GROWING demand for Beef Shorthorn cattle coupled with increased registrations and membership have led to the Beef Shorthorn Society breaking it's long-term link with the Shorthorn Cattle Society.

Up until now, the Shorthorn Society of the United Kingdom and Ireland, was based in Stoneleigh and encompassed the Beef Shorthorn and Dairy Shorthorn breeds, both of which had separate office bearers and council members. Chief executive Milly Fyfe, who has resigned with her position advertised in this week's SF, was at the helm of both breeds.

The decision that the Beef Shorthorn Society steps out on it's own to have its own secretary and accompanying administration, was made by society's board of directors and will start from April 7, with a location yet to be agreed.

Beef Shorthorn Society president, Sally Horrell commented: “We have enjoyed a long and successful joint working relationship with the Shorthorn Society, however Beef Shorthorn has witnessed phenomenal growth in demand in the last five years and we believe the time has now come to establish our own management arrangements to take the breed forward into the new era.

“We will continue our close historic links with the Shorthorn Society and will continue to collaborate with it on various projects, including organising future conferences and sharing stand space at events.”

Over the past year, membership to the society has increased by 11% to 931. This adds to the five-year trend which has seen membership increase by more than 55% since 2011, whilst registrations have been maintained reflecting a 36% increase over the same five-year period.

Defra has also reported a phenomenal 1400% increase in breeding females over the last 12 years – the highest of any native breed.

Those trends are mirrored in the 2017 BCMS published data, which over the last eight years, saw UK Beef Shorthorn and Beef Shorthorn cross populations rise by a massive 77% – more than three times the percentage increase of the next highest breed.

New vice-president of the society is Inverness-shire breeder, Cathryn Williamson, Alvie Farm, Kingussie.