Summer 2015

Inside this issue...

• ‘MinisterOnTheMove’ComesToFaneValley

• GroupLaunchCorporateResponsibilityCommittee

• FaneValleyStoresSummerProductSpecialOffers

• MilkQualityBonusesInGrazingDairyCows

• TopUKPoultryAwardForLindenFoods&Lidl

• WhitesWinPrestigiousUlsterGrocerAccolade

• UlsterRugbyGetActiveWithWhitesActiv-Oat

• LifeAtTheCoalFace-ADairyProducerProfile

• ShowSeasonChampions

• StaffChallengeRaisesFundsForLocalCharity

• ‘YoungFarmer’AwardForLindenFoodsProducer

Pictured: (L-R)BrendaMorgan(BritishAirways);MinisterDannyKennedy;TrevorLockhart(FaneValley);StephenMcCully(NIChamber)andCaitrionaToner(AmericanAirlines).

Fane Valley Dairies hosted a visit from the Minister for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA, as part of an event held by Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Theeventformedpartof‘MinisterontheMove’–abusinessledinitiativebyNIChamberinpartnershipwithBritishAirwaysandAmericanAirlineswhichgivesbusinessestheopportunitytospeakdirectlywithMinistersfromtheNIExecutiveatanumberoflocationsacrosstheprovince.

FaneValleyChiefExecutiveTrevorLockhartprovidedanoverviewofthegrowthjourneyofthefarmerownedco-op,fromitsestablishmentin1903tobeingNorthernIreland’slargestagriculturalco-operative.

Withaturnoverof£553m,thecompanyemploys2,200peopleacross27sitesinNorthernIreland,theRepublicofIreland,EnglandandBelgium.MrLockharthighlightedthecriticalsuccessfactorsinthegrowthofthebusinesstobethedevelopmentofawinningstrategy,investmentinpeopleandthecreationofastrongbusinessimprovementculture.

Following the event, Stephen McCully, President of NI Chamber, said:“Today’seventenabledourmemberstoheartheinspirationaljourneyofFaneValleyandhowthecompanyhasgrowntobecomesuchasuccessfullocalexportingcompany.”

“ItalsoprovidedbusinesseswithadirectopportunitytoengagewiththeMinisterforRegionalDevelopmentonanumberofissuesimpactingontheirbusiness.”

Fane Valley Welcomes Minister For Regional Development and Special Guests To Banbridge

‘Minister On The Move’ Comes To Fane Valley

Fane Valley Group have launched a new Corporate Responsibility Steering Committee to design and implement a strategy for responsible business practices in a more sustainable way, whilst supporting their local community.

FaneValleyanditsgroupofcompaniesareawareofthesignificantdifferenceeachoftheirbusinessescanmakeandtheywillendeavourtooperatediligentlyinordertodoso.

TheaimwillbetosettargetsacrosstheirmainpillarsofAgriculture,Environment,Customers,andColleagues/Communitiestodriveforwardtheircommitmenttosustainability.Thisrangesfromenergyreductiontoapprenticeshipschemes,fromonfarmcarbonfootprintstosaltreduction,protectingandenhancingbiodiversityandbuildingstrongrelationshipswiththelocalschools,directsupplychainandoperatinginanenvironmentwhereallemployeesaretobetreatedwithdignity,respectandthehealthandwell-beingofeachmemberofstaffisextremelyimportanttothebusiness.

FaneValleyaimstoexertstronglevelsofcontrolonthesignificantareasofthe

businessesultimatelydrivingreductionsincarbonandwaterfootprintsandworkingasefficientlyaspossible,whilepromotingrecyclingandwastemanagementacrossallsitestolessentheimpactonournaturalresources.

Clare Guinness – Fane Valley Director of Corporate Services said:“FaneValleyGroupiscommittedtomaximisingthepositiveimpactsofourbusinesseseconomically,environmentallyandinthecommunitiesinwhichweoperate.OurGroupCRsteeringcommitteewillberesponsibleforleadingandimplementingnewgroupwideinitiativeswhichwillenhanceabroadrangeofstakeholderrelationships.WevalueandappreciatethecontinuedsupportofBusinessintheCommunity.”

Denise Cranston – Community Programme Manager - Business in the Community commented:“BusinessintheCommunityhasbeenworkingwithFaneValleyGroupontheirCorporateResponsibilitystrategyoverthepastfewyears.ThecompanyisalreadymakingareallypositiveimpactinthecommunityandwearedelightedthattheyhavelaunchedtheirfirstCRSteeringCommitteetofurtherdevelopanddrivetheirresponsiblebusinessagendaforward.”

‘Thumbs Up’ For Group Corporate Responsibility

Fane Valley Launch Group Corporate Responsibilty Steering Committee

Pictured: SeniorManagementandStaffRepresentativesfromacrossthewiderFaneValleyGroup.

