The livestock industry plays a crucial role in sustainable agriculture, with the United Kingdom leading the way in livestock innovations. Recently, a delegation of experts from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan visited Malvern, Worcestershire, to explore the UK’s advanced farming practices, diverse livestock breeds, and Agri-Tech solutions. Their goal was to incorporate these valuable insights into their local agricultural systems, enhancing efficiency, sustainability, and production.
Delegates and Participants
This knowledge-exchange mission brought together leading figures in the livestock sector from different Central Asian countries. These included Mrs. Meruyert Kairbekova from the British Embassy Astana in Kazakhstan, Dr. Zhanat Kassenov, a breeding program expert from Kazakhstan’s Institute of Sheep Breeding, and Mr. Orazgeldi Rakhmanov from Turkmenistan’s State Association of Livestock and Poultry Industry. These delegates were not only well-versed in the livestock industry but also eager to learn about new techniques that could enhance their local practices.
Focus of the Visit
The primary focus of the visit was to showcase how the UK’s Agri-Tech solutions could enhance livestock breeding, improve farming practices, and conserve resources. Specifically, the delegates were interested in learning how UK technology could help overcome the challenges they face, such as water scarcity, land degradation, and improving the quality of livestock breeds. The UK’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and best practices made this an ideal learning opportunity for the delegates.
July 29th: Farm Visits in Malvern
The first day of the tour kicked off with a visit to Risbury Court Plantation, a farm that raises Oxford cattle and Romney Cross sheep. The emphasis here was on promoting soil health and solar agriculture while improving grass and pasture conditions. Richard Thomas, the farm owner, explained his systematic approach to managing the land, which included minimizing the use of chemicals to raise healthier livestock. This demonstration showed the delegates how sustainable farming can yield superior results both in terms of livestock quality and environmental preservation.
Cawley Farm Tour
Next, the delegation visited Cawley Farm, located within the National Trust territory. This farm is notable for its focus on sheep breeding, particularly pet sheep that require minimal shearing. Because the farm is part of the National Trust Estate, certain limitations are placed on farming activities, encouraging innovative solutions for sustainable practices. The farm’s emphasis on maintaining quality carcasses and natural breeding techniques piqued the interest of the visiting experts.
The NSA Dinner
The day concluded with the National Sheep Association (NSA) Dinner, where delegates met UK TAG and other business partners. This event offered a platform for informal discussions on potential funding opportunities and collaborative projects. The dinner, featuring a menu showcasing British sheep meat, highlighted the importance of global partnerships in advancing the livestock industry.
July 30th: The National Sheep Event
On the second day, the delegates attended the National Sheep Event. This prestigious event focused on innovative livestock species, expert breeding programs, and modern farming techniques. Various trade associations, including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), held discussions on the future of livestock management. For the delegation, it was a chance to explore advanced farming technologies that could be implemented in their home countries.
Mongolian Delegates’ Interests
Mongolia’s delegates, including Mrs. Zolzaya Luvsansharav, showed a particular interest in the UK’s livestock monitoring and naming systems. They were keen to explore how these systems could be adapted to monitor livestock health and productivity more effectively in Mongolia.
Kazakhstan’s Focus on Breeding
Kazakhstan’s representatives, particularly Dr. Zhanat Kassenov, were focused on breeding innovations that could improve meat quality. The discussions centered on the role of bioinformatics in breeding programs and the potential for future collaborative projects between Kazakhstan and the UK.
July 31st: Discussions in Shropshire
The third day of the visit saw the delegation traveling to Shropshire, where they visited Farmgene. Here, they were introduced to the UK’s cutting-edge practices in artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and genetic research. These techniques impressed the delegates, offering them new insights into how they could enhance livestock breeding in their home countries.
Farmgene Breeding Programs
The delegates were particularly impressed by the technological advancements at Harper Adams University, where mechanical milking and specialized research diets are employed. These methods highlighted how research-based solutions could lead to better livestock management and productivity.
Cogent’s Cattle Genetics Innovations
Discussions with Cogent, a leader in cattle genetics, provided additional insights into how breeding programs could be tailored for different environments. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan were both interested in collaborating with Cogent to bring these innovations to their local farming systems.
August 1st: The Burwarton Show
The final major event of the tour was the Burwarton Show, an agricultural showcase featuring livestock, dressage, machinery, and equipment. The delegates were amazed by the diversity of breeds and farming tools on display. The event provided them with new ideas for improving their livestock industries, including the adoption of British breeds and technology.
August 2nd: Final Discussions
The visit concluded with a wash-up meeting at the hotel, where representatives from the AHDB and UKECP (UK Export Certification Partnership) discussed how the UK could assist the delegates’ nations in improving their livestock sectors. The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore future collaborative projects and potential export agreements.
Conclusion
The delegation’s visit to Malvern and other regions in the UK was a resounding success. They gained valuable insights into advanced livestock breeding, sustainable farming practices, and cutting-edge Agri-Tech solutions. The relationships forged during this visit are expected to lead to long-term collaborations, benefiting not only the UK but also the livestock industries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan.
