And here it is the LAST Bi-Weekly of 2019! We have had a busy few weeks here at the Society with Review in full flow, shows and sales have come to an end for the year, last week we had the December council meetings and preparations are in full swing for the upcoming event of the February Bull Sales 2020. Have a look below at all the latest news from in and around the Society over the last 14 days!

News Roundup

CHRISTMAS CLOSURES:

Office closes for Christmas & New Year on Friday 20th of December 2019 at 12pm.

Office re-opens for business as usual on Friday the 3^rd of January 2020 at 9am.

On Tuesday the 26^th of November the Royal Ulster Beef & Lamb Championships were held at the Eikon Exhibition Centre, Balmoral Park. Topping the classes on the day in the cross Aberdeen-Angus section was the Callaghan Family, where they took home 1^st prize in the Aberdeen-Angus cross heifer class, 1^st prize in the Aberdeen-Angus cross steer class, Champion Aberdeen-Angus and Champion Native. The Ulster’s Housewife’s Champion went to Jack Smyth, Reserve Champion Aberdeen-Angus went to Mr Sean O’Kane and Reserve Champion Native went to Shortt & Smyth. For full results and pictures please go to our Show & Sales News Section.

The Royal Welsh Winter Fair took place on the 25th & 26^th of November 2019, where Champion Native Sired Heifer and Reserve Overall Champion Native Sired Crossbred went to Paul & Christine Tippetts’ Angus Sired Heifer Ru Paul and in 2nd place was a Native Sired Champion Steer, from J M & S M Rowlands’ Angus Sired Steer Buster. For full results and pictures please go to our Show & Sales News Section.

The East of England Winter Stock Festival took place on the 29^th – 30^th November 2019, judging on the day was David Thornley. The Overall Supreme Champion Pedigree Calf went to Richard & Carol Rettie’s, Retties Eveline VO45 the 2019 born heifer is by the well-known sire Gretnahouse Blackpot P685 and out of Hillfoots Evelena N252. The Reserve Aberdeen-Angus Breed Champion Pedigree Calf was Brailes Livestock with Brailes Black Beauty VO55 who is by Ducanziemere Editor P112 and out of Cheeklaw Black Bitzy M418. In the Native Baby Beef section, judging on the day was Jason Wareham. The Overall Champion Native Baby Beef Heifer went to Ben Beckitt’s Angus sired heifer, Blue Lagoon. For full results and pictures please go to our Show & Sales News Section.

There was a strong demand for Aberdeen Angus bulls at the society’s Dungannon show and sale on the 3^rd of December, with prices reaching a ceiling of 5,600gns, and 58% of the bulls attracting price tags of 3,000gns and over. Auctioneer Trevor Wylie confirmed that trade was underpinned by dairy and suckler herd owners and resulted in an 83% clearance with 19 lots changing hands to average £3,459 – an increase of £871 on last year. Judging on the day was Libby Clarke, Magheralin. Sale leader at 5,600gns was the much-admired Richhill Major U002 bred by Robin Lamb, and sons Stuart, Ben and Peter, from Richhill, County Armagh. The Reserve Male Champion was Drumhill Darius U685 from Jonathan and Lisa Doyle. In the Female section trade peaked at 2,400gns, paid to Adrian and Graeme Parke, Strabane, for the female champion Coolermoney Erica U854 the 2018 March born heifer. For full results and pictures please go to our Show & Sales News Section.

REVIEW ARTWORK DEADLINE:

The deadline for supplying final artwork of your adverts is TODAY, Friday 13th December 2019.

Artwork should be sent through to our Review Advertising Manager Natalie Cormack: natalie.cormack@btconnect.com any problems just give Natalie a call on 07712 623669 or contact Amy at Pedigree House: amy@aberdeen-angus.co.uk

Reminder for all members that we have a stock for sale section on our website. If you would like something to be posted on this page, please get in touch with the Society office directly via amy@breedplan.co.uk. Please note that for bulls advertised for sale, a minimum price of £2,000 applies in line with Official Society sales requirements. We only publish adverts for pedigree Aberdeen-Angus stock.

To keep up with all other news from the Society as well as all the latest updates from shows, sales and other events, just head over to the appropriate sections on our website.

