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Scottish Hereford Breeders’ Association
New Scottish secretary
With a new secretary at the helm, the Scottish Hereford Breeders’ Association’s activities have been hampered, but members continue to have good success at home and further afield.
Chairman – George Harvey Vice-charman – Jimmy Hodge Secretary/treasurer – Margaret Galbraith
Honorary president – Margaret Cameron
Margaret Galbraith became secretary of the Scottish Hereford Breeders’ Association in 2020, just before the country was put into lockdown and the virus went on the rampage, Margaret got into the breed some five years ago when she was given a heifer called Jane from the Romany herd as a gift for a very special birthday from her partner George Brown and his family. She now has three cows, two heifers and two bulls.
Nevertheless, Margaret and the rest of the committee have tried to keep the Scottish members engaged during this time with virtual competitions, newsletters and phone calls. I hope it’s safe to say we are getting back to some sort of normality towards the end of 2021.
The Hereford is a great native breed and produces meat that is second to none and a lovely temperament that makes them easy to work with. It is the association’s job to promote this in Scotland and encourage local beef and dairy farmers to make use of the Hereford. It is the association’s ambition to see more sales of Hereford cattle at auction markets in Scotland. Abbie Anderson
go ahead. It did, but the format was very different from previous years. The classes were limited and only exhibitors were at the showground. Judging was watched by many online and judge Abbie Anderson was very efficient and thanks goes to her for a job well done. The numbers were down compared to a normal year but the quality was still there with 13 month Harveybros 1 Crocus Tiara from father and daughter team George and Sophie Harvey taking reserve female and leading the junior female class. Moralee 1 Rebel Kicks KS R12 from Tom and Di Harrison was tapped out as native interbreed champion, the highest accolade it could achieve due to the event’s format.
It was decided the annual Scottish National Show would not go ahead as it looked like most of the Scottish agricultural shows would be cancelled for yet another year. However, the virtual competition was again held and was a great success. David Leggat was the judge and did not have an easy task with 52 entries from members far and wide including stock which would not normally be shown in the show ring and again was of a very high standard. Results are opposite but a special mention goes to Molly Stuart who took the male champion with Glenlivet 1 Hero and also female champion, Greenford 1 Loretta. Molly is 16 years of age and fairly new to the breed. J and M Cameron of Balbuthie took reserve male and female with Baldinnie 1 Carlin and Baldinnie 1 Cathy 69th respectively and congratulations go to them.
By far the association’s largest event this year, with over 100 attendees, was a visit
to Balbuthie Farm by kind permission of Mr and Mrs Cameron. It felt like coming out of late hibernation and was so enjoyable to see so many members there.
There was a short presentation by John Cameron about his Open Farm project with a purpose-built reception building, with meeting rooms and catering facilities that will be used to build a ‘better understanding’ between producers and their end customers.
This was followed by stock judging with the overall winner being Sam Parsons, joint second to Jamie Harvey and Hugh Ironside and Kelly Stuart taking third place. This event was ably judged by Tom and Di Harrison.
This was followed by a farm tour of the Baldinnie Hereford herd and commercial cattle, where the stock and husbandry are second to none. Thanks must go to John and Margaret Cameron for having the association and the work put in not only by them but their stockmen James and Andy and secretary Wilma. This was followed by a barbecue with Hereford beef burgers supplied by Pete and Nicky Brown Bosolopoll from Arran. The winners of the herd competition were announced which was judged by Tom and Di Harrison and the association is grateful they came to Balbuthie to present the prizes. The only traditional Hereford herd entered was the Kileekie herd and they took second prize in the small herd section.
The society’s autumn show and sale saw success for George and Sophie Harvey with Harveybros 1 Crocus S6 which sold for 5,500gns and Calum Smith and Anna Wilson with Milovaig 1 Lady Jane 2nd which sold for 5,300gns. Conditions for Agri Expo were far from great with some competitors not making it from south. Proceedings kicked off with a dinner at The Auctioneer near the market the night before. The food was excellent, as was the service. Numbers were down but that was to be expected considering the year we have had but competition was still fierce. This was judged again by Abbie Anderson who did a brilliant job and kept proceedings moving along. Thanks go to the the competitors who took part and Davidsons Animal Feeds and Hereford Cattle Society for its sponsorship.
