September Newsletter 2020

Newsletter
Issue 141
September 2020

Contents Page
2020 Pandemic, Covid-19 3
Council of Management 2020/21 4
Society Council of Management Update 6
Chris Curry appointed Vice President of Charolais International 7
Julie Holmes has joined the Charolais team 7
SALES
Stirling 8
Aberdeen 13
Dungannon 14
Carlisle 16
Shows
The Charolais virtual show must go on 22
Charolais take the top accolade in the 2020 online show season 24
Brigadoon take judging to another level 30
Charolais Youth 26
ARTICLES & LATEST NEWS
The 2020 Harman Awards 18
Breedplan & Performance Recording 20
Measuring pelvic area proving a useful tool in heifer selection 33
Who to contact in the Charolais office 33
Investing in top bloodlines is vital 34
UK Charolais bull gets selected for leading AI business 36
Society Chairman finalist in the 2020 British Farming Award 37
Nostalgia - Can you remember what happened 25 years ago? 42
Nostalgia results 51
OBITUARIES
James Jeffrey - Kersknowe 38
John Blewett- Reddivallen 40
John Davies - Tanat 41
Mike Brown - Charbron 41
REGIONAL REPORTS
Northern Ireland 44
Scotland 48
Borders 50
South East 50
Promotional Goods 51
Minutes of the 58th Annual General Meeting of the British Charolais
Cattle Society Ltd 52
ADVERTISERS
Balmyle - WP Bruce Ltd 43
Genus 55
Gretnahouse - Mr AG Houston 56
Pentervin - Mr DA Littlehales 32
Welshpool Livestock Sales Ltd 21
ISSN 2632-7589
2 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

2020 Pandemic, Covid-19
In years to come we’ll all remember 2020 as the year Covid-19 hit the UK and the significant loss of life we suffered including one of
our own members David Montgomery of the Bridgehill herd.
With the onset of lockdown, we closed the office under the great organisational skills of our office manager Rusmi and quickly
adapted to operating from our homes seamlessly, so a big thank you to all our staff who gave up space in their houses to carry on
their BCCS work.
After the fantastic October and February sales we were all looking forward to seeing the trade at the May show and sales and had
great expectations. But, as it turned out, we ended up with them all cancelled, and the bulls being placed by the Marts. The one
exception was our very first online sale at Carlisle.
Moving on to this year’s autumn sales at Dungannon, Welshpool and Carlisle, all have contingency plans to revert to online sales
should we get another lockdown.
Sue and Rusmi set up the online promotion of your cattle on our website to help sell the animals. This was a time-consuming job, but
worked well, and many animals have been sold using this platform.
The show season was wiped out for the whole of 2020 which for exhibitors, judges, stewards and, of course, the Society was a big
disappointment as we’d worked hard to make some new marketing material which will hopefully be used next year.
On a bigger landscape Covid-19 has presented a huge challenge to the beef sector – disruption to supply chains, big swings in
demand patterns across different channels and switches in consumer behaviour to name just three.
Most would recognise that, overall, the industry has responded positively, particularly when measured by food availability and
choice on shelves. The restaurant industry has taken a huge blow, but the August Eat Out To Help Out scheme meant we could all do
our bit to help the industry get back on its feet and eat more steak.
However, there are some fundamental policy developments still happening that will impact our industry in the shape of the
Agriculture Bill and trade discussions. They may be overshadowed by coronavirus right now, but ultimately, I think they’ll have a
bigger impact on farming prospects in the long run.
I can’t help thinking that some of the consequences of Covid that we’ve seen in recent weeks, and those set to emerge in the next
few months, give an indication of how future policies may impact our industry. We’ve written to Defra several times to change
the beef labelling rules to allow retailers to call animals slaughtered over 10 months old to be called beef. Current rules say 12
months and this is penalising progressive breeds like ours. A two-month change will help farmers profitability, cash flow and the
environment… hopefully this will be included in the new Ag bill when it’s published.
Marketing
We now have over 18,300 (16,140 August 2019) Facebook followers who regularly get updates on what we’re doing and, as many of
you know, we share as many of your success as possible!
The other posts we share are on eating beef and defending the beef industry against the anti-beef/farming articles on the
environment.
