HISTORY

1982 – 2010     28 years of quality stockmanship and development

·         Belgium breeders imported top Durham Shorthorn cattle from England from 1850 to improve native breed in the Ardennes

·         By 1930 beef type was beginning to show and by 1960 the distinct meat animal seen today had begun to emerge

·         The breed today is a specialist beef / meat producer of large size, prominent double muscling, sloping rump, hidden hips, a straight back and strong fine legs

·         First importation into the UK 1982

·         Pedigree population in 2007 approximately 30,000 bulls and cows

·         At the last count approaching 45% of the UK's beef inseminations are by ‘British Blue’ bulls

·         BCMS Statistics indicate that over 178,000 calves are sired by a British Blue every year.  This makes the British Blue the fifth most influential Beef Breed Society in the UK

·         The late 1990s saw the breed development, in the UK, being specifically recognised, as the “British Type” of Blue. A further step forward in 2007 saw the British Herd Book being promoted, here and overseas, solely as “British Blues,”  the Herd Book name being changed accordingly to The British Blue Cattle Society.

BREED CHARACTERISTICS

·         A large, long-bodied animal with a straight back and sloping rump, hidden hips and very muscular hindquarters, strong legs with a fine bone.

·         Gestation length at 285.6 days for males and 281.6 for females is slightly lower than bovine average.

·         Milk yield of recorded cows 3.400kg at 3.56% fat.

·         Calf birth weight averages 48kg for males and 44kg for females.

·         Bulls on average grow to about 150cm in height and can weigh up to 1,300kg.  400-day weights have been recorded as high as 692kg.

·         Food conversion is a major advantage.  It has been found that British Blue's food conversion is 13% better than other continental breeds.

·         The breed has a very high boning out percentage.  Up to 85% with an excellent yield of top quality / price cuts.  The meat is very lean and has a much lower fat content than other breeds.

„h      The story of the ‘British Blue’ is one of evolution and improvement.  During the second half of the 19th century Shorthorn bulls were exported from the UK to Belgium, to improve the native population, which were primarily of a dairy type.  Between 1920-1950 there was active selection for this dual-purpose type of animal. 1950-1960 saw a move to favour animals with heavier muscling.   As a result of skilful selection the ‘Blue’ as we know it today was born.  Animals of this type were then imported back into the UK in the early 1980s. In this new Millennium, British Blue genetics are playing a major role in shaping the carcase sought after by the modern, efficiency-conscious UK meat trade as is demonstrated by competition results in recent years.

Ø       Twice won the Tesco Best Steak competition, once at the Royal Highland and once at Balmoral Show, Northern Ireland

Ø       Supreme Champion Carcase,  National Primestock Show, Bingley Hall

Ø       2009 – Burke Trophy Reserve Champion at Royal Show

Ø       2009 – Winners of the Beef Competition, the International Beef Group Competition and The Interbreed Junior Beef Group Competition – Great Yorkshire Show

Ø       2009 – East of England Show – Winners of the ‘Beef Quartet’

Ø       Agri-Expo (Carlisle) – Supreme Champion a BB-cross heifer

Ø       Welsh Winter Fair – Supreme Champion & Baby Beef Steer Champion, a BB-cross

Ø       AgriLIVE Smithfield – Reserve Champion a BB-cross

Ø       English Winter Fair – Reserve Champion a BB-cross

„h      Coat colour can be from white through to black, including Blue Roan.

„h      The breed is noted for its quiet temperament and easy handling qualities.

„h      When crossed with extreme dairy type animals, such as Holsteins and Channel Island cattle, the British Blue produces excellent commercial fattening animals which produce higher than average carcase quality with low fat content meat. 

„h      Crossbred calves fetch a premium at market and many champions at recent fatstock shows have been British Blue crosses. 

„h      A Beef Recording service is provided by the global leaders in Genetic Evaluation “Breedplan International”

„h      British Blue - a breed fulfilling the needs of the modern meat trade and the consumer 

The British Blue – Your Natural Choice!