The British Limousin Cattle Society has announced that Debbie Butcher has recently joined their organisation, and will be working as a communications and marketing manager.

She brings a wealth of practical industry experience to the Society, as Debbie has been working as the senior beef and lamb analyst with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board for the past ten years or so.

In her previous role Debbie built a particularly strong knowledge and understanding of the beef industry, and she has acted as a voice of the sector on market intelligence and production related matters in the UK, the EU and further afield.

As well as producing weekly and monthly publications she has developed close working relations with many key industry bodies and the wider supply chain. She also has an awareness of related legislative and policy developments.

Debbie said: "As the agriculture industry speculates on what the Brexit vote means for the United Kingdom’s beef farmers, pedigree and commercial, there is no doubt that changes and challenges are on their way.

"The industry is already moving to one being more driven by efficiency and profitability.

"There is little doubt that cattle with the genetics to convert food efficiently, reach slaughter weights earliest and deliver carcases consistently hitting target grades will be in greatest demand; they already are.

"Retailers have been sending a clear message for some time about the size of the carcase they want. The change in market focus is one that I think fits the Limousin breed extremely well; medium sized cows delivering fast growing quality calves with top grades, good yields and high killing out percentages.

"With this in mind, I am delighted to be bringing my experience to the Society as I start to work on behalf of members promoting the Limousin breed and the work of the Society to every level of the beef industry.”

BLCS chief executive Iain Kerr said: “This is a key appointment for the Society and we welcome Debbie to the team along with the wealth of relevant industry knowledge, contacts and experience that she brings.

"Communication, promotion and knowledge exchange of the society’s breed development work, commercial relevance, and ongoing achievement and performance, is so important.

"Debbie’s appointment will increase the Society’s professionalism in delivering these key messages to every level of the beef industry.”