Charolais International, World Congress 2022
With Australia cancelling their congress for 2020 and the Czech Republic cancelling next years tech conference, we’re the next
country to hold a world event in 2022, hopefully Covid-19 will allow us to progress this and plan over the next 20 months
At the world Charolais International AGM held on 7 th August former British Charolais Cattle Society Chairman and council member
Chris Curry was elected Vice President of Charolais International. Well done Chris!.
EBV work goes in-house
From July 1 the Society took all performance recording in-house after a long, and excellent, relationship with Pedigree Cattle
Services. In the longer term we’ll be offering the same service to other beef breed societies, again working to consolidate costly
admin services.
I’m delighted to say Julie has joined the Charolais team to look after all the EBV work and will be working from the Stoneleigh office
once Covid-19 restrictions allow. At the moment she’s based at home and is available on email julie@charolais.co.uk.
Julie carried out the same work for the Simmental Cattle Society for more than eight years and is aiming to increase the amount of
information fed back by members in the future.
Lastly
A big thank you to all our members who’ve been supporting and working with us to carry out all the work,
and from myself a big thank you to all our staff Rusmi, Sue, Rebecca, Fiona, Mandy and Julie who’ve worked
some very long hours answering many queries and listened to many stories of adversity.
No matter what happens in the future, Charolais will always have a bright future as we are the breed that
improves all breeds…
Bring on the 2021 show season.
Peter Phythian Chief Executive
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
3

Council of Management 2020/21
3
1
2
4 5 6 7
8 9 10
11
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
President (ex Officio)
Mr MV Atkinson(18)
Parkfield
Kirkby Malzeard
Ripon
North Yorkshire
HG4 3RX
Tel: 01765 658545 email: mowbraypark@aol.com
Chairman / National
Mr B Harman (14)
Grove Farm
Grove Lane
Chesham
Bucks
HP5 3QN
Tel: 07867 802823 email: benharman@btconnect.com
Vice Chairman / National
Mr A P Drysdale (12)
Middle Drimmie
Blairgowrie
Perthshire
PH10 7JD
Tel: 07801 339550 email: allendrysdale@hotmail.com
Hon Treasurer (ex officio)
Mr G C Robinson (5)
Stockhill Lodge
Elton
Peterborough
Cambs PE8 6SJ
Tel: 07860 765338 email: gcrobinson1961@gmail.com
Chief Executive
Mr Peter Phythian (1)
BCCS
Tel: 07949 262293 email: peter@charolais.co.uk
Mr D Barker (Southern England) (15)
Sable House
Nuthampstead
Royston
Herts
SG8 8NA
Tel: 07798 518994 email: barkers.caylers@btinternet.com
Mr N Blyth (Northern England) (13)
Middleton House Farm
Elwick
Hartlepool
Cleveland
TS27 3EN
Tel: 07977 997326 email: neilkirstyblyth@gmail.com
Mr WD Connolly (Northern Ireland) (9)
Brigadoon
25 Creevyargon Road
Ballynahinch
Co Down
N Ireland
BT24 8YG
Tel: 07443 857403 email: brigadoondave@hotmail.com
Mr R C Curry (Northern England) (6)
Low Burradon
Thropton
Morpeth
Northumberland
NE65 7HG
Tel: 07917 731531 email: chriscurry05@gmail.com
Mr M A Milne (Scotland) (3)
Kennies Hillock
Llanbryde
Elgin
Morayshire
IV30 3LJ
Tel: 07971 510965
email: elgincharolais@btinternet.com
Mrs Tracey Nicoll (Scotland) (16)
Home Farm
Balthayock
Perth
PH2 7LG
Tel: 0778 4891005 email: tracey@balthayock.com
4 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Mr R A Owen (National) (11)
Tynewydd
Garthbeibio
Foel
Welshpool
Powys
SY21 0NR
Tel: 07971 118547 email: arwel.owen@genusplc.com
Mr W Owen (Wales)(17)
Braich Y Saint
Criccieth
Gwynedd
LL52 0PW
Tel: 07771 520442 email: w.owen@btconnect.com
Mr J Price (Southern England) (8)
Oakchurch Farm
Staunton-On-Wye
Herefordshire
HR4 7NE
Tel: 07788 454454 email: jeremy@oakchurchfarm.co.uk
Mr A E Sellick (Southern England) (7)
Battins Farm
Brompton Ralph
Taunton
Somerset
TA4 2SG
Tel: 07876 306310 email: andrew_sellick@yahoo.co.uk
Mr W Short (Northern Ireland) (4)
Wood Park
Beragh
Omagh
Co Tyrone
N Ireland
BT79 0UU
