam Lawson on lismulligan@btconnect.com should you wish to attend.

The day will start with registrations and refreshments at 1pm, then 4 panel discussions with topics very relevant to both British Friesian breeders and commercial herds using British Friesian in the mix. Then there’ll be the announcement of the winners of this year’s Axa Insurance national herds competition judged by Roberta Dunbar of Barncluth Herd in Scotland. There’ll be dinner at Langton’s in Cillin Hill from 5pm (included in the ticket price of €25 per person) and then there’ll be the showcase sale, kicking off at 7pm.

AUGUST 2025 EVALUATION RUN

Not much change in the ranking order and pleased to see the inbreeding % as displayed on the HUK website for British Friesian males, is comfortably low. It will be some time before we see reliable results for the outcross bulls that some of us are using.

Commercial AI companies, mostly controlled by the USA, are now producing their own ‘animal’, by cross breeding using genomics. Presumably this is their answer to the relentless increase in the Holstein inbreeding %. It is imperative that UK farmers support our Breed Societies as the move is in direct conflict with them and based entirely on predictions.

These problems have arisen as a direct consequence of Index Breeding and it is time the Geneticists responsible faced up to the fact. It is us farmers who have bred our native breeds over many years in response to their environment. The UK was renowned as the stockyard of the World and our native breeds continue to be exported to many countries. They are a very special resource to be treasured!