Bavarian Breeders Visit North East Pedigree Beef Herds

A group of 35 farmers from Bavaria visited the North-east visiting Aberdeen-Angus, Charolais, Limousin and Simmental herds.

The visit by members of the Bavarian Beef Cattle Association (Fleischrinder Verband Bayern e. V) was supported by Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Enterprise Grampian.

“We are delighted that the group has decided to go ahead with the visit despite the problems facing the UK livestock industry at the present time,” said the council’s rural development officer, Vicky Thomson. “We hope the visit will lead to the development of a trade in pedigree cattle from the North-east to Bavaria.”

The group visited nine herds, plus a Highland cattle fold, during their four-day tour, which finished with a “Taste of Grampian” dinner, hosted by local breeders, in the Barn and Bushel at Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on the Wednesday evening.

“It is encouraging that Bavarian breeders continue to have an interest in Scottish beef cattle genetics and are interested in acquiring breeding stock from North-east herds,” said Sheila Eggleston, of Hexham-based export company, Eggs-Port Ltd, who organised the visit.