British beef championed by Devon farmers at celebration
FARMERS in Devon celebrated Great British Beef Week by highlighting the innovative methods producers have implemented on-farm, making British beef some of the most sustainable in the world.
The campaign aims to promote the quality, taste and world-leading credentials of home-produced beef; with consumers and retailers uniting to recognise the work farmers do to ensure the highest animal welfare and environmental standards.
Ladies in Beef has organised Great British Beef Week since it was launched in 2011, with supporters including the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) as well as Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) and Hybu Cig Cymru.
Jilly Greed, who co-founded Ladies in Beef and Great British Week with former NFU president Minette Batters, said she was thrilled by the support the British public have continued to show towards beef farmers across the country.
A fourth generation arable and suckler beef producer, farming more than 600 acres on the river meadows on the Exe and Culm near Exeter, Jilly explained: “The message that has really resonated with the public this year is about sustainability and the grass based story has gone down a storm which is wonderful to see.
“The public have seemed to have really taken to our story of turning grass, which humans cannot eat, into nutrient-dense protein with all the added minerals and iron and trace elements.
“There has been total support from the public, and what that means for the South West is a real competitive advantage in a global arena, having the ability to grow grass the whole year round with mild climate, and I think that’s exciting.”
Cornish NFU member Maria Warne-Elston is one of the latest farmers to join Ladies in Beef and cares for almost 100 cows on her 320-acre farm near Wadebridge.
Maria, who is a qualified vet nurse, said: “I really enjoy the diversity of being a beef farmer – you’re not just raising beef cattle, you’re making connections with them and you know all your animals on a personal level.
“By buying British beef, your beef is going to be more fresh, it doesn’t have the time between going to the port and going onto a ship, it’s going to be at least a day or two fresher than imported beef. We also know how it has been raised – we have some of the highest welfare standards in the world and we really care about our animals.
“Buying British beef means we are reducing food miles, and I love that we are helping to feed the nation really high quality meats as well as caring for our environment.”
Visit www.ladiesinbeef.org. uk for more information.