New DVD Highlights Innovative Beef Value Chain Systems

Beef System in the UK Examined for Canada

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

The Value Chain Management Center (VCMC) based in Guelph, Ontario and the Ontario Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) partnered-up to create a case study DVD  to put a spotlight on two innovative value chain systems pertaining to the beef industry in the UK. The two organizations just announced the release of the DVD and it’s available for purchase through the VCMC and the OCA. The OCA is a grassroots organization that provides a voice for Ontario’s beef producers advocating for their needs and the VCMC is Canada’s only organization who is dedicated to researching value chain issues in the agriculture industry.

The DVD project was conducted because the UK beef industry shares a lot of similarities to Canada and the two organizations wanted to demonstrate how UK beef producers were using innovation management techniques to remain completive even during hardships. The DVD offers some insights on how the Canadian industry can capitalize on ideas presented in the UK beef management models and apply it domestically to help beef farmers improve competitiveness.

“I wish that I had seen these initiatives 10 years ago. They illustrate approaches that our beef industry could adopt to improve its competitiveness and profitability” says Dan Darling, President of the OCA.

The DVD highlights a series of factors, including food safety events such as BSC, the evolution of government support programs and industry consolidation are helping shape the UK beef industry throughout the different stages in the food chain system.

The first case study involves Blade Farming and McDonald beef operations, providing unique examples of how to measure the determinants of performance and feeding quality inputs from conception throughout the system to provide a high quality product for consumers to enjoy. The second case study examines two retailers Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC and the Beef Improvement Group.