This report prepared by Teresa Walker.

I attended this conference in the UK from 7th - 15th June 2005.

History:
South Devon Associations across the world have been having a world congress every 3 to 4 years for the last 20 years.
South Devon Cattle do extremely well in Canada. We have a small number of breeders - 21 at present. The bloodlines we have here amongst the 3,000 or so registered females are top quality. Because of Canada's high Health Status breeders across the world are keen to buy our genetics.
Following the Canadian AGM last week this association is now ready to move forward, expand and improve.
Canada is proud to be hosting the next World Congress in 2008.

Purpose:
1: Promote South Devon Cattle globally
2: Discuss international genetics
3: International marketing opportunities - embryos/semen/live cattle
4: Explore international geneology/bloodlines
5: Expand DNA testing globally
6: International evaluation of existing EBV/EPD's
7: Improving Bloodlines
8: Explore Homozygous Poll and Black genes
9: Standardise international record keeping for EBV/EPD performance comparisons
10:Promote awareness between the participating countries - Great Britain, Australia, USA, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.

Diary:
7th - 8th June Travel
1: Attend Royal Cornwall Show - 9th & 10th June.
This show is one of the most prestigious of all Great Britain's Agricultural shows. The South Devon's place of origin, where 80 fine fullblood South Devons were displayed and shown. International visitors were welcomed to England By Princess Alexandra and I was proud to be representing Canada at this event. This popular Royal Lady showed tremendous interest in South Devon Cattle and chatted to me at length about Canada and our Agriculture.
The 2 day event was an excellent opportunity for the delegates to discuss their own countries breeding plans etc. and to create better understandings relating to each other's climates - temperate and political!
The winning South Devon - a Superb Cow and Calf went on to become Champion of the whole Show.
11th-12th June Travel
12th Meet in Stratford
13th - 14th June: Attend conference: Stratford Upon Avon
15th - 16th June Travel home

Agenda:
Click here to see the agenda.

National Reports:
Breed reports were heard from all countries. Most questions relating to import/export status of semen and embryos. Much discussion about polling.

International Opportunities:
Interesting talk from BLG. Again centered around uniformity re genetics.

Developments in Performance Recording:
This was the most interesting and technical talk of the Seminar. Arthur Rickards has been working (in Australia) on performance comparisons with several breeds. He is the Managing Director of the Agricultural Business Research Institute and the International Beef Recording Scheme. All countries agreed South Devons should be encompassed in the plan. See minutes below.

World Evaluations:
Again relating to EBV/EPD's globally - standardization is key.

Cross Breeding:
This session very interesting. This is where I see South devons expanding in Canada. Being so hardy and producing good milk they will be useful in herds where some extra hybrid vigour is needed in the breeding programme.

Global Beef Marketing Issues:
Peter Hardwick from Meat and Livestock Commission (British organization but he is the representative in Europe) showed flow charts of Beef tonnage and how it moves around the world! Biggest export gainer now is Brazil with exports accelerating very fast. There is an anomaly here in that Brazil is classified "3rd World" and so exempt from some WTO rules re export quotas. We agreed to have a South Devon information Booth at Brazil's Beef Expo in 2006 - all countries to participate but mostly Canada and USA. Hope fully we can get South Devons into their expanding Beef Herd.

Directions for Breed Development:
Professor of Genetics talked to us about homozygous and heterozygous genes. How to use genetic information from DNA testing to breed for desired traits and get rid of undesired ones!

Plenary Meeting:
MINUTES OF THE PLENARY SESSION 14TH JUNE 2005

Chairman: Mr Douglas Scott, World President

GLOBAL EVALUATIONS
Australia Supported a feasibility study into a Global Evaluations programme, to be conducted by ABRI within 12 months. Financial contribution available.
New Zealand As above, and would also favour more genetic exchange to improve linkage globally.
USA/Canada Supportive of an early feasibility study. Funding should be apportioned pro rata on the number of registrations in each member country.
UK Supportive of a feasibility study after their 2nd BLUP run in January 2006. The UK might accommodate some out-sourcing of the study work if applicable.

It was therefore agreed that Arthur Rickards from ABRI should obtain a quotation from AGBU for a feasibility study into a Global Evaluations programme. The sharing of costs amongst members would be based on averaging the number of female registrations in each Association over the last 3 full years, ie, in 2002, 2003, and 2004. In the meantime there should be a sharing of information about qualifying bull semen availability.

