OVER 70 overseas visitors were in Skipton yesterday for Beef Expo 2007, writes Ewan Pate.

Last year, when the same event was held at Carlisle, they were window-shopping, but now many of them qualify as well-established customers.

Over 3000 pedigree cattle have been exported from the UK since the export ban was lifted in May 2006, mostly maiden and in-calf heifers

A conservative estimate puts the value of the trade so far at more than £3 million.

The visitors yesterday came from many countries, including Australia, Nigeria, Turkey and Ghana.

Nearer neighbours France, Belgium, Germany and the Republic of Ireland were there, but the really significant buyers were from the new EU states to the east.

No country has been more important than Poland and no breed has benefited more than the Limousin.

Breed society chief executive Iain Kerr reported that over 300 heifers have been sold to that country already in 2007.

“Demand for beef in Poland has increased considerably and they are also targeting the lucrative Italian market with its demand for a lean 350 kilogramme carcase,” he said.

“Production in Poland is relatively low-cost, with most herds out-wintered in large fields with sandy soils.

“Limousins account for 40% of pedigree registrations in Poland and a whopping 84% of artificial inseminations.”

Answering fears that such an outflow of pedigree stock would adversely run down the UK herd, Mr Kerr said, “There are 25,000 pure Limousin cows in the UK, so we can cope.

“We are competing in Poland with the French, who had the market to themselves during the export ban.”

Northern Ireland breeders Crawford Brothers, from Maguiresbridge, County Fermanagh, have taken the supply of Limousins to export markets one stage further.

They can now supply female-sexed semen from two highly-rated French-born bulls, Sauvignon and Vigot.

Supplying semen which should result in over 90% female progeny is a major attraction to Eastern European countries building up breeding herds using EU support.

Although unwilling to disclose the value of this latest business, Raymond Crawford said, “There is a huge demand.

“I spoke recently to a Polish buyer who said he could place 50 Limousin heifers every week.”

Sauvignon has recently been successfully shown in Paris, where competing against 500 animals he was male breed champion, carcase animal and best European Limousin bull.

It would be a mistake, however, to think that the Limousins are having it all their own way.

Ron McHattie, chief executive of the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society, reported sales of 600 heifers and a limited number of bulls to a number of destinations, including Switzerland and very recently Portugal and the Azores.

Eastern European demand has been strongest from Estonia and Latvia.

All markets require the highest health status.

It will be interesting to see just how the export market for pedigree genetics has developed by the time of the next Beef Expo, which will be held next year at United Auctions’ Perth Market, on May 20 and 21.