More than 266,000 Aberdeen-Angus sired calves were registered with the British Cattle Movement Service in 2012, an increase of more than 3% on the year before, reaffirming the breed’s position as the most popular native beef breed sire in the UK and the second most popular beef breed sire.

Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society chief executive Ron McHattie says that when this increase is set against a declining national herd it is a remarkable achievement for the breed and reflects the commercial demand for Aberdeen-Angus sired cattle from processors and consumers alike.

“It is testament to the breed’s ability to attain premium prices in both the prime ring and the store ring and is just reward for the hard work done by UK Aberdeen-Angus breeders to produce bulls suited to the demands of the modern beef industry.”

This news follows hot on the heels of a successful spring show and sale at Stirling on Tuesday (6 February), which saw the breed set a new record average of £5182 for 103 bulls sold.

“Advancements in the use of estimated breeding values, coupled with the renowned easy calving and easier care attributes of the Aberdeen-Angus breed have led to large numbers of commercial suckler farmers switching to the breed in recent years,” adds Mr McHattie.

Tellingly, at a time when suckler cow numbers are falling the Aberdeen-Angus is one of only two mainstream beef breeds to see a rise in BCMS calf registrations, with the only other breed to see a rise also a native breed with a premium marketing scheme in place.

The latest rise is in addition to a 6% increase seen in Aberdeen-Angus sired calf registrations in 2011, says Mr McHattie. “The Aberdeen-Angus breed has firmly cemented itself as the second most popular beef breed sire in the UK and this looks set to continue further as increasing numbers of retailers look to capitalise on the exceptionally high quality of beef in the coming years.”

Commercial farmers are being drawn to the Aberdeen-Angus breed both as a result of premium prices, but also its ability to finish on forage-based diets and to thrive in all parts of the UK, explained Mr McHattie. “As beef farmers further scrutinise costs they are seeking out cattle which require less concentrate feeding and which can maximise productivity from lower inputs. The Aberdeen-Angus fits the bill perfectly, both as a terminal sire and as a suckler cow.”

TABLE
Major beef breed registrations in 2011 and 2012

	2011	2012	% change
Aberdeen-Angus	257,962	266,180	+3.1%
Beef Shorthorn	14,258	16,132	+13.1%
British Blue	180,643	186,282	+3.1%
Charolais	251,881	242,433	-3.75%
Limousin	560,038	536,197	-4.25%
Simmental	182,525	173,573	-4.9%

Fonte: The Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society