The 2026 British Cattle Breeders Conference returns to Telford from 19-21 January and will be shining a spotlight on how research can be successfully put into practice on farm.
BCBC chair Dr Alex Brown says this year’s theme, ‘Joining the Dots: From Blue Skies to Green Fields’, which was inspired by a growing frustration that valuable research often fails to reach the farmgate.
This year’s conference will feature more interactive sessions than ever before, kick starting on Monday with an interactive breeding workshop for vets and farmers – a first for BCBC. This practical session will equip attendees with the knowledge and confidence to discuss genetic improvement in dairy and beef cattle and build strong farm breeding plans.
Tuesday’s Beef Day will open bringing voices together from across the supply chain to explore how innovation travels from research labs to real-world impact, with Henry Blain, Head of Livestock at Sainsburys, Sarah Haire, Head of Agriculture at Dunbia and Scott Donaldson, Group Director and Livestock Auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington.
A farmer session with speakers Jonathan Chapman the Farmers Weekly Beef Farmer of the Year & Environmental Champion of the Year 2025, Andy Rumming farmer and butcher, and John Elliot of Rawburn Angus will share how they spot promising ideas, turn them into actions, and adapt to their own operations.
Tuesday’s panel session after lunch will see a high-profile panel of farmers, funders and academics take to the stage to tackle the question of what’s hindering research from being adopted on farms – and how those barriers can be overcome.
Following this discussion to close beef day, Dr Ana Granados Chapatte, General Manager ICAR will explore collaboration beyond borders and the role of European and international organisations and Dr Craig Lewis, Genetic Services Manager at the Pig Improvement Company (PIC), and this year’s Sir John Hammond Award recipient, will explore why innovation only matters when it’s applied at farm level.
“Whatever your role in the value chain, from researcher to farmer, we hope you will leave the conference with the intention of putting innovation into action,” says Alex.
View the full programme and book online at www.cattlebreeders.org.uk/conference
