Norman Robson has been elected as the new President of the British Simmental Cattle Society.

Based in Northern Ireland Doagh, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, Mr Robson was elected following the Society’s recent AGM held in Stirling, where Stewart Stronach, Maisley, Keith, stepped down.

Norman becomes the third member of the Robson family to serve as BSCS President and operate a family partnership, Kilbride Farm, which is a traditional mixed farm with a 300-sow birth to bacon single site pig unit being a backbone, and alongside the pedigree Simmentals.

The Kilbride Farm Simmental herd, now consisting of 90-100 Simmental cows, was established in 1971.

Commenting, Norman Robson said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to be elected as the 27th President of the British Simmental Cattle Society, and to be the fourth breeder from Northern Ireland to hold this office. With a motivated membership and Council, I hope to lead a Society that offers value and assistance through practical breeding tools to all breeders, and positively promotes British Simmental to every industry level. Over the last two years we have seen some record sale averages for the Simmental breed, some successful new fixtures, and an increase in pedigree registrations. It is very much a further aim that we can continue to build on this base and to grow the reach of the breed into all areas of the UK.”

“The Society will look to build on the performance benefits the Simmental breed offers all types of farming systems. No other breed has the flexibility of the Simmental, from crossing on a Luing type cow on the hill, to high output lowland suckler herds, and as a crossing sire onto the dairy herd. As breeders if we can collectively continue to provide the genetics for a profitable, sustainable forward beef industry, I feel there is a bright future for British Simmental," he concluded.