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The EBLEX head office is based at:
EBLEX
Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board
Stoneleigh Park
Kenilworth
Warwickshire
CV8 2TL
Telephone: 024 7669 2051
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© Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board 2014.
EBLEX is a division of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB).
All content is correct at the time of publication. |
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| Welcome |
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The beef industry was in the news for all the wrong reasons last week, with several British papers printing articles about a US studyclaiming that beef production is 10 times more damaging to the environment than production systems involving other livestock. |
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Some of the most attention-grabbing headlines focused on the land and water requirements of beef production, with the study finding that it requires 28 times more land and 11 times more irrigation water than other types of livestock production.
I'm sure we at EBLEX HQ weren't alone in reacting with frustration to this latest critique of beef production, which painted a picture of a resource-hungry global industry with little regard for the consequences of its actions.
Broadening the conclusions of a study such as this out to a global level fails to acknowledge important differences between production systems. Most of the coverage included a line about how, while the study is based on US data, its findings are equally applicable to Europe. But, even within a single continent, the diverse range of climates and terrains means that any conclusions are going to be an over-simplification at the very least.
In the UK we primarily graze ruminants to convert grass, which cannot be used to feed people, into nutritious food for our growing population. In many cases these animals occupy areas of farmland which couldn't be used to grow other crops. And our rain-fed pasture system means we have very little reliance on irrigation; it takes just 67 litres of water to produce 1kg of beef.
There are also environmental benefits of grazing cattle and sheep in terms of landscape management and maintaining biodiversity, as well as the ability of permanent pasture to capture and store carbon.
The true picture of beef's environmental impact is complex and nuanced. However, one thing consumers can be certain of is that by buying quality assured beef from England, they're supporting one of the most efficient and sustainable livestock production systems in the world.
Nick Allen
Sector Director
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| EBLEX news |
 Online EBLEX campaign aims to get students cooking with lamb
Students are being encouraged to cook with lamb as part of an EBLEX campaign to get it back on their menu at meal times.
The LambSoc campaign is aimed at developing an online community of 18 to 25-year-olds, creating videos with popular YouTubers, based on EBLEX's initial lamb keema recipe. It will also encourage students to post videos and photos of their efforts and sharing content to spread the word. It is aiming to achieve 20,000 likes on Facebook and 500,000 video views across all channels by next April. Read more... |
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 Yearbook highlights strong year for sheep meat exports
Volume and value of UK sheep meat exports performed strongly again last year, according to the AHDB/EBLEX Cattle and Sheep Yearbook 2014.
Volumes in 2013 increased nine per cent on the year to 103,200 tonnes, while the value of sheep meat exports for the same period rose eight per cent on 2012 to £381.6 million.
There was substantial growth in exports to non-EU markets with shipments totalling 17,600 tonnes, compared to 12,300 tonnes in 2012. Read more... |
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Austrian food service sector gets taste for beef and lamb
Members of the high-end Austrian food service sector were given a taste of Quality Standard beef and lamb at a special reception in Vienna.
Premium beef and lamb was served at the event in the British embassy, organised by EBLEX in conjunction with UKTI Austria, which was attended by 50 people. A similar event showcasing beef and lamb is due to take place in Cologne, Germany. Read more... |
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 Tri-Nations trophy heads to southern hemisphere
New Zealand's butchery team have successfully defended their title at the 2014 Tri-Nations Butchers' Challenge in a closely-fought contest of skill and speed.
The annual competition took place on British soil for the first time at the Great Yorkshire Show on July 10, and saw teams of six of the best butchers from Britain, New Zealand and Australia tackle a side of beef and full lamb carcase over two hours. The task was not only to expertly butcher the meat, but also to create an innovative display using creative cuts. Read more... |
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 Online - a significant opportunity for butchers
A recent survey has revealed that one in three butcher's shops has a company website, turnover from online ordering is expected to rise by 175% in five years and a quarter of shops with websites have an online ordering facility.
The survey, which is understood to be the first to examine online sales in the sector, was commissioned by EBLEX and revealed that total butcher's shop sales are estimated to be worth £2.24 billion annually, with just over £4million (0.2%) being accounted for in online sales. Read more... |
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| BRP news |
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 Check ram credentials online
Looking on the internet can help sheep producers ensure they purchase the optimum genetics for their flock, according to EBLEX breeding specialist Sam Boon.
"With an investment in a performance recorded ram with a high Estimated Breeding Value (EBV) shown to be worth an additional £800-£1000 over his working lifetime, extra genetic information can be valuable.
"Information about breeding potential (EBVs/Indexes) is now often displayed at sales. However, there is more information available for most Signet recorded flocks on the Signet website.
"This enables potential purchasers to identify how many lambs a flock has produced that meet their breeding requirements and generate breeding charts for rams of interest."
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Selecting replacement heifers
Selecting the right replacement heifers is essential for herd improvement, health status and herd profitability, advises EBLEX's Dr Mary Vickers.
"Heifers born early in the calving season are most likely to be grown sufficiently well to meet target first service weight of 65% of mature cow weight," she said.
"Onset of puberty and successful conception are closely linked to weight, so ideally weigh heifers at weaning and select those capable of reaching 65% of mature weight for service at 15 months of age.
"Information on the heifer's dam, and sire if available, should also inform the selection decision, taking into account the traits that are important for the herd."
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| Industry news |
 New secretary of state at Defra
Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed last month that Norfolk MP Liz Truss would replace Owen Paterson as Secretary of State at Defra as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
Liz says that she is "looking forward to tackling the important issues facing our rural communities including championing British food, protecting people from flooding and improving the environment."
Mrs Truss, who became the youngest member of the new Cabinet, moved to Defra from the Department of Education and has gained rapid promotion having only been an MP since 2010.
Read more... |
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