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The recent weather and harvesting of first cut silage has allowed most herds in Northern Ireland the opportunity to put at least part of the herd to grass. While the amount of grazing implemented on farms will depend on individual restrictions on that farm. Most people are keen to integrate cheap grass into their production system this summer, however, with this comes the challenge of maintaining milk quality to achieve bonus milk prices.

ButterfatDecliningmilkbutterfatisthemostcommonproblemreportedingrazingdairycows,evenwhereonlypartoftheherdisatgrasspart-time.Bulkmilktankresultsforbutterfatoftendeclineasaresultofthelackofstructuralfibreinthediet,especiallywheretheaftermathoffirstcutsilageisbeinggrazed.

Milkbutterfatisdrivenbystructuralfibreandtheproductionofacetateandbutyrateduringthefermentationanddigestionofstructuralfibre–thefibrouspartofstraw,silageorgrass.Inadditiontothis,grazedgrassishighinrapidlyfermentablesugarswhichcanpredisposetosub-acuterumenacidosiswhencombinedwithpoorstructuralfibreintakes.Wheregrassavailabilityisscarceordrymatterintakesarestruggling,theproblemisexacerbatedbyofferinghigherlevelsofconcentratefeed.

Thisproblemcanbealleviatedbytheprovisionofstructuralfibreintheformofsilageorstrawtoslowrumentransitandimproverumination.FaneValleyFeedshavearangeofdairynutstoimprovebutterfat.Customersusing218TopCreamDairyNutshaveseenbenefitstobutterfatconcentrations.218TopCreamDairyNutsareahighenergy,highfibrerationfeaturingC16fats,specificallydesignedtoreducesub-acuterumenacidosisandimprovemilkbutterfatconcentrations.

ProteinMilkproteintendstobelessofanissueingrazingherdsduetothehighlevelsofrapidlyfermentableenergyandproteinfoundingrass.Wheremilkproteinisaproblem,thistendstobeaconsequenceofunderfeedingorover-estimatingtheproductionofmilkexpectedfromgrass.AccordingtograsssamplesanalysedbyFaneValleyFeedsthisyear,themajorityofsamplesreturnedindicatethatgrassiscapableofsupportingnomorethan10-14litres,withthesefiguresdecliningasthegrazingseasonadvances.

If you would like further advice on feeding cows at grass or to hear more about the benefits of 218 Top Cream Dairy Nuts, please contact your local Fane Valley Feeds Representative or Dr Hazel Gilmore on Tel: 028 8224 3221.

Integrating Grass Into Production To Achieve Bonus Milk Prices In Dairy Cows

Milk Quality Bonuses In Grazing Dairy Cows

Top Poultry AwardFor Linden Foods

At the prestigious Meat Management Awards held recently in the Hilton Birmingham, the Dungannon based meat processor Linden Foods were crowned for their innovative Lidl Deluxe Chicken & Leek Pastry Parcels.

BeatingoffstiffcompetitiononthenighttheawardingwinningLidlproductfromLindenFoodswashailed‘BestPoultryProduct’duetoitsuniqueness,lookanddelicioustaste.“We’redelightedtohavewonthe‘BestPoultryProduct’forourLidlDeluxeChicken&LeekPastryParcels.Wehaveastrongtrackrecordproducingaward-winningpoultryproducts,whichissomethingweareextremelyproudof.”commented Jacqueline Fitzpatrick - Linden Foods Senior Account Manager.

Sheadded…“ThisparticularproductisaperfectexampleofinnovationandcreativitydevelopedinconjunctionwithLidl.Wehavereceivedverypositivefeedbackfromthisproduct,whichagainisdowntotheresearchandtimedevotedtoperfectingingredients,taste,cookingexperienceandoverallaesthetic.Wehavefantasticrelationshipswithourcustomersandwechallengeourselveseverydaytoproducethebestqualityproductstomeettheirneeds.”

Itwasthewinningcombinationoftopqualityingredients,innovationandcollaborationthatmakesLidlDeluxeChicken&LeekPastryParcelssuchanoutstandingsuccess.ThisproductfromtheDeluxerangeisabeautifulmealforalloccasions.

Liam Casey - Buying Director Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland said:“Wearedelightedtowinthisaward.Wesetouttocreateagreattastingproductusingfreshlocalingredientsthatmeetsourcustomer’sneeds.ItistestamenttotheproductdevelopmentprocessbetweenLidlandLindenFoods.OurLidlDeluxeChickenandLeakpastryparcelscontinuetobeagreatsuccesswithourcustomers.”

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Whites Win Prestigous Ulster Grocer Accolade

Ulster Grocer Recognises White’s Oats Relaunch At Recent Gala Awards EventFollowing the significant investment in the repositioning and packaging redesign of its porridge oats and oat based breakfast cereals, White’s Oats, is celebrating after receiving the accolade for Best Product Re-launch at this year’s Ulster Grocer Marketing Awards.