Margaret Galbraith thanks Hereford House staff for their help while secretary, saying they have been invaluable as well as association chairman and vicechairman and members of the SHBA.
Herd competition results
Overall herd, John and Margaret Cameron, Baldinnie Herefords
Small herd, Ian Skea, Bennachie Herefords
Large herd and overall, John and Margaret Cameron, Baldinnie Herefords
Stock bull, Billy Andrews, Knockmountagh Chief
Heifer calf, John and Margaret Cameron, Baldinnie 1 Kay 38th
Bull calf, Molly Stuart, Glenlivet 1 Hero
Breedplan Recorded Bulls for sale Breedplan Recorded Bulls for sale Breedplan Recorded Bulls for sale PANMURE Panmure Panmure
Both sired by Romany 1 Distiller - semen available Both sired by Romany 1 Distiller - semen availableBoth sired by Romany 1 Distiller - semen available
Members of Hi-Health Scheme Members of Hi-Health Scheme Members of Hi-Health Scheme
Panmure 1 Blessing G6 Panmure 1 Blessing G6 Panmure 1 Henry Panmure 1 Henry
Miss Europe 2014Panmure 1 Blessing G6 Miss Europe 2014
Panmure 1 HenrySire of the Year 2015 Sire of the Year 2015
Miss Europe 2014
Thanks to all of our customers Thanks to all our customers Sire of the Year 2015 J.M Cant & Partners Thanks to all our customers J.M Cant & Partners Easter Knox Farm, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Angus DD11 2PZ J.M Cant & Partners Easter Knox Farm, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Angus DD11 2PZ Easter Knox Farm, Arbirlot, Arbroath, Angus DD11 2PZ Audrey:- 01241 871660 Mob:- 07974705430 Email:- easterknox@btinternet.com Audrey:- 01241 871660 Mob:- 07974705430 Email:- easterknox@btinternet.comAudrey:- 01241 871660 Mob:- 07974705430 Email:- easterknox@btinternet.com
Ervie bulls to £5,000
At the 2021 sale of Ervie bulls held at Mains of Airies, near Stranraer, the trade topped at £5,000.
Since their first on-farm sale of Hereford bulls in 2010, the Douglas family have come to expect new and repeat commercial Hereford bull customers from the length and breadth of the UK to converge on their farm near Stranraer for their annual spring bull sale held each February. The Line One Hereford genetics used in the Ervie breeding programme since 2005 have seen increasing demand from commercial beef farmers in recent years. Reinforcing the sale, the bulls also enjoy a strong demand from a growing number of dairy farmers valuing them for their good feet and high fertility as well as docility, ease of calving and good sale demand for the progeny. Each year, the outwintered sale bulls are presented completely naturally and catalogued with both EBV and in-herd performance data. Due to the pandemic, online bidding and prospective internet buyers were able to view live streaming of the bulls in the sale ring as well as video footage of the bulls walking. Leading the day’s trading at £5,000 was Wigbay 1 Index 192671 which sold to repeat buyers, David and Maggie Kelly, Netherhall Herefords, Kirkby Lonsdale. This long, thick and correct bull was sired by the poll Danish bull Heart Index 273U and out of Ervie Lisette 162114, a top daughter of Ervie LI Achiever 91151H. The bull carries indexes of +89 for 400day weight, +5.3 for eye muscle, terminal index of +49 and a self replacing index of +59.
