Herd profile; Glenisla

Shorthorns achieve 50 not out for Glenisla

Having now clocked up a half century of pedigree Beef Shorthorn breeding the Gibb family’s Glenisla herd is well known throughout the breed.

However, this is still young compared to famous herds like Upsall, Uppermill and Chapleton, which are still at the forefront of the Beef Shorthorn breed.

Having used a Beef Shorthorn bull in a crossing capacity before 1972 and having liked his calves, Major Gibb felt the Shorthorn had a lot to offer in Glenisla. At that time, every farm in the locality used Aberdeen-Angus Bulls, because the Angus cross calf, which often carried Shorthorn genetics on the female side, produced, what was recognised as Scotch Beef.

The herd purchased its first heifer at Perth in 1972, Pennan Princess Daisy From the late Bill Anderson, Philorth. This was followed by single heifers from Uppermill and Dungarthill, and then five from the late Ronnie Henderson at Newtonhall.

It all started slowly, using AI bulls from the Milk Marketing Board, Scone. These cattle were small, lacking stature, but fleshy, so Major Gibb looked at Dairy Shorthorns, which were dual purpose cattle, with stature, milk and meat. About six cows were purchased from Stockwood and Maxton and crossed with a beef Shorthorn bull. The first stock bull was Chapelton Leander (H).

Major Gibb says there can be no doubt that at this time the breed was in serious need of modernising, to increase size and stature, reduce the fat content in the carcass, all with a view to make Shorthorns more commercially viable.

A solution was found by introducing Maine Anjou, which both the Baldowrie and Balmyle herds had been using successfully.

Glenisla bought Balmyle Xpress at the Perth bull sales for 8,000gns, a big price at the time, a bull that was about 37% Maine Anjou.

The early 1980s saw Major Gibb attend the World Shorthorn Conference in Calgary, Canada. He recalls there was a huge Show of Shorthorns, probably 200, all big cattle and most impressive for size and style. The North Americans had used Irish dual-purpose Shorthorns, to do the same job for which he had used Dairy Shorthorns and Maine Anjou for.

A feeling was beginning to develop that the influence of Maine Anjou was becoming too large. ‘Were we breeding Shorthorns or Maine Anjou?’ Major Gibb felt moving back towards a higher degree of Shorthorn purity was the best way forward.

To this end, the Glenisla herd started using semen from Australia, Weebollabolla Royal Commission and Mandalong Super Elephant. He bought one son of Super Elephant, Pennan Vulcan, and shared Pennan Wyvis with both Ronnie and Ian Henderson of Woodhead, having first seen Wyvis, when he had been honoured to judge at the Royal Highland Show in 1981 and had placed him breed champion. The following day, he was placed interbreed champion.

From 1986 – 1988, Major Gibb was honoured to be breed president, which in those days was not as onerous as it is today.

He also served as World Shorthorn president for conferences in Australia and Canada at the turn of the century.

All this time, the herd at Glenisla was increasing in numbers, at the expense of the crossbred herd and built up to about 65 purebred Shorthorn cows. Through his World Conference connections, Major Gibb had become friendly with many overseas breeders and sought to import bull calves from Canada and a bull from Tasmania.

Adverts in breed journals steered selection towards the bull Egmont Exuberant from Bill Greenhill in Tasmania. Belmore Fuel Injected from Andy Withers and Broughton Park Thunder from the Trengrove family.

The first bull imported was Egmont Exuberant, collected by Major Gibb and his wife, Anne, from Heathrow airport and trailered home in about 10 hours. He was a red polled bull, frame score seven and left very sound females, although not quite big enough for the bull market of the day.

Downsview Roan Mist bred by Bud Boake, Canada, followed. He was shown at the Royal Highland Show straight out of work and was male champion. Then came Diamond Xerxes from Dan and Jill Stephenson, Canada, followed by Diamond Dakota.

Broughton Park Thunder, who has top rate EBVs has been a massive influence in today’s herd book as well as siring Glenisla Jackpot, who set a new record price for a Shorthorn bull at Stirling in 2017. This record price has been broken since then.

And recently the herd has been excited to welcome new semen into the herd from HC Hollywood 6H, a Canadian bull bred by Grant Alexander at Horseshoe Creek and a son of HC Bluebook 228.

Recent stock bulls have included Fearn Wyvis, Chapelton Glen Clova and Millerston Jamboree, it turned out that the latter two were carrying one copy of Myostatin, which has raised a few concerns, resulting in non-Myostatin carriers in Bleaton Protest and Skaillhouse Playboy being purchased. For many years the emphasis has been on polled bulls, with the exception of Jamboree and now the cow herd is 95% polled.

While never setting out to be a show herd, Glenisla does exhibit at the Royal Highland and its local show, Alyth. The herd also showed twice at the Royal at Stoneleigh about 20 years ago, which resulted in one female championship. In the herd’s history it has won the Highland three times, once with an old bull, once with a cow and once with a 16-month-old bull. Meanwhile, Glenisla has only had one Perth or Stirling February champion, but the Gibbs keep trying.

Recently Glenisla has won the Scottish Herd Competition twice and this year Major Gibb had the pleasure and honour to judge the 2022 Herd Competition, which showed the breed to be well worthy of its place in the UK cattle industry.

In helping develop the breed’s appeal Major Gibb was the initial proposer of the sale of Shorthorn heifers in the October Sales. It was an idea he put to the late Roley Fraser, basically for unlead heifers. It has now developed into a major event in the Shorthorn year.

Throughout all of this time, Major Gibb has been backed by the family. His wife, Anne, accompanied him on numerous World Conferences. Alastair, the couple’s eldest son, became a farming partner and took a leading role in the cattle enterprise, until he decided to set up his own farm in New Zealand.

Meanwhile, their daughter, Catriona, who had been teaching Montessori in London, then after cooking in country houses, came home to farm and has played a huge part in continuing to maintain and improve the Glenisla herd.

And, their son, Nicholas, is also a partner and although the black faced sheep of the family, strives to do what he can to help and support the family in trying times. He is also the liaison officer and mainly concerned with sporting and forestry.

First stock bull at Glenisla was Chapelton Leander.

Former stock bull Diamon Xerxes demonstrating the breed's adaptability to a variety of climates.

Major Gibb says without all family members being involved, none of the herd’s success would have been possible.

And it would be remiss not to mention the expertise of Arthur Lawrence who was Glenisla’s stockman for more than 40 years, who also helped get the herd to where it is today.