A REBELLION by a small minority of Aberdeen Angus breeders, led by former breed president, Colin Davidson, Orkney, and Border breeder, John Elliot, Kelso, is threatening to undermine a ground-breaking development announced by the breed society at the Royal Highland Show last week.

The Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society revealed an innovative scheme at the show to use the latest technology to take a DNA sample of every Aberdeen Angus pedigree calf.

Chief executive, Ron McHattie, said the development - the first by any beef breed society in the UK - would protect the integrity of animals registered in the Herd Book and enhance the Aberdeen Angus brand.

Breeders are being asked to collect a tissue sample from the ear of each calf by inserting a special ear tag at birth which automatically collects the DNA sample. A batch of samples will be posted at regular intervals to a central database and will be held for seven years so that the DNA of every calf registered in the Herd Book can be authenticated if anomalies arise.

But critics accuse the society of rushing the scheme through without proper consultation with members - an accusation the society refutes.

Mr McHattie said the move was unanimously approved by the society's council in March and had since been rolled out to all members of the society.

"We work relentlessly to ensure that the Aberdeen-Angus breed is at the forefront of the industry and this development cements that position," said Mr McHattie.

"The society is committed to the DNA sampling of every calf which will revolutionise the industry and raise the bar in pedigree validation."

It is estimated that up to 10 per cent of calves registered by beef breed societies could have the wrong sire. Mr McHattie said the adoption of this innovative scheme would enhance and add value to the world-renowned Aberdeen Angus brand of beef.

The new development has been welcomed by Steve McLean, head of agriculture at Marks and Spencer.

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market report

DUMFRIES: Prime cattle - heifers (5) to 227p/kg to average 199.5p. Top £1,349.30. OTM cattle (63) to 123p/kg for dairy to average 102.1p/kg and a top of £895.70 and 156p/kg for beef to average 117.2p/kg and a top of £1,255.60. Sheep - lambs (561) to 247p/kg to average 221.5p.kg and top of £110. Cast ewes and rams (268) to £118.50 (heavy Texel). Heavy ewes averaged £84.21. Light Blackface to £78.50 to average £58.38.Auctioneers - Dumfries Mart.