Export Breakthrough as Aberdeen-Angus Shipped to Switzerland
05/10/06

The export boom in Aberdeen-Angus cattle following the lifting of export restrictions earlier this year is continuing with the shipment this week of 21 heifers and two bulls from five Scottish herds to Switzerland.

The shipment has been arranged by Mrs Sheila Eggleston of Eggs-Port, Hexham, Northumberland, who has exported a number of consignments of Aberdeen-Angus semen to Switzerland in recent years to meet the requirements of Switzerland’s growing quality beef market.

“Aberdeen-Angus is the most numerous breed in the Swiss Beef Cattle Herdbook with more than 3000 cows and plans are in hand to develop the Aberdeen-Angus beef brand in retail shops and restaurants,” said Mrs Eggleston.

One of the Swiss buyers, Daniel Niklaus, of Linderhof Angus, sees a bright future for the Aberdeen-Angus breed in Switzerland.

“The creation of an Aberdeen-Angus beef label is an important milestone in the history of Swiss Angus breeding and will have a positive effect on the demand for Aberdeen-Angus genetics,” said Mr Niklaus-Gerber.

“We are introducing gene marker tests to determine meat tenderness and marbling which will enable breeders to improve the eating quality of beef for the first time in the history of Swiss beef cattle breeding.”

The shipment includes two high performance yearling bulls, Galawater Bold Knight E924 (EBV +30), by Jet Eric U103 of Newcairnie, from Jim Logan, Pirntaton, Fountainhall, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, and Balmachie Euan E010 (EBV +21), by the 11,000gns Idvies stock bull, Eastfield Eddie B080, from John Lascelles, Balmachie, Carnoustie, Angus.

Nine heifers by the 16,000gns Aynho Rossiter Eric B125, Eastfield Eddie B080 and the 28,000gns Jeremy Eric of Bridgefoot have been consigned by F J Fraser and Son, Newton of Idvies, Forfar, Angus; eight heifers by Blelack Lord Hildalgo A234, Tofts Dynamic A177 and Lockerley King Pascall B159, from Playfair Farms, Morebattle Tofts, Kelso, Roxburghshire; and four heifers by Wedderlie Elliot Z082, Kincardine Castle Patriarch Y227 and Dalrene Cruz 11F from Millhill Farms Ltd, Kincardine Castle, Auchterarder, Perthshire. Four of the heifers from Kincardine Castle are in calf to Netherton Figo C244, supreme champion at Perth in February, 2005, when purchased jointly by the Kincardine Castle and Coul herds for the top price of 30,000gns.

The shipment has been completed with a Simmental bull, Dirnanean Spencer, by Starline Nelson, from Finlay McGowan, Incheoch Farms, Alyth, Perthshhire.

Since the lifting of the export ban, Aberdeen-Angus cattle have been exported to Estonia, Romania, Germany and the Republic of Ireland with a further consignment of 50 due to be shipped to Estonia later this month.

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