Beef Sustainability in Oxfordshire, UK - Mr. Karl Williams (Europe), from the 2016 Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (GRSB), October 5 - 6, 2016, Banff, Alberta, Canada. More presentations at http://trufflemedia.com/agmedia/conference/2016-global-roundtable-sustainable-beef

1. Beef Sustainability
in Oxfordshire, UK
Karl Williams
FAI Farms:

2. FAI Farm, Oxford, UK
• FAI Farms have operated on 1650 acres (668ha) in Oxfordshire since 2001
• 100 suckler cows (Saler)
• 3 Aberdeen Angus bulls
• Other farming enterprise – 1200 breeding ewes, 2000 laying hens, 300 acres arable land
• Grazing includes 300 acres of permanent pasture on river Thames flood plain.

3. Sustainability at
FAI
Animals fit for their environment,
and an environment fit for the
animals

4. Business Basics
Environmental
• Legislation/regulations
covering water courses,
natural habitats, biodiversity
• Common Agricultural Policy
(CAP) requirements
Ethics
• Legislation/regulation covering
both animal & worker welfare
Economics
• Costs associated with
implementing the above
• CAP income

5. Genetic Selection
• good mothering ability
• easy calving (rolling average <1%
intervention, no caesareans)
• polled genetics (no disbudding or
dehorning required)
• improved temperament/easy-
handling (I’m too old to run fast!)
• hybrid vigour (Saler x Angus)
• cow longevity (replacement rate
<10%)
• suitable for a pasture-based
system (reduced cereal use & no
soy in diet)

6. Herd Health
Detailed veterinary herd health plan
to deliver ‘prevention over cure’
• full vaccination programme
• blood testing to monitor health
status (BVD and Johnes free)
• good biosecurity – closed herd
with quarantine of bought-in bulls
(from high-health herds)
• Reduce, Replace, Refine (3Rs) use
of antibiotics (recording and
analysing our use – but no
benchmarking data available)

7. Rotational grazing
To optimise grass & animal production
per hectare
• improves stock performance
(DLWG)
• well- managed system increases
forage utilisation by 50-75% -
decreased selective grazing and
improved pasture production
• potential to improve soil quality
(increases soil organic matter)

8. Limiting Access to
Waterways
• reduced river bank erosion
• decreased contamination and
nutrient loading of waterways
• protection of riparian areas
• pasture pumps provide a simple
& costs effective way to supply
water to the cattle

9. Is our system sustainable?
Yes:
• Utilising land which is only
able to produce grass
• High health and welfare herd
– limiting antibiotic use
• Low input pasture-based
system (limiting cereal use in
diet and excluded soy)
• Improving pasture and stock
performance
• Protecting natural resources
No:
• Slow finishing times,
contributing to higher GHG
emissions (whilst there is no
recognition of grassland
sequestration)
• Economic benefit - small

10. Barriers To Change…..
• Practical challenges
• Pace of change
• Trade-offs and balancing acts
• Emerging challenges:
- new disease threats, antibiotic resistance, climate change
• Sustainability as a mind-set as opposed to a destination
• The ‘Psychology’ of change

11. Thank you
Karl Williams
Operations Director
FAI Farms, The Field Station, Wytham, Oxford, UK
karl.williams@faifarms.com