Tel: 07968 085777 email: woodpark34@googlemail.com
Mr D Thornley (Northern England) (19)
30a Main Street
Hartshorne
Swadlincote
Derbyshire
DE11 7ES
Tel: 01283 819644 email: davidthornley39@gmail.com
Mr C J Wight (Scotland) (2)
Carwood Farm
Biggar
Lanarkshire
ML12 6LX
Tel: 07714 979971 email: c.wight@carwoodfarm.com
Mr B L Williams (Wales) (10)
Gwastod
Llawr-Y-Glyn
Abermeurig
Lampeter
Ceredigion
Wales
SA48 8PP
Tel: 01570 470273/07809 146308
Email: benllwydwilliams@gmail.com
Complaints and Disciplinary Committee
Andrew Hornall
Alasdair Houston
Iain Millar
Ralph Needham
Breedplan Technical Committee
Arwel Owen (Chairman)
Ben Harman
Andrew Hornall
Alasdair Houston
Alastair Lyle
Sean McGovern
Jeremy Price
Barbara Webster
British Charolais office
contacts
Peter Phythian, Chief Executive
Tel: 07949 262293 Email: peter@charolais.co.uk
Mr Rusmi Parekh, Office manager,
Tel: 07377 119224 Email: rusmi@charolais.co.uk
Mrs Sue Stenner, Communications manager, Charolais
youth co-ordinator, sale reports, website & social
media Tel: 07958 210243 Email: sue@charolais.co.uk
Mrs Fiona Warner, registrations, transfers, Charolais
promotional goods, Charolais Journal, website
Tel: 07377 119345 Email: fiona@charolais.co.uk
Miss Mandy Mooney, DNA testing
Tel: 07377 119312 Email: dna@charolais.co.uk
Mrs Rebecca Fraser, Society accounts , ETs,
Inspections, Membership Tel: 07377 119307
Email: rebecca@charolais.co.uk
Mrs Julie Holmes, Performance recording, society sale
entries, queries Tel: 07377 119233
Email: julie@charolais.co.uk
Avenue M, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth,
Warwickshire CV8 2RG Tel: 02476 697222
Email: charolais@charolais.co.uk
www.charolais.co.uk
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
5

Society Council of Management Update
Due to the extraordinary circumstances we
find ourselves in this year, and the subsequent
cancellation of all of the summer shows, it was
decided that we should keep some consistency
within the Society, as well as ensure that the
existing and new presidents had the opportunity
to represent the Society for a full year of
Charolais events. Therefore, Mike Atkinson has
retained his role as President until July 2021.
Graham Robinson has also kindly agreed to
uphold his post of Society treasurer for another
term, thank you Graham, your hard work and
diligence in the role is most appreciated.
There’s only been one change to the Society
council of management team, and we’d like
to take this opportunity to thank John Christie
for his service over the past three years and
welcome Matthew Milne as a new representative
for Scotland.
This is Matthew’s first stint serving on the Society
council, and he was also elected vice-chairman
of the Scottish & Northern regional Charolais club in February.
He’s been a long-serving member of the Charolais judging
panel, and has judged at Stirling, Welshpool and Ireland, to
name but a few events.
Matthew, together with his Dad and family, run the renowned
Elgin herd in Kennies Hillock, Morayshire, with the help and
support of his wife of 16 years Carolyn and their children Rory
15, Archie 13, Gregor 11 and Magnus 9.
Matthew’s father Roy saw the commercial benefits of using a
Charolais bull, over his previous choice of the native Hereford,
on his suckler herd and purchased his first Charolais Wooton
Jacerus in 1975. The first pedigree Charolais female Espley
Melody soon followed, and he formally joined the Society in
1977.
Striving to produce quality stock to meet market demand has
been the herd’s ethos since the very beginning, and Charolais
success in the both the show and sale rings has followed. The
herd has produced a string of Highland show winners, the
most notable being the supreme champion Elgin Catherine,
who was recently crowned Scottish Farmer’s interbreed
champion of the decade. The Milne family’s highest sale price
to date was 28,000gns, paid for Elgin Glenlivet at Stirling in
2013, where as well as leading the day’s bids, he was crowned
supreme champion at the pre-sale show.