ReceivingthisawardisareflectionofWhite’scommitmenttoitsmarketingandbrandinginordertostrengthenitsmarketpositionintheIrishandGBmarkets.

Commenting on the win, Danielle Mc Bride, Brand Manager of White’s Oats says: ‘’In2014wesuccessfullyrepositionedandredesignedourrangeofporridgeoatsandoatbasedbreakfastcerealstodevelopastrongfoundationforthebrandtogrownotonlyinourdomesticmarketbutalsointotheUKandfurtherafield.Ournewpackagingdesignandbrandpropositionhasdeliveredstrongbrandrecognitionandincreasedshelfvisibility.Thebrandre-launchwassupportedbyamultichannelcampaignunderthecreativepropositionof‘GoodDaysCraftedbyWhite’s’whichhasresonatedstronglywithourconsumers’’.

‘’TowinsuchaprestigiouslocalindustryawardistestamenttotheeffortsandcommitmentoftheWhite’steamandthepassionanddedicationwehavefortheWhite’sbrandandourproducts’’,sheadds.

AmarketleadingbrandwithintheNorthernIrelandRetailSector,White’shasanawardwinningtrackrecordinproducinggreattastingporridgeoatsandoatcerealsandthishasbeenacknowledgedbythenumerousgreattasteawardsreceivedfromtheGuildofFineFood.

Pictured: (L-R)RobIrelandSalesDirector–DennisonCommercials,DanielleMcBride-BrandManagerWhites,LeanneMcDowell&JamesGreer-MDGreerPublications

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The Ulster Rugby squad took time out of their training regime to trial White’s New ActivOat High Protein Porridge.

StrengthandConditioningisacoreelementoftheteam’spreparationsupportedbyUlsterRugby’sfoodfirstperformancenutritionprogramme.

Ulster Rugby’s Head of Strength and Conditioning, Jonny Davis comments: ‘’ItisessentialforUlsterRugbyplayerstovarytheirproteinsourcesthroughtheirtrainingdayandweek.Targetingfoodshighinprotein,withalowglycaemicindexiskeytoenhancingtheindividualplayer’sperformancewhichdrivesteamperformanceonthepitch’’.

‘’ActivOatHighProteinPorridgewasdevelopedwithactivelifestylesinmind’’,saysDanielleMcBride,BrandManageratWhite’sOats.‘’ItprovidesallthekeynutrientsfromoatswiththeadditionofSoyProteintodeliverahighnutritionalboost’’.

‘’Proteinisessentialtothegrowthandrepairofmuscleandisaperfectfitwhentraining.White’sActivOatHighProteinprovidesallnineessentialaminoacidsthevitalbuildingblocksofmusclegrowthanddelivers10.5gofproteinina40gserving,morethandoublethaninastandardservingofporridge’’.

ThisyearWhite’shassuppliedtheUlsterRugbyteamwithporridgeaspartUlsterRugby’sfoodfirstapproachtoperformancenutrition.Oatswiththeirinherenthealthpropertiesprovideallthekeynutrients-vitamins,minerals,complexcarbohydratesandenergytosupporttrainingandperformanceonandoffthepitch.

Ulster Rugby GetActive with Whites

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Life At The Coal Face A Dairy Producer Profile

Three generations of the McCay family, Billy, John and Matthew work together in Castlederg, County Tyrone. Together they farm 320 acres, which is all in grass and carries 303 dairy cows plus 150 followers, mostly replacement heifers.

AnnualmilkoutputsuppliedtoFaneValleyDairiesis1.96mlitresat3.94butterfat,3.44protein,192SCCand15TVC.Totalmealinputis1.9t/cowwhichleavesahealthymilkfromforagefigureof2250litres.

Theapproachonthisdry,allgrassfarmistomaximisemilkoutputfromforagesothemajorityoftheherdarespringcalving.85cowscalveinSeptember/OctoberwiththeremaindercalvinginatightpatternfromendofJanuarythroughtomidApril.Accesstothegrazingplatformisgoodasthislandisinoneblockandiswellservicedwithlanewaysandwatersupply.Grasscoversaremeasuredonaweeklybasis,withpaddockswhicharetoostrongforgrazingtakenoutforsilage.Feedallocationisonasimpleflatratesystemwithallcowsreceiving2kgdailythroughtheparlour.Averagedailyyieldiscurrently23.5litreswhichleavesmilkproductionfromgrassat19litres/cow.

Thedecisionwasmade7yearsagotobreedamorerobustcowandafterresearchingseveraloptions,FleckviehmaidenheiferswereimportedfromGermanyandAIprogrammecommencedontheexistingherd.