A bull much sought after at £4,200 was Ervie L1 Achiever 192633, purchased by Alan Anderson, Towford, Jedburgh for his newly formed Towford Hereford herd. This long, dark, upstanding, straight Line Wigbay 1 Index 192671 sold for £5,000
One son of Ervie RL1 Achiever 151973 had the highest actual adjusted 200-day weight for his year group and sported an excellent set of EBV figures. It is a heifer’s first calf from the Achievement D family. Third highest price on the day was £3,600, with two bulls receiving this top bid. First at this price was Ervie Advance 192606, sired by Evie L1 Achiever 162044 and from the Unitarian family. Once again, with high EBV figures, it sold to long-term repeat buyer James Campbell, Galashiels.
At the same money was Ervie Advance 192584 sired by Ervie LI Achiever 162152 and out of Beauty E991 and was knocked down to another repeat buyer, Graham Park, Gretna. A further four bulls sold over £3,000.
The rising two year old bulls met with good demand, due to producers seeking the well-bred, unpampered bulls on offer. Buyers were successful from as far north as Orkney and as far south as Somerset. Prices ranged from £1,800 to £5,000.
Auctioneers: Dumfries Auction Mart Averages: 36 bulls, £2,680
Camerons come first in Scotland
JA Cameron and son and its Baldinnie herd are synonymous with the Hereford breed in Scotland and were pleased to win the Scottish herds competition in 2021.
"It was indeed a great honour to win the Scottish Hereford herd of the year competition," comments John Cameron of the Baldinnie herd, based in Fife.
He says: “The Hereford breed has played a big part in our cattle husbandry over the years.
“At a time when we were finishing all our calves, we were dealing with Waitrose through their processors Dovecote Park. Waitrose introduced a premium price for all prime cattle sired by a registered Hereford bull. As well as premium price, we were able to negotiate a fixed price per kilo for steers and heifers for the season. So it was obvious that the Hereford was going to have an important role to play in our livestock business.”
John continues: “We were then running some 800 Simm/Luing cows and heifers which were mostly out-wintered or in cattle shelters, so it became clear we L-R James Musgrave, Andy Shaw, Pat Stanley, John Cameron
were going to require a considerable number of registered Hereford bulls. “My wife Margaret, who was an active partner in the farming business, was always looking for a specialist role so we took the decision to set up a pedigree herd of Herefords to provide the necessary bulls to earn us the Waitrose premium. “And just to show it was a family run affair, we called the herd Baldinnie after the name of my mother’s house in Elie.” "The establishment of a pedigree Hereford herd was one of his better decisions", says John. Apart from making a sensible contribution to livestock profitability, it also opened a new world of interest and friends as he went on to meet a whole circle of friends and colleagues in the Hereford Cattle Society and eventually became one of the two Scottish members of the society’s council.
John explains: “These council meetings at Hereford made me realise that apart from the experience I gained by listening to some of the most able Hereford breeders in the country, I also gained many respected and valued friends and colleagues. “To attend these council meetings or pedigree sales in Hereford became an
occasion I eagerly looked forward to. I always remember buying my first bull in Hereford. I was accompanied by my great friend and fellow breeder, the late Sandy Campbell of Kinnellar.
“When I eventually purchased the bull of my choice, the auctioneer, not knowing who this stranger was, knocked the bull down to ‘the man sitting next to Sandy Campbell’. My friends from Scotland never let me forget about that sale. “After some time, the council did me the ultimate honour of electing me as their president which gave me the opportunity to attend functions and shows in many parts of the world.”
John says the highlight of the show ring for the Baldinnie herd was the winning of the prestigious Burke Trophy at the Royal Show in 2002.
He continues: “For me however the privilege of winning the Scottish herd of the year award both last year and this year are memories that I will forever cherish. Thanks must go to my friend Sandy Campbell who I have already mentioned and my good friend from Canada, Wib Donaldson, whose herd's genetics are still to be found in the Baldinnie herd.
“Along with the enthusiasm and knowledge of my wife Margaret, the input from these three people and my staff over the years have made my association with Hereford cattle so successful, but more importantly so enjoyable.”
Baldinnie 1 Carlin
BALDINNIE
POLL HEREFORDS
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Baldinnie 1 Ruth 17th Moralee 1 Roland Rat
