Livestock selection experts needed for AHDB academy
© Tim Scrivener Livestock farmers with a keen on eye for selecting live animals at the right specification for slaughter could be interested in a new job role as a trainer.
AHDB Beef & Lamb is recruiting people for their Selection Academy, which will deliver messages on live selection, market demand and consumer needs to farmers.
Increasing the numbers of livestock meeting specification is an important part of the new AHDB strategy, with a target set to increase the number of animals meeting supplier specifications by 2% year on year, reaching 58% for cattle and 58% for sheep by 2020.
See also: Strong store trade kick starts the new year
Producer profitability
Steve Dunkley, knowledge exchange senior manager for AHDB Beef & Lamb, said: “Not meeting target specification is having a significant impact on producer profitability in the beef and sheep industry.
“We’re putting the Selection Academy initiative in place to recruit a team of trainers who can support our work to get more stock in specification.
“We will work with this group to equip them with the skills and resources to deliver our technical messages.
“They will then help us deliver these messages in a live setting to farmers and the supply chain, and spread the wealth of knowledge we have available,” he said.
Assessment days will be taking place in the north and south of England on the week commencing 6 March.
Applicants will be assessed on their skills and knowledge when handling livestock.
Applicants can apply on the AHDB Beef & Lamb website or by emailing brp@ahdb.org.uk.