The herd is made up of 45 pedigree cows producing Charolais
calves, and first-calving heifers are put to a Saler bull to
produce replacements females for the farms 80-strong
suckler herd, which is now predominantly made up of these
Charolais-Saler crosses, with any bull calves being fattened at
home.
These Charolais x heifers are bulled with a Saler at 18 months,
and home bred Charolais bulls are used over all commercial
cows. The resulting calves are sold as yearlings throughout the
Spring at Thainstone and Huntly.
Matthew Milne
Although Matthew uses some AI, most of the farm’s calves are
produced by stock bulls that he chooses by visual inspection
and by taking into account the figures, with particular
emphasis on calving ease and growth. “It’s also essential to
look at the myostatin status these days,” he says. He likes to
purchase them at around 15 months old, either off farm or
through Society sales, and has partnered with the Glenericht,
Mornity, Allandfauld and Harestone herds to secure the right
bulls.
The Lhanbryde-based family farm is a mixed beef and arable
enterprise, with 200 of the 550 acres being used to produce
malting barley and cereals for feed, the rest is left for grazing.
Being quick to capitalise on the benefits of monitoring the
health of the herd, the family have been members of the
Biobest health scheme for some years, and are now BVD
accredited free, Lepto monitored and at Johnes level 2.
Looking to the future Matthew said, “I intend to carry on
trying to breed Charolais bulls that people are wanting to
buy, we have to move with the times, and hopefully beef
production will become more profitable.”
“The Charolais as a terminal sire is the key, it’s by far the best
for growth and efficient beef production, and there’s no other
breed which will reach killing weight quicker. We’ve made
great strides over the past few years in tackling calving and we
no longer have serious issues in this area.”
“Now’s the time when our great breed can capitalise on its
strengths and help the commercial producer to overcome
the hurdles facing the British beef industry at the moment.
Production must become more efficient, and the quicker the
finishing the better.”
“When the deadweight limit was dropped it was thought by
many to be the end of the Charolais breed, but more and more
producers are coming back to Charolais having seen their
bottom line drastically reduced by switching, as they couldn’t
get the attributes that the Charolais brings as a terminal sire
from any other breed.”
6 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Chris Curry Appointed Vice President of
Charolais International
Former British Charolais Cattle Society
chairman Chris Curry has been
appointed vice president of Charolais
International in a move that should see
him become president in time for the
2022 world congress due to be held in
Britain.
“It came a bit out of the blue really,”
he says, “we had the AGM on Zoom
and I was put forward for the role. I
am absolutely thrilled to have been
elected and look forward to helping to
meet the challenges the beef industry
is facing.”
Chris farms at Lower Burradon near
Thropton in Northumberland and
began breeding Charolais in 1989. His
Burradon herd is now well-established,
and his cattle sell for top prices, with
semen sales being made worldwide.
He is also a well known breed judge,
officiating at shows around the
country.
Chris Curry
Charolais International is a forum for
the world’s different Charolais breed
societies, one that shares information
and is responsible for the world congress held every second
year, and the technical congress held on the other years.
Due to Covid-19, the Australia world congress, due to be held
this year, has been cancelled, as has the technical congress
due in 2021. That leaves Britain
in pole position to hold the first
world event for the breed in nearly
three years.
The 2022 event is timed for early
July and will coincide with the
Great Yorkshire Show where the
breed’s national show will be held.
Combined with farm visits and
technical sessions, the congress
will run over 10 days.
“I’m really interested in getting to
know more people from around
the world by taking on this role,”
says Chris. “We have so much to
learn from one another with the
sharing of information. It’s a bit
like being in the classroom every
day.
“I believe we should share
information to help improve the
breed and stay on top of the game.
On the technical side, sharing
genomic information between
countries can only be beneficial.”
Society CEO Peter Phythian congratulated Chris on his new
role and said it was an ‘honour’ for a British farmer, judge and
board member to be elected. “We wish Chris the best of luck
and we are all thrilled he has been given this opportunity.”
Julie Holmes has joined the Charolais team
We’re delighted to announce that Julie Holmes has joined the Charolais
Society team.
She has joined us full time to set up and running our performance recording
data collection, which we brought in house from 1 July 2020, initially working
from home until we are all back at Stoneleigh park.