Today90%oftheherdareeitherpureorcrossbredFleckvieh.ThedecisionhaspaidoffastheMcCayshaveseensignificantimprovementsinmilkquality,betterreturnsforbullcalvesandcullcows,areducedreplacementrateandoverall“aneasiercowtoworkwith”.

Cullingrateiscurrently21%whichisbelowthenationalaverage.ThishasallowedtheMcCaystosellalargebatchofspringingheifersandstillmaintaincownumbers.Withreducedreturnsfrommilkduetovolatilityinworlddairymarkets,theextraincomefromsalesofstockhasbeenverywelcome.

Plansforthefutureonthisfamilyfarmaretoimproveprofitabilitythroughreducedmealfeedingandbetterutilisationofforage(thetargetis7,000litrespercowfrom1.5tofconcentrate)andincreasedsalesofsurplusbreedingstock.

Maximising Milk Output From Forage, SoThe Majority Of The Herd Are Spring Calving

Armagh Show Overall Dairy Champion Class

Fane Valley Milk Producers George andJasonBoothfromStewartstownhadanothersuccessful Armagh Show. They scoopedthe Overall Dairy Championship withClandeboyeShottleWillowEx93.

Pictured: (L-R)JasonBooth&RichardHenning-FaneValleyDairies

Balmoral Show ClassNative Breed Winner

OverallNativeBreedChampionSponsoredbyLindenFoods. Pictured: FrankFoster-LindenFoods

Pictured: BillyMcCay-FaneValleyMilkProducerfromCastlederg,CountyTyrone

BankofIrelandInterbreedSheepChampionSponsored by Fane Valley won by MervynLiggett from Drumquin. Pictured: (L-R)AislingQuinn,MervynLigget,EmerRuddy&DessieFerguson-FaneValleyStores

Armagh Show OverallInterbreed Champion

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Local producer for Linden Foods and Marks & Spencer has been rewarded for his talent as an inspirational Young Producer at a M&S ‘Farming for the Future’ Award presentation, which took place at this years Balmoral Show.

NoelHookefromCo.Downscoopedthe‘YoungProducerAward’whichchampionsforward-thinkingindividualswhosetechnicalabilityorbusinessaptitudepromisestomakeapositiveimpactontheirsector,andwhodemonstratetheyhavewhatittakestoleadthenextgenerationoffarmers.

TheLindenFoodsproducerhastravelledtheworld,workingwithtoppedigreecattleherds,togainawealthofknowledgeinbreedingandpreparingcattle.Atatenderageof18,hewonanAberdeenAgnuscompetitioninAustralia.

NoelfarmsalongsidehisfatherLaurenceonthefamilyfarmjustoutsideHillsborough,

CountyDownwheretheyconcentrateonbeefproductionandinparticularonproducingAberdeenAnguscattleforLindenFoodsandMarksandSpencer.

“Thefarmhasbeeninourfamilysince1810andIhopetocontinuetoexpandthebusinessandkeepitattheforefrontofthebeefindustry.Ibelievethat,bybuildingasupplychainlikethis,wecandeliveramoreconsistentproductforconsumers.”commentedNoel.

Thejudgeswereimpressedbythefactthatinhisquestforfarmingknowledge,Noelhadtravelledextensivelyandhadnowreturnedhometoputintopracticemuchofwhathehadlearntandthefacthewasdoingthisinanenvironmentalandsustainablemanner.

Noelreceiveda£1000prizefortheawardandhasbeenenteredintoanOverallFarmingforthefutureChampionAwardfor2015,tobepresentedlaterthisyear.

Fane Valley Staff Raise £700 For CharityStaff from Fane Valley Stores and Head Office Human Resources recently took part in the ‘lb for £ Challenge’ in association with Business In The Community. The challenge ran from January to April with the focus on Health and Well-being.

EthnaRickard–FaneValleyHRAssistant,wasthedesignatedchallengechampionforFaneValley,said:“Weallreallyenjoyedthisfundraisingchallenge.Notonlywasitforagreatcharitybutitwasalsobeneficialforuspersonally.Wevaluehealthandwell-beingatFaneValleyanditwasbrilliantforthecompanytosupportthestaffandthechallenge.Forthoseparticipatingwehadextendedlunchbreaksondesignateddaystohavelunchwalks.Thestaffreallyenjoyedthecomraderyovertheweeksandmonthsandwelookforwardtonextyearandincreasingourinvolvement.”

Pictured:EthnaRickard-FaneValleyandCarlaSmyth-NIChest,Heart&StrokewiththechallengeparticipantsfromFaneValleyStoresPortadown.

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‘Young Farmer Of The Year’For Linden Foods Producer

Pictured: (L-R)FrankFoster-LindenFoodsSupplyChainManager,NoelHookeBeefProducer&WilliamWaugh-LindenFoodsProcurementDirector