Meet Rodmead Prague –star of the cattle ring

When Angus Neish left the Army in the 1990s, he decided to follow the family farming tradition –and subsequently to honour his

The Aberdeen Angus breed (or Angus as it is known internationally) was developed in the early part of the 19th Century from the polled and predominantly black cattle of north east Scotland known locally as “doddies” and “hummlies”.

Aberdeen Angus cattle are naturally polled (without horns) and they can be black or red, although black is the dominant colour. They are resistant to harsh weather, make superb mothers and known to be undemanding, adaptable and good natured cattle.

Scottish background by breeding the famous black cattle named after his father’s home county, for which he himself was named.

Rodmead Prague with handler Johhny Ward and owner Angus Neish

Angus runs an arable business and an awardwinning herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle at the 1,800 acre Rodmead Farm near Maiden Bradley, below a range of spectacular chalk downs north of Mere (its beautiful gardens were open for the National Gardens Scheme for the first time this year).

Angus, whose army career was mostly in tanks (nicknamed ‘the cavalry’), bought the farm in 1995. At that time, there were a lot of sheep and a suckler herd, but after the stockman left, he took a new direction. He started the Aberdeen Angus herd in 2002: “They are the best breed,” he says.

Over the ensuing 22 years, Angus has established the Rodmead Aberdeen Angus herd as an outstanding example of these handsome cattle. The herd, now totalling 200, includes 80 breeding cows. Much of the breeding is by the embryo transfer system – taking embryos from good pedigree cows to be carried by surrogate mothers. This system ensures many more good offspring, he says.

Show success

He has had many successes at shows around the region and further afield over the years. Major awards came for Angus bull Rodmead Prague, who won the breed championship at the Gillingham & Shaftesbury Show in 2023 and went on to be the Aberdeen Angus champion at that year’s Royal Highland Show. This year Prague is taking a rest from the show ring – although perhaps “rest” is not the right word, as he will be fulfilling his other and important role as a champion bull!

This year the Rodmead herd will be represented at G&S by two young heifers, who have been prepared for their show appearance by Johnny Ward, a very experienced cattle showman from Somerset. Johnny has been showing Rodmead animals for some years and is an expert in preparing them for the cattle lines – and, hopefully, the afternoon grand parade in the main ring. The show year begins early for the chosen animals, says Angus. They are selected as early in the year as January and the preparations start with clipping their coats properly and ensuring they have the right diet to be in peak condition on show day.

As well as supervising the preparations, Johnny also needs to train the show animals to walk with a halter, for judging – and for the parade, if they do well.