Sainsbury’s and Anglo Beef Processors (ABP) have teamed up with Cogent Breeding for their Gamechanger beef supply chain in a bid to drive efficiencies and grow the programme.

The supply chain which relies on Aberdeen Angus cross calves produced from the dairy herd will see Cogent genetics available to Gamechanger producers in conventional semen, and from late March onwards, producers will have access to Ultraplus male sexed product.

The group says it will improve the consistency of Angus calves entering the supply chain.

The Gamechanger programme which commenced in 2015 currently relies on more than 500 farms.

Farmers can be involved at different stages, whether calving, rearing, or finishing.

It is designed to offer security and stability to farmers across the supply chain with guaranteed forward pricing, and easy management at every stage, from conception to finishing.

With the addition of Cogent genetics, Sainsbury’s and ABP can continue to address current and future challenges, such as sustainability, efficiency, and product quality across the entire supply chain, but with greater choice for the producer.

The end product, which is retailed as part of the Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Aberdeen Angus beef range, will also be bred from dedicated elite Cogent sires, which have undergone extensive progeny testing.

This testing enables Cogent to breed bulls with specific, repeatable traits tailored not only to the dairy system, but all aspects of an integrated supply chain, including ease of calving, gestation length, growth, performance, and feed efficiency.