News & Notices from the CEO

• I am writing this last minute as today we are awaking up to a refreshed political arena where the people have spoken and it would seem that there is a way ahead with Brexit on the horizon.
• This will be just the start but at least we are well prepared for that happening Society wise, as we have been working on that eventuality happening for some time.
• This last fortnight has been dominated by Council & Committee meetings – the preparation, build up, delivery and breakdown is quite a task and I take my hat off to the team at Pedigree House for making it happen.
• Some highlights from that were lengthy discussion and debate on DNA and the best way forward, which kind of dominated the technical meeting, and rightly so.
• Lively debate in Breed Improvements with advertising strategies discussed going forward, publications and show hand out upgrades, and the go ahead to invest in a set of Pull ups for each of the clubs to use at shows to keep the message consistent, wherever we are on display. Open day venue approved for 2020.
• Health  – keeping the pressure on to improve through various channels the health of members herds, with great inputs from Chair Angus Stovold.
• Finance – review of the last year against budget, approval of the new years budget and discussions on expenses policy as well as approval of the accounts draft from the Auditors from last year.
• The Review is in the final stages of the editorial being pulled together and sorted out, we have received a first draft for Review with the document planned for January. There however are several advertisers who don’t seem to have any concept of deadlines for submissions! I am now in a position where, as per last year, printing may be delayed and everyone will be asking why it’s late!
• From the close off at the 31^st October 2019 Angela Cumming has just a month to finish her accounts to prepare them for the Auditors. We have them in the office for four days, fielding any subsequent questions after that. No issues reported and a fantastic job done by Angela.
• The breeding programme has come back again with some amends to be made after the DEFRA lawyers had been through it to check for compliance. Job for next week then a final meeting in Edinburgh in January which hopefully will see it off!
• Good news – the open day venue has been agreed by council and we will be in Yorkshire at JC Lister Farms this year – see the Review for full details.
• Had to drop some outstanding trophies in at Westmoreland show and had a really interesting sit down with Christine Knipe the CEO, and learned about the structure of their society.
• Bit of a shortened report this week as I took a couple of days out just to sort a few bits and pieces out with the family and went to two nativity plays at the Grandkids schools – oh how things have changed!
• The latest figures from BCMS that I have to end of October show us at 55493 Aberdeen Angus passports issued – that’s just 878 behind in the race for number one!

All it leaves me to do is wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2020 and I look forward to the challenges that new year will bring to me, the breed and the brand. We have never been better placed to capitalise on the benefits that working with Aberdeen-Angus genetics can deliver to the beef industry and that will be the focus over the next 6 months.

News & Notices from the Office Manager Laura Stewart

• Following the recent committee and Council meetings, I have been dealing with the follow-up actions that are required along with producing the minutes and action list for Council and each committee.
• Thank you for the nominations received for the UK election of members to Council 2020. As a result of the nominations received, I have prepared a voting paper which is required for the constituency of England & Wales South and this will be with you early January.
• The Drinks Reception and Prize Giving will again take place at Stirling Agricultural Centre on Sunday 2^nd February from 6.00-7.30pm.  Tickets are strictly limited and due to the success of last year’s event it is advisable to book your tickets as soon as possible. Tickets are priced at £10 and are now available by emailing angela@aberdeen-angus.co.uk
• I hope you all have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

News & Notices from Angela Cumming in Accounts

• INTERNET PAYMENTS
  When making payment through the internet banking, please ensure that you quote your MEMBERSHIP NUMBER and SURNAME as a refence. This ensures that your payment is allocated to the correct account.
• RECEIVING SOCIETY INVOICES BY EMAIL
  In order to try and save on postage costs we would like to send our invoices by email. If you have not already done so, can you please provide us with your details.
• I hope you all have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New year!

News & Notices from the Registrations Department

• Merry Christmas from Caroline, Fiona and Yvonne – we will back behind our desks and raring to go on Friday 3 January 2020!!

News & Notices from the Pedigree Cattle Services Department

• With cows coming inside for the winter months, please remember to submit your calves weaning weights and mature cow weights. If you require any up to date weigh sheets, then please contact the office: 01738 622478
• Preparations are well underway for the Stirling February 2020 bull sales with weightings and scanning data coming in. Too have up to date figures in the bull sale catalogue the run is now passed. The next run will be uplifted on Thursday the 9^th of January 2020, these updated figures from the January run will show on your bulls/heifers EBV card at the time of sale.
• From all the team at PCS we hope you have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

News & Notices from YDP

• The YDP Senior Conference 2020 will be on the 21^st-23^rd February, based around the Warwickshire area. To book your place email ydp@aberdeen-angus.co.uk. More details will follow in the New Year.
• Well done to all the Regional Co-ordinators for meeting the deadlines and arranging all their workshop dates and venues for 2020, these will be in the Review, so look out for them and book your place; download the Registration form available from the Angus Society website and send to your Regional Co-Ordinator. The first one will be on 28^th March 2020 at Owen Tunney’s Morpheus Herd, Manor Farm, Cuddington Lane, Cuddington, Cheshire CW8 2TE.  To book your place on this workshop, send your Registration Form to ydpnorth@aberdeen-angus.co.uk.
• World Forum 2021 Teams will be selected through 2020, so look out for updates on how to apply on our Facebook page and website.
• Date for the 2020 YDP Final will be Friday 25^th – 27^th September at Westerton Farm, Farm Road, Cowie, Stirling
• Thank you to all our hosts, trainers and helpers who have made it possible to continue to hold our workshops, we look forward to seeing many young people aged between 8 -24 years attend YDP Workshops held throughout the UK and Ireland. They are open to any young person with a passion for cattle and agriculture, from any breed, college or school.  Bring a friend along and we will make your experience a fun and educational day. Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to everyone.

Merchandise

With the chilly mornings and colder nights, wrap up warm with one of our Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society wool scarves for £25.00. Keeping you warm and cosy as we now enter the colder weather months.
You can purchase by emailing Yvonne at: Yvonne@aberdeen-angus.co.uk, who can deal with and dispatch your orders for all our merchandise. You can pay over the phone by card or simply add it to your next invoice. Full range of merchandise available to view online here.

From all at the Society, have a Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year.