Jonathan Chapman BVM&S MRCVS CertAVP – Atlantic Angus
Speaking on Beef Day at the British Cattle Breeders Conference 2026, Jonathan Chapman of Atlantic Angus set out how he is aligning genetics, grazing management and eating quality to produce efficient, sustainable, grass-based beef.
Farming 850 acres in Cornwall, just two miles from the coast, Jonathan alongside his father Peter Chapman, runs a 220-cow pedigree Aberdeen-Angus herd on wet, heavy clay soils divided by small fields and traditional hedgerows. Although pedigree, he describes the enterprise as “a commercial herd that happens to be pedigree,” with performance and practicality driving every decision.
A farm animal vet by background — and the 2025 Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year and Environmental Champion — Jonathan uses detailed data collection to continually refine his system.
Fitting the Cow to the System
A clear message from the presentation was the importance of fitting the cow to the system — not the system to the cow.
Atlantic Angus operates a tight spring calving block, with a seven-week bulling period for cows and five weeks for heifers. The focus on fertility is uncompromising, delivering 98% calving within six weeks and a 101% calving rate this year.
To maintain momentum, the herd runs at around a 25% culling rate. Any cow that does not suit the forage-based system leaves the herd — whether due to feet issues, temperament, or lack of calf vigour. With bulls sold into dairy herds, ease of calving and quiet temperament are essential traits.
Data That Drives Decisions
Data underpins every breeding decision. Calves are weighed at birth and performance is recorded including calving ease, vigour, temperament and dam traits. This information feeds into Breedplan and his own self developed app which enables internal analysis to guide selection.
Jonathan is targeting:
- Strong early growth
- Moderate mature cow size
- High weaning efficiency
- Structural soundness
- Fertility under commercial conditions
While mature cow weights across the breed have risen in recent years, his target remains a functional 650kg cow capable of producing a 320–350kg deadweight steer at 18 months, largely off grass.
Weaning efficiency is assessed in context. A cow must rear a strong calf without sacrificing her own body condition — long-term productivity is prioritised over short-term gain.
Grass First, Always
The system is built on diverse permanent pasture, herbal leys and rotational grazing, with stocking rates set to reflect real-world conditions. Finished steers are typically 90–95% forage-fed on a dry matter basis, with barley used only at the end to achieve market specification.
Cattle are tested at grass because, as Jonathan emphasised, grass-fed systems must prove performance under grass-based conditions.
Environmental management is embedded within the system, with ongoing work around soil health and carbon sequestration forming part of the wider approach to sustainable beef production.
Breeding for Eating Quality
Although eating quality is not yet fully rewarded commercially, Jonathan believes it will become increasingly important.
Using ultrasound scanning technology to measure marbling and ribeye area, Atlantic Angus is accelerating genetic progress for intramuscular fat while maintaining efficiency and fertility. The aim is consistent eating quality from a predominantly forage-based system.
As a founding farm behind the Good Beef Index, Jonathan is also working to connect production practices with the end consumer, linking provenance, performance and product quality through QR-coded packaging.
A Clear Focus
Jonathan’s message was simple but powerful: maintain a tight, fertility-driven system; maximise forage; select the right genetics; and ensure the end product justifies the process.
By joining the dots between genetics, grazing and eating quality, Atlantic Angus demonstrates how a disciplined, data-led approach can deliver both commercial performance and long-term sustainability.
