News

New Chairman Matt Gue introduces his year at the helm of BCBC, and the theme Breeding for a Brighter Future: better tools, clearer stories and a stronger community.

Professor Mike Coffey and Marco Winters are joint winners of the BISAS and BCBC 2026 Sir John Hammond Award, for two decades of work turning dairy genetics research into practical breeding tools.

The 2026 conference in Telford asked why so much research never reaches the farm gate, and heard how collaboration, clear communication and confidence can close the gap.

Members toured Stallion AI Services in Shropshire to see the new UK National Livestock Biobank, the first farm animal gene bank set up to safeguard the nation’s livestock genetics.

The 2025 British Cattle Breeders Conference will explore how breeding can meet rising food demand while cutting methane emissions, with farmers and academics gathering in Telford next January.

Andy King reflects on being elected chairman for 2024-25, building on a successful conference year, and sets out his ambitions for breeding, technology and diversity in the industry.

Dr Tianhai Yan has received the 2024 Sir John Hammond Award from BSAS and BCBC, recognising exceptional contributions to animal science research in Belfast and beyond.

British Limousin Society chief executive Alice Swift told the BCBC conference that government policy should reward outcomes, not breed, and urged farmers to use data to cut emissions.

Holstein UK president Andrew Jones presented Mary Mead of the Lakemead herd with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BCBC conference dinner, marking 60 years in British Friesians.

Father and son Rowan and Greg Pickstock of Brongain Farms are using data and genetics to target net zero beef from grass, aiming for carbon neutrality on their farm by 2030.

A leading agricultural professor told the BCBC conference that farmers must urgently measure, monitor and reduce gross farm emissions to help the UK meet its net zero goals.

Dairy farmer Rory Christie has helped develop the first crossbreeding index for the Fast Breeders Project, led by geneticist Mike Coffey, across four spring-calving grazing herds.