Fully integrated Beef supply chain showcased at NBA Beef Expo farm tours

John Bell, owner of Berrystock Feeds and Berryfields Farm is preparing to welcome 250 farmers to his farm as part of this year’s National Beef Association’s Beef Expo farm tours. The farm and feed plant located near Daventry is one of three farm visits planned for the prestigious NBA Beef Expo farm tours held on Wednesday 17th May and will be showcasing the benefits of a fully integrated beef supply chain. John is a great advocate of co-operation and has been a key player in founding several integrated supply chains over his 35 years within the beef industry. The farm tour will allow visitors to follow through the complete supply chain from the initial calf sourcing, feeding, to finally selling directly to the processor and the feedback system that runs throughout the chain.

Berryfields Farm’s impressive AFU finishes approximately 2000 head of dairy bred cattle per year to supply into Dunbia, which feeds into the Co-op and Lidl. Dairy bred calves are supplied on contract through Meadow Quality and enter the unit at 16 weeks weighing between 120-140kg. John rears the calves using specifically formulated Berrystock feeds to finish the animals at of 600kg LW. The system relies on quality calves and efficient feeds to maximise FCR and profits.

Berrystock Feeds have been manufacturing quality cattle and sheep feeds for over 30 years and currently produce over 45,000 – 50,000 tonnes a year, 50% of which is used for Johns own cattle enterprises. All feeds are UFAS accredited, using ruminant kind ingredients and are developed through on-farm feeding trials which monitor feed efficiency and the results of which are used to constantly improve the rations. Recently Berryfields has incorporated Agriking enzymes into their rations to help further enhance digestibility and nutrient metabolism. The business puts a large emphasis on its use of homegrown grain, obtained from Berryfield Farm and other local farmers, and runs a successful barley/wheat bank system to help reduce risk.

Meadow Quality will be presenting on the tour day alongside John Bell to explain the benefits of an integrated supply chain for all parties involved, and to highlight how this system is suited to new entrants wishing to become involved within the beef sector.

Speaking about the integrated system, John said “Farmers are always wary of cooperation, yet through working together in schemes such as this we are giving more power to the producer. The business system also champions consistency, buying in uniform calves, feeding high quality accredited feed to produce uniform carcases with high meat quality, which is required to ensure consumer satisfaction. The UK is not yet self-sufficient in beef and I feel that there is great potential to expand beef output to supply our strong and growing home market. This feeding system is a model that I feel can be used to fulfil this gap in the market, using efficient feeds to produce uniform quality carcasses and produce and maintain a satisfactory margin for the producer. I am pleased to welcome this year’s NBA Beef Expo farm tour visitors to view our system at Berryfield and hope to inspire them with the benefits our efficient feeds and business model has to offer to their own farming enterprise.”

Commenting on the farm tour, Chris Mallon, Chief Executive of the NBA, stated “It is fantastic to be able to take beef farmers to view such an innovative and vast beef enterprise. John’ business is a fantastic example of how the beef supply chain can be united, producing cattle to the highest standards of production and welfare to meet the consumers’ needs for quality, quantity and continuity of supply. A continually developing beef unit which champions efficiency and producing beef for the masses.”

Tickets for the farm tours are priced at £30 per person and includes three farm visits, transport to and from the NAEC, Stoneleigh and hot beef lunch. A combined ticket for the Farm Tours and 2017 NBA Beef Expo for NBA members is £35, and for non NBA members is £40. Bookings can be made online, under the visitor section, or by contacting the NBA Head Office on 01434 601005.

Notes to Editor’s:
Organised by the National Beef Association, the Beef Expo is a key date in the Beef industry calendar.
Hosted by the NBA this year at Stoneleigh’s NAEC on the 18th May the Expo will include The Commercial Cattle Show, the South Devons Championships, over 100 industry and educational trade stands, seminars, demonstrations, farm tours (17th May), beef industry dinner (17th May) and the Future Beef Farmer Challenge.
Trade stand applications, visitor tickets, farm tour tickets, industry dinner tickets and cattle show entry forms and future beef farmer entry forms are available online on the NBA Beef Expo website, www.beefexpo.co.uk, where further detailed information about the event can also be found. 

CONTACT INFORMATION
For all Media and PR enquiries about Beef Expo please contact Tom Kinroy, Marketing and PR Manager Tel: 07738 229752 Email: [email protected] 
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