Bitter collapse of dairy '˜super show' plans

Holstein UK blamed the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) for the breakdown, a position the RABDF said was “baffling”.

In a statement, Holstein UK’s board said it was no longer pursuing a partnership, citing the main reasons as RABDF’s approach to negotiations and the association’s financial position.

But RABDF’s council said it “remains confused by many of the assertions made by Holstein UK in its announcement” and that none of the issues alleged by Holstein UK had been raised before, RABDF said.

The two groups had hoped to stage a national dairy show together next September.

Richard Jones, Holstein UK’s chief executive, said: “We have found it difficult to work with RABDF and are concerned about the charity’s financial position.

“In 2015, RABDF made a loss and they have not provided assurances that their performance will improve. Having undertaken a full, independent audit of RABDF’s finances, our auditors concluded that any joint-venture would not be in our members’ interests and that they could not advise the Board to enter into such a relationship with RABDF.”

In a statement, RABDF’s council said: “The talks have been constructive and business-like throughout, and at no point have any of the issues alleged in Holstein UK’s statement been raised, which leaves us all the more baffled.

“Furthermore, while we would have been happy to have allowed auditors access to our full accounts, at no point was this requested by Holstein UK.”

A key driver behind the proposal was the fact that both groups host their own national shows around the same time.

Mr Jones claimed RABDF had wanted to increase prices by 25 per cent for the new event which he said Holstein UK “would not stand for” when the industry was in such turmoil.

RABDF said various pricing models were offered in a confidential report which “certainly did not commit to any increases”.