Julie started her career in catering and progressed to become a restaurant
assistant manager, where she contributed towards the redevelopment and
relaunch of the business. After having her two children she looked for a
new challenge and moved to into administration working for a local housing
association before a change of direction took her to LANTRA and the world of
agriculture. For the past eight years Julie has worked at the Simmental society,
where she graduated to become office manager and oversaw the smooth
running and management of the Society office and administration of the
Society.
With her wealth of experience, we know that Julie is going to be a huge asset
to the team. You can reach her by email: julie@charolais.co.uk,
or by tel: 07377 119233
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
7

Stirling February
Charolais
Remains King
at Stirling
Judge: Raymond Irvine
Charolais once again sold the highest number of bulls as well
as producing the biggest average of all breeds sold at the
Spring round of the Stirling bull sales. They also matched the
top price of 25,000gns - not once but twice - selling a total of
117 with 15 bulls returning five figures.
A strong commercial interest saw 74 sell for 5,000gns and
above. The breed’s average of £6,633.85 was up £571.18 up
on the year, while the clearance rate was 79% at the sale on
Tuesday 18 February.
Society CEO Peter Phythian was delighted with the day’s trade.
He said: “The great prices we’ve had today are a reflection of
how well Charolais sired steers and heifers are selling in the
store mart. We’re just starting to see buyers looking at the
myostatin status when purchasing bulls, and also being more
conscientious of how they select. With profit in mind, they’re
going for the breed that finishes first, improves turnover and
cuts carbon emissions.”
The star of the sale was W K and P Drysdale’s senior and
supreme champion from Blairgowrie, Perthshire, who was the
first to sell at 25,000gns. The May 2018-born Glenericht Oasis,
whose full brother sold for 11,500gns in October 2017, is sired
by the 12,000gns Caylers Gladiator and out of Glenericht Gem,
a daughter of the 16,000gns Stirling junior champion Clyth
Diplomat. He was purchased by Danny Sawrij, Kedzlie Farm
Ltd, Blainslie, Lauderdale.
The other lot to secure 25,000gns was the reserve supreme
and junior champion Elrick Outlaw, this time knocked down to
Boden and Davies Ltd, Mellor, Cheshire. A 17 month-old son
of the French-bred Maerdy Gouverneur, his dam Elrick Florida,
who is also mother to the 8,500gns Stirling supreme champion
Elrick Malt, goes back to the 11,000gns Maerdy Dublin. His
breeder and consigner Michael Massie, Ellon, Aberdeenshire,
accrued the day’s top herd average of £14,175.00 for his four
bulls.
Top price and senior and supreme champion
at 25,000gns Glenericht Oasis
Michael’s next highest priced at 15,000gns was the red ticket
winner Elrick Oxygen, also sired by Gouverneur, his dam Elrick
Isidore is another Maerdy Dublin daughter. The August 2018-
born Oxygen caught the eye of the Maghera breeder Jonathan
Crawford and travels home over the water to work in Co Derry.
His final top priced lot was Elrick Oxford, knocked down sold
to W Ramsay and Sons, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire,
for 9,000gns. This 17 month-old lad, who’s bred out of the
16,000gns Stirling supreme champion Thrunton Fearless
daughter Elrick Jessica, is another son of Maerdy Gouverneur.
The second bull to sell at a 15,000gns price tag was the presale
show’s intermediate champion from Roy and Matthew
Milne, Lhanbryde, Morayshire, whose five bulls sold averaged
£8,778.00. Elgin Oliver, a June 2018-born son of the 11,000gns
Woodpark Elgin and the 12,000gns Caylers Gladiator-sired
Elgin Ianthe, was purchased by Jenny and John Rix, Nayland,
Essex.
A tidy 13,000gns was the highest price paid for an impressive
string of 12 bulls sold by the Flintshire Vet Esmor Evans which
averaged £6562.50. The June 2018-born Maerdy Osgood,
who caught the eye of joint purchasers Major David Walter,
Balthayock, Perthshire and C Smeaton, Kirkbuddoo, Angus
when he was placed third in his class the previous day, is out
of Maerdy Honney, a daughter of the French-born Froufrours,
while his sire is the 10,000gns Stirling reserve senior male
champion Blelack Fabulous.
