AGM Minutes 2009
Uploaded July 2009

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Berkshire Pig Breeders Club
held on Sunday 5*** April 2009

The meeting opened at 12 noon.

Present: Paul and. Sarah Ashcroft, Sharon Barnfield, Tracey Bretherton, Grace Bretherton, Christine Coe, Ron Fieldhouse, Mark Horsley, Viki Mills, David Shaw, Jo Wykes-Sneyd.

Apologies were received from Chris Penrice, Chris lmpey, Miranda Squire, Maureen Shaw, David Webb, Nell and Turlough O' Connor, John Johnston, lan and Maggie Todd, Abigail Wrycroft.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and proposed and seconded by Viki Mills and Chris Coe as being a true record.

Matters Arising: There were no matters arising.

Chairman's Report
At the time of last year's AGM a good deal of our discussion centred on the unsatisfactory situation concerning Waitrose and the "Berkshire" pork appearing in their London stores. ln the ensuing months negotiations took place between Waitrose, their supplier BQP, and the BPA, RBST and Berkshire Breeders represented by Christine Coe, David Webb and myself. We were talking to them about support for the semen collection programme and also for rare female bloodlines lines in situ. Although talks were still taking place last Autumn a satisfactory conclusion looked increasingly unlikely.

Events were then overtaken by a much better result from the ruling by LACORS on labelling and product description. You will have seen the details of this were in the latest newsletter. This followed months of lobbying by Richard Lutwyche on behalf of the Gloucester Old spot breed, supported by the BPA and RBST. Up to the time of the LACORS ruling the labelling on packs of "Gloucestershire Old Spot" bacon being sold by Waitrose suggested that the contents were pure GCS.

The situation regarding the Berkshire meat is slightly less clear cut as the product is sold as fresh meat on the butchery counter in Waitrose stores and the accompanying information states that is produced from pigs sired by Berkshire boars. This may well have to change as it doesn't state clearly that it is cross-bred. The other area of concern is the Royal Berkshire Pork company whose products come from Large white and Hampshire pigs from a herd in the County of Berkshire. These are sold in Waitrose, Sainsbury, Budgens etc. Nothing in their promotion suggests that the pigs are from the Berkshire breed but l suspect nonetheless that the name could be misleading.

The Berkshire bloodline survey was once again quite a task to complete. I would like to say a big thank you to those breeders who did their surveys promptly either on line or on paper. l was left with 119 people to chase by phone and did in the end manage to track down all but 4 people. Like all the breeds numbers were down on the previous year and some herds had gone altogether. My main worry from the results and from talking to breeders was the large number of Registered sows whose litters were not being birth notified. The Survey is being published by the BPA in the next newsletter and in the May edition of the Ark. Next year's survey will take place in January and will concentrate entirely on registered stock so the pages of birth notified pigs that looked so daunting on this last survey will not appear again.

The rather shocking news that this year's Royal Show will be the last has just broken. Prior to this we have been working hard to make the Royal more "user friendly"' for pig Exhibitors and those of you of who have had schedules will know that we have succeeded to a degree - with reduced pen fees — and the competitive classes being run over three days. There is an indication that perhaps the livestock element of the Royal may continue in some other format but I am guessing that if this is so it may not be on the usual July dates. I think as far as the Berkshires go we should do all we can to make it a good well supported section of the Show this year so that our current Vice Chairman Dave Shaw has lots of good pigs in front of him. ln addition the breed will have further exposure with the Glebe Farm finishing gilts in one of the Outdoor display pens.

Turning to the future and the British Pig Association. I have represented the Berkshire breed for many years and in addition have chaired the Pedigree Committee for the past 7 years. This year the BPA will be holding elections for Breed representatives and people to serve on various committees, the structure and remits of which are likely to be different from the current ones. There is to be a Job description for Breed Representatives. These people should in turn have an increasing influence and input into how the BPA is run. I do not intend to seek re-election but very much hope that Chris Coe, who is the other Berkshire breed rep, and who has done such sterling work on the Pork committee, will continue. However I hope the BPA will still find things for me to do, and I will continue to use my best efforts to serve the Berkshire breed. I still have two more years to serve on the Council of the RBST where I am at present the only "pig" representative.

