Top UK innovation award for supplier to Hannan Meats
A farm manager of an estate in Northern Ireland which provides beef to one of the UK's most successful meat processors has won a coveted award in this year's British Farming Awards.
Bryan Wilson, farm manager at Glenarm Estate in county Antrim, has been named Beef Innovator of the Year in the UK awards. Mr Wilson has been instrumental in turning the beef enterprise around. Beef produced on the farm goes to Hannan Meats of Moira, county Antrim, a multi-award-winning producer of Glenarm meats aged in the world's biggest complex of Himalayan salt chambers.
Mr Wilson decided to switch from intensive farming to a lower input organic model, introducing a finishing enterprise and adding value by the development of a high quality brand, Glenarm Shorthorn, with Peter Hannan of Hannan Meats. The beef has won a string of UK Great Taste Awards including the supreme title in 2015/16.
Beef Shorthorn was the breed of choice as Bryan found them to be both maternal for herd replacement but also can be economically finished to produce marbled meat of the highest quality and taste.
Beef Shorthorn genetics were introduced and the continental cows upgraded enabling a closed herd to be maintained.
The remote location of the estate meant opening a farm shop was not an option nor were there any in-house butchery or meat processing skills so a marketing partnership was formed with Hannan Meats.
The Glenarm brand was established and beef is now supplied to leading chefs and restaurants including Mark Hix in London and Terry Laybourne in Newcastle. The meat is also sold exclusively in London by Fortnum and Mason.
Demand for Glenarm beef quickly outstripped supply so a producer group for finishers has been set up, enabling others within the region to benefit by having a premium outlet for their product.
In 2016, 70 members produced 1,000 cattle with growth approximately 100 cattle year-on-year.
All the producers have to meet a strict criteria and cattle are assessed pre-slaughter by the scheme's co-ordinator to ensure the animal is of sufficient quality to command the premium. Once finished the beef is dry aged for a minimum of 28 days.
The new lower input system has bought huge benefits to Glenarm Estate.
Using a native breed has enabled them to reduce costs, improve performance and add value.
With an expanding market for a niche product and by dealing directly with the customer Bryan believes the scheme can be grown much further and attract more farmers giving them some security in uncertain times.
The British Farming Awards, now in its fifth year, took place in the National Conference Centre in Birmingham and was supported by Morrisons.
Recognising the hard work, innovation and determination of farming, the awards showcase the achievements of farmers working within the UK agricultural industry.
Organised by Briefing Media Agriculture, parent company to Farmers Guardian, Arable Farming and Dairy Farmer, there were 15 categories in total. All recognising farming's core sectors - arable, beef, sheep, dairy and machinery - as well as acknowledging the vast array of farm diversifications emerging as farmers add value to their businesses.