The SAS Breeding
Group (STYLE And STATISTICS)
The group was set up in 1998 by a few South
Devon breeders who realised that although they all had relatively
small herds, by working together they could all make faster
genetic progress.
With help from Signet’s Duncan Pullar
and Ian Pritchard, the group chose a few criteria to use to
select linkage bulls and then set out some ways in which stock
and semen could be exchanged or shared to link the herds together.
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All members were committed to recording and to producing
pedigree stock which had good conformation and locomotion, grew fast
and with above average muscularity. Ease of calving and cows with
good milk figures were also important.
Only calves sired by SAS linkage bulls can carry
the SAS prefix in their pedigree name and it is encouraging to find
increasing numbers of SAS cattle being used around the country.
X Haughton SAS Joe Louis 4
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The Brettles Herd was part of the Group from
the beginning and the group’s criteria and encouragement
led to the purchase of Oxey Reddish 3 from Richard Wright’s
herd in 2000.
In 2008 and 2009 our Stock Bull was X Haughton
SAS Joe Louis 4 bred by SAS Group member Bill Sandford. He had
a Beef Index of +31 and a Suckler Replacement Index of +43.
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The risks of transferring TB and the need for pre-movement
testing have reduced the opportunity for swapping stock between members
but the fact that all members belong to the Biobest Herdcare health
scheme means that members can buy from each other with full confidence
that they are not bringing in IBR, BVD or Johnes.
If you are interested please follow the links to the SAS website www.southdevons-sas.co.uk
and look out for SAS cattle for sale at Society Sales.
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