THIS week’s QMS podcast, available to download now, focusses on bull selection ahead of the October bull sales.

Listen to John Elliot from Roxburgh Mains and Cogent UK’s beef programme manager, Boomer Birch for tips on what to look out for when buying a bull, use of Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) and management of bulls post purchase.

John Elliot, has been selecting bulls on a balance between phenotype and EBVs for several years in his Aberdeen Angus, Limousin and Shorthorn herds with great success. Boomer Birch, has seen demand for EBVs and data behind cattle surge as focus on productivity and efficiency has stepped into the limelight.

Bruce McConachie, Head of Industry Development with QMS said: “Matching the right bull to the right cow takes skill from talented stockpersons. EBVs are a useful tool Jodie has been busy doing cooking demonstrations on The Beef Box Company Facebook page.

All QMS podcasts are available to download now through Apple Podcast, Buzzsprout, and Spotify, as well as via the Quality Meat Scotland website and social channels.

John Elliot from Roxburgh Mains to aid in this management decision process. This podcast offers listeners a technical discussion on the difficult balancing act of choosing a bull with appropriate characteristics to match cows and produce a specific endproduct.”

The QMS podcast series focusses on initiatives which can help Scottish farmers improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of their businesses.