Esmor’s other top lot was the blue ticket winner Maerdy
Obrian. The first son sold by the 18,000gns Stirling reserve
supreme champion Goldies Linford, his
dam Maerdy Dendrite goes back to the
French bred Maerdy Alcazar. 9,500gns
was the final bid by W J Millar, Tealing, by
Dundee, for this 18 month-old bull.
Another top price and the reserve
supreme and junior champion
Elrick Outlaw at 25,000gns
Elrick Oxygen at 15,000gns
The auctioneers gavel came down 10
times in total at 10,000gns, and the first
to achieve it was the Northumberland
bred Burradon Olaf from former Society
chairman Chris Curry. Having placed
second in his class at the pre-sale show,
the 21 month-old Olaf is sired by the Irish
8 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Elgin Oliver sold
for 15,000gns
Maerdy
Osogood
sold for
13,000gns
Maerdy Obrian
sold for 9,500gns
Burradon
Olaf
sold for
10,000gns
bred Clenagh Lyle who has bred over 60 progeny into the herd
since his purchase in 2016. Burradon Jemma is his dam and
she goes back to the 10,000gns Puntabrava Federico, while
grandam Emma is a full sister to the 26,000gns Burradon
Garibaldi. J Morton and Son, Melrose, Roxburghshire, were his
purchasers.
Matching the 10,000gns price tag was an entry from the
aforementioned Danny Sawrij. Swalesmoor Oscar, a May
2018-born son of the 30,000gns Oakchurch Igor, was
purchased by John W Millar, Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire.
His dam Swalesmoor Laura is in turn sired by the 22,000gns
Yorkshire show male champion Balmyle Headline.
A and R Paton, Avonbridge, Falkirk, were the next to purchase
a 10,000gns lot. The class winner Woodpark Oaktree is out of
the Irish bred Deeside Gulliver daughter Woodpark Lavender
and this June 2018-born bull is sired by the French born
Doonally Souverain. He was bred and exhibited by Will Short,
Beragh, Co Tyrone.
The next two 10,000gns lots both came from the vendors,
William and Moira Milne, Strathdon, Aberdeenshire. The
first Glenernan Ohboy, who is a 20 month-old son of the
17,000gns Elgin Jagger and Glenernan Finesse, a daughter
of Mistral Ben, was knocked down to John Jeffrey, Kelso,
Roxburghshire.
The Milne’s other 10,000gns offering was the yellow ticket
winner Glenernan Original, a July 2018-born lad by the
17,000gns Elgin Jagger and out of Glenernan Ivory, who goes
back to the Stars of the future junior male champion Dunesk
General. J Gordon and Co, Alford, Aberdeenshire, were the
winning bidders.
Swalesmoor
Oscar
sold for
10,000gns
The reserve intermediate champion was the next to sell
at 10,000gns. Sired by the Perth show junior champion
Balthayock Impression, the 19 month-old Balthayock
Overdrive, who was purchased by K and J Mallarkey, Ythan
Bank, Aberdeenshire, is out of the Highland reserve female
champion winner Balthayock Lisa, whose father is the
26,000gns Balbithan Vespasian, while grandam Gem bred the
46,000gns Minstrel. Breeders and exhibitors Major David and
Nick Walter, Balthayock, Perthshire, matched the day’s top
number of bulls sold at 12 – averaging £6,763.75.
The July 2018-born Thrunton Orkney from J H C Campbell and
Sons, Alnwick, Northumberland, who sold a total of four to
average £7743.75, was the next to attain the 10,000gns price
tag. Sired by the 28,000gns Maerdy Jerusalem, his mother
Thrunton Lilac goes back to Thrunton Gladiator, and he was
purchased by Jan Boomaars, Woldingham, Surrey.
Also hitting the 10,000gns price tag when he was snapped
up by G T Wordie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, was A and A
Wright’s class winning 19 month-old, Lagavaich Orlando from
Ballindalloch, Banffshire. Elrick Jazzman is the sire here and his
Woodpark Oaktree sold for 10,000gns Glenernan Ohboy sold for 10,000gns Glenernan Orginal sold for 10,000gns
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
9

Balthayock Overdrive sold for
10,000gns
dam Hindstones Gypsy is by the Carlisle
supreme champion Trefaldwyn Valiant.
