Charlie Maclaren Joins NBA Board

Industry Expert brings Science Focus to the Beef Industry

The National Beef Association [NBA] has just announced the appointment to its Board of commercial expert in animal nutrition and management Charlie Maclaren. Based in Dumfries in the Borders, he owns and runs MVT Scotland, a specialist animal health company with a science-based focus on minerals, vitamins.

Charlie joined the NBA many years ago, and was one of its first members with a science-based background. His role on the Board will be to look at the beef industry from a commercial perspective rather than from that of the hands-on farmer.

He has always been passionate about sustainable agriculture and is totally committed to working with both commercial and pedigree breeders for the long term future of the industry. Health and longevity of livestock builds to a profitable farming business and sustainable farming is very much at the heart of this.

The long term aim of Charlie’s 3 year term is to work with the pharmaceutical industry and with specialist research organisations such as the Moredun Institute and the Royal Dick to improve health within the British Cattle Industry. On behalf of the NBA he will ensure that members are supplied with current and relevant information about the many disease challenges that face the industry.

Commenting on his appointment to the NBA Board he said:

“I was invited to join the Board, and felt both honoured and cautious as to whether  I would bring enough experience to the table to help move the beef industry forward. “

“ I believe that my initial focus will be to promote the NBA’s main aims, to, identify and promote highest possible levels of best practice throughout the production chain, achieve a return that allows quality welfare and standards in the chain to rise and to raise cattle health standards in the UK.”

“In terms of managing health issues it is all about information and knowledge transfer. We want farmers to have the real facts about the many diseases and parasites affecting the cattle industry such as TB, BVD, Liver Fluke and Cryptosporidium.  So our task as the representative body for the cattle industry is to gather the information,  make sure that the pharmaceutical people agree with the information and then ensure that the farmers are given the correct facts about the diseases and how they can be prevented or dealt with. 

The National Beef Association is the voice of the British Beef Industry and Chris Mallon Chief Executive tells us why this is an important appointment at the current time:

“One of our key aims is raise cattle health standards in the UK and as Charlie is an acknowledged industry expert whose knowledge is respected and who’s voice will be listened to. So we are delighted that he has accepted the invitation to join the Board as we know that he will be hugely instrumental in helping us achieve this.