The livestock industry has become a pivotal sector in sustainable agriculture, and the United Kingdom has long been at the forefront of innovations in this field. A delegation of experts from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan visited Malvern, Worcestershire, with a specific focus on learning about the UK’s farming practices, livestock breeds, and Agri-Tech solutions. The delegation aimed to integrate these insights into their native agricultural systems to boost efficiency, sustainability, and production.
Delegates and Participants
This knowledge-exchange mission brought together leading figures in the livestock sector from different Central Asian countries. These included Mrs. Meruyert Kairbekova from the British Embassy Astana in Kazakhstan, Dr. Zhanat Kassenov, a breeding program expert from Kazakhstan’s Institute of Sheep Breeding, and Mr. Orazgeldi Rakhmanov from Turkmenistan’s State Association of Livestock and Poultry Industry. These delegates were not only well-versed in the livestock industry but also eager to learn about new techniques that could enhance their local practices.
Focus of the Visit
The primary focus of the visit was to showcase how the UK’s Agri-Tech solutions could enhance livestock breeding, improve farming practices, and conserve resources. Specifically, the delegates were interested in learning how UK technology could help overcome the challenges they face, such as water scarcity, land degradation, and improving the quality of livestock breeds. The UK’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, and best practices made this an ideal learning opportunity for the delegates.
July 29th: Farm Visits in Malvern
The first day of the tour kicked off with a visit to Risbury Court Plantation, a farm that raises Oxford cattle and Romney Cross sheep. The emphasis here was on promoting soil health and solar agriculture while improving grass and pasture conditions. Richard Thomas, the farm owner, explained his systematic approach to managing the land, which included minimizing the use of chemicals to raise healthier livestock. This demonstration showed the delegates how sustainable farming can yield superior results both in terms of livestock quality and environmental preservation.
Cawley Farm Tour
Next, the delegation visited Cawley Farm, located within the National Trust territory. This farm is notable for its focus on sheep breeding, particularly pet sheep that require minimal shearing. Because the farm is part of the National Trust Estate, certain limitations are placed on farming activities, encouraging innovative solutions for sustainable practices. The farm’s emphasis on maintaining quality carcasses and natural breeding techniques piqued the interest of the visiting experts.
The NSA Dinner
The day concluded with the National Sheep Association (NSA) Dinner, where delegates met UK TAG and other business partners. This event offered a platform for informal discussions on potential funding opportunities and collaborative projects. The dinner, featuring a menu showcasing British sheep meat, highlighted the importance of global partnerships in advancing the livestock industry.
July 30th: The National Sheep Event
On the second day, the delegates attended the National Sheep Event. This prestigious event focused on innovative livestock species, expert breeding programs, and modern farming techniques. Various trade associations, including the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), held discussions on the future of livestock management. For the delegation, it was a chance to explore advanced farming technologies that could be implemented in their home countries.
Mongolian Delegates’ Interests
Mongolia’s delegates, including Mrs. Zolzaya Luvsansharav, showed a particular interest in the UK’s livestock monitoring and naming systems. They were keen to explore how these systems could be adapted to monitor livestock health and productivity more effectively in Mongolia.
Kazakhstan’s Focus on Breeding
Kazakhstan’s representatives, particularly Dr. Zhanat Kassenov, were focused on breeding innovations that could improve meat quality. The discussions centered on the role of bioinformatics in breeding programs and the potential for future collaborative projects between Kazakhstan and the UK.
July 31st: Discussions in Shropshire
The third day of the visit saw the delegation traveling to Shropshire, where they visited Farmgene. Here, they were introduced to the UK’s cutting-edge practices in artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and genetic research. These techniques impressed the delegates, offering them new insights into how they could enhance livestock breeding in their home countries.
Farmgene Breeding Programs
The delegates were particularly impressed by the technological advancements at Harper Adams University, where mechanical milking and specialized research diets are employed. These methods highlighted how research-based solutions could lead to better livestock management and productivity.
Cogent’s Cattle Genetics Innovations
Discussions with Cogent, a leader in cattle genetics, provided additional insights into how breeding programs could be tailored for different environments. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan were both interested in collaborating with Cogent to bring these innovations to their local farming systems.
August 1st: The Burwarton Show
The final major event of the tour was the Burwarton Show, an agricultural showcase featuring livestock, dressage, machinery, and equipment. The delegates were amazed by the diversity of breeds and farming tools on display. The event provided them with new ideas for improving their livestock industries, including the adoption of British breeds and technology.
August 2nd: Final Discussions
The visit concluded with a wash-up meeting at the hotel, where representatives from the AHDB and UKECP (UK Export Certification Partnership) discussed how the UK could assist the delegates’ nations in improving their livestock sectors. The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore future collaborative projects and potential export agreements.
Conclusion
The delegation’s visit to Malvern and other regions in the UK was a resounding success. They gained valuable insights into advanced livestock breeding, sustainable farming practices, and cutting-edge Agri-Tech solutions. The relationships forged during this visit are expected to lead to long-term collaborations, benefiting not only the UK but also the livestock industries of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan.