Finally I would like to express my thanks for all the hard work done by the Berkshire Club Committee in the past year. Dave and Maureen for running the 150 draw, Jo for all her work on the Website, Sue Fildes for flagging up the Waitrose issue in her monthly column in Pig World and for the monitoring of 8. contributing to the debate on various websites. Tracey Bretherton for taking on the membership secretary, Sharon for keeping us on track, and for organising such a good Champion of Champiions at Newbury in September and Chris for all hard work promoting the breed, the meat, and taking on Waitrose & BQP at the various meetings. Finally our President David, for his time 8. help over Waitrose and for being there when we needed him.
 

Secretary's Report
Sharon showed the rosettes ordered for the qualifiers and asked if were possible to try and encourage people to bring the champions forward by offering prize money for each qualifying round which only be awarded to those that turn up at the final. It was reported that we had 12 pigs forward on the day and The PG Wodehouse Society turned up in full force and also entered into the fun of the day by taking part in the novice handling class. The judge for 2009 will be Guy Kiddy who was chosen by the show it was decided that Sharon would talk with Lucy to ensure we are consulted on future judges.

Bidgiemire pig arcs were asking for a link to our site which was agreed to on the basis that they joined and we had a reciprocal ling back. Tracey Bretherton had put this to them but had not yet heard back.lt was agreed to inform Nick Hunkin that we wished to have breed inspectors at the Ross sale to ensure that any Berkshires entered were of breeding standard.
 

Treasurers Report
Chris reported that the clubs finances are in much better shape and agreed that we could afford to put money up for the qualifying rounds. It was agreed to write down the stock.

Chris has agreed to do the accounting which will save us the fee. And it was agreed to
leave the lottery as we did not have enough take up to make it pay a profit. Chris and Viki will organise the remaining grant money from the RBST to be spent on 2 new popup boards one for each end of the country.
 

Election of Officers

President: Viki Mills nominated byTracy Bretherton and seconded by David Shaw

Chairman: Sharon Barnfield nominated by Tracy Bretherton and seconded by Jo Wykes-Sneyd

Vice Chairman: David Shaw nominated by Chris Coe seconded by Sharon Barnfield

Secretary/membership: Tracey Bretherton nominated by Chris Coe seconded by Mark Horsley

Website Editor: Jo Wykes-Sneyd nominated by Chris Coe seconded By Dave Shaw.

Publicity Officer: Sue Fildes nominated by Jo Wykes Sneyd seconded by Sarah Ascroft.

Treasurer: Chris Coe nominated by Paul Ashcroft seconded by Sue Fildes.

lt was suggested that each region had a Berkshire representative (a knowledgeable club member) who could be a contact point and give general advice to prospective new members/breeders in that particular area and to publish a list of those in the next
newsletter.

Names/regions proposed:
   East of England: Sarah Ashcroft
   Yorkshire & North East: Dave Shaw, Ron Fieldhouse & Mark Horsley
   North West: Tracey Bretherton
   Midlands & West:Sharon Barnfield
   South/South East: Charles Bull
   South West : Sue Fildes,
   Wales: Chris lmpey
   Scotland: Dennis Johnstone

Presentation of trophies
Gillhouse Points Trophy
   Mark Horsley Horbeck Ambassador 62 with 136 points
   Sharon Barnfield Kilcot Ambassador 135 points
   Sarah Ashcroft Barlings Stonebow 76 points
   Mark Horsley Horbeck Mermaid 66 points
   Sharon Barnfield Kilcot Farewell L 62 points
   Sue Fildes Peverall Suzanne 38 points
   Dittisham Lady 31 points
   A Dittisham Lady 26 points

Any other business
There being no other business, the meeting closed at 2.10pm