GLOBAL MARKETING
Australia Emphasised the need for regular updating of national websites, which might incorporate multi-lingual pages. The marketing of genetics should be internationally focussed.
New Zealand Stressed the need for website linkage, and for semen availability in each country to be posted to the websites.
USA/Canada Supported the above, as well as individual's marketing efforts. By-laws applicable in each country for imports of embryos and semen should be publicised by each and to each Association/Society.
UK Recognised a need to improve internal as well as external marketing; to produce consistent quality cattle; to present them well to commercial producers; to improve publicity and material; and to look at the healthy qualities of South Devon beef and the type of fat. Information should be shared globally.

An open discussion followed. Arthur Rickards suggested that a specific website to promote South Devons globally should be built which could be multi-lingual; display the size and availability of the genepool; include testimonials. It was suggested that a promotional team should visit the Expos in Brazil in August 2005, and at Rockhampton, Australia, in May 2006. The latter would have a feature for international genetics. Roy Scragg spoke in favour of targeted marketing to promote common characteristics, such as marbling, worldwide.

It was agreed that:
" data should be collected on what semen was available and to which countries it qualified
" opportunities to promote the Breed globally should be targeted cooperatively, eg, at major international exhibitions
" multi-lingual promotional material should be prepared for such exhibitions

POLLING
Australia Strong interest in expanding the polled genepool. Welfare issues were a serious consideration.
New Zealand Polling was not an important issue, and was left to personal preference. There were no Government controls in place. Herds were mixed with some polled and some horned cattle.
USA/Canada Increasing interest in polled animals, with up to 90% of polled cattle being registered.
UK The polling issue was being pursued steadily.

It was agreed that efforts should be made to increase polling genetics internationally.

BLACK SOUTH DEVONS
Australia, New Zealand, and the USA/Canada have an increasing commercial demand generated by the feed-lot sector for black South Devons, and therefore maintain a Black South Devon register. The UK have no such demand and do not maintain a register for black South Devons. Black South Devons cannot therefore be admitted to the UK Herd Book.

NEXT WORLD CONGRESS AND ELECTION OF PRESIDENT
Consideration was given to the timing of the election of a new President, and it was agreed that the appointment should be made at this Conference. Ned Rees (Aus) proposed, and Richard Harvey (UK) seconded the proposal, that Dar Giess (USA) should be the new World President. All were in favour. Ned Rees (Aus) then proposed, and Margaret Newton (Aus) seconded the proposal, that John Cassidy (Aus) should be World Vice-President. All were in favour.

Teresa Walker, representing Canada, would put a proposal to the Canadian Association's AGM that Canada should host the next World Congress in July 2008, with the support of NASDA. A decision would be made known by the end of September 2005, and if negative, Australia would play host.

The retiring World President, Douglas Scott, was thanked, and the Conference was duly closed.

14th June: Tour Prizewinning Grove Herd of South Devons. Hosted by Douglas Scott, World South Devon President. This was a good opportunity to see offspring of some of the semen currently available for export to Canada.

Problems:
1. Importation requirements for embryo/semen by the various countries' Animal Health Departments is varied, variable and subject to constant change without notice! This is something I intend to put onto the agenda in 2008. I know of one rancher who chose semen 3 times - by the time he had put in his order the semen was no longer available for export. It seems the countries exceed the OIE guidelines for their own disease control but this needs to be looked at.
2. Cash flow problems - particularly Canada. We will need help to participate in Breedplan trials etc because our members are struggling financially. If we are not part of this International standardization programme and the feasibility study I'm afraid we will be left behind.
3. The Canadian Association agreed to host the next conference in 2008, but again we need direction in finding additional funding. Although the participating countries paid their own travel expenses the UK provided conference packages, welcome packages, some lunches, printing etc. and a contribution to the buses - total approx $40,000.
4. There were 20 farmers representing Australia and only 1 from Canada - hopefully we can improve that when we are financially stronger!
5. I would recommend a training day for purebred breeders in Canada - not just South Devons - by a genetic statistician - so we can better understand the benefits of performance recording and geneology and it's uses. Then we'll be in a better position to compete globally.

Teresa Walker (Vice President, Canadian South Devon Association)

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