Thrunton Orkney sold for 10,000gns
Lagavaich Orlando sold for 10,000gns
Tweeddale Orbit, a 17 month-old bull
who was tapped out reserve junior
champion for breeders Jonathan
Watson and Co, Berwick Upon Tweed,
Northumberland, was next to sell at
10,000gns. He is another to boast
an impressive pedigree being sired
by the 28,000gns Maerdy Jerusalem
and his dam Tillside Ingrid, full sister
to the 9,000gns Goldies Iceman goes
back to the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister. He goes back to
Northumberland to work for F T Walton, in Morpeth.
The next vendors in the money were R and N Barclay,
Insch, Aberdeenshire, who sold a total of six bulls averaging
£8,802.50. Their 10,000gns class winner Harestone
Offtheclock who was purchased by H Crawford, Ballymena,
Co Antrim, is a September 2018-born son of the French born
Highland show champion Harestone Jaquard and Harestone
Iona, a 16,000gns Stirling supreme champion Thrunton
Fearless daughter.
The Barclay’s next highest priced was the yellow ticket
winner Harestone Oberhausen. Out of Harestone Jutty,
another Thrunton Fearless daughter and sired by the
homebred Harestone Hercules, the 16 month-old Oberhausen
commanded an 9,500gns bid from J M Nisbet, Sorn, Ayr.
Also from the same home was the September 2018-born
Harestone Osasco, who was purchased for 9,000gns by
Andrew Young, Girvan, Ayrshire. Another son of Harestone
Jaquard, his dam is the Thrunton Fearless-sired Harestone
Lovejoy.
Three more bulls then achieved 9,000gns apiece with the first
coming from Colin and Fiona Wight, Biggar, Lanarkshire, who
sold a total of three to average £6,650.00. Carwood Oswald
who stood second in his class the previous day is a son of
Tweeddale Orbit sold for 10,000gns
Harestone Offtheclock sold for
10,000gns
the 14,000gns Ugie Goldcup and out of the Royal Highland
show reserve junior male champion Elgin Emperor daughter
Carwood Iris. The man behind the money on this 20 month-old
bull was J W Hogg, Gifford, East Lothian.
The same buyer went on to purchase Tweeddale Ontop also
spending 9,000gns to secure him from the aforementioned
Jonathan Watson and Co, Berwick Upon Tweed,
Northumberland, who sold a total of six to average £5,915.00.
The August 2018-born Ontop is out of Lakenheath Ellen, who
has bred sons to 9,000gns and is sired by the Suffolk show
champion Tattenhall Impeccable. His sire is Blelack Blackberet
who has not only bred over 100 progeny into the Tweeddale
herd but has also proved to be a popular choice for AI.
The final 9,000gns bid went to Bill Bruce, Meigle, Perthshire,
for his 14 months-old bull Balmyle Onward. Sired by Ovil
Lennon whose first crop of sons were sold at Stirling last
October where they were awarded the best group of three
and sold to a top of 9,500gns, Onward’s dam is the 22,000gns
Balthayock Diplomat daughter Balmyle Harmony. G W
Woolhouse and Sons Ltd, Ravensfield, Rotherham, were the
purchasers.
Leading the bids for the females at 5,500gns was the female
champion Allanfauld Ozzy from former Society President
Archie MacGregor, Kilsyth, Glasgow. Sean Mitchell, Skelton,
Cumbria, was the winning bidder of this July 2018-born heifer,
Harestone Oberhausen sold for
9,500gns
Harestone Osasco
sold for 9,000gns
Carwood Oswald
sold for 9,000gns
10 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

y the homebred Allanfauld Lachie who has bred over 40 sons and daughters and out
of Allanfauld Gaga, a daughter of the Royal Highland show reserve junior bull Elgin
Davinci.
The above-mentioned J H C Campbell and Sons heifer entry Thrunton Oriental was
another female top seller. David Dandie, Broxburn, West Lothian, was the purchaser
who paid 3,200gns for the reserve female champion and July 2018-born Oriental
whose dam is the Thrunton Gladiator-sired Thrunton Isabella and sire is the 28,000gns
Maerdy Jerusalem.
Tweeddale Ontop
sold for 9,000gns
Averages: 117 bulls £6,633.85; four heifers £3,333.75
Auctioneers: United Auctions
Intermediate champion Balthayock Overdrive and
reserve intermediate champion Balthayock Overdrive
Overall champion Glenricht Oasis and reserve
overall champion Elrick Outlaw
Senior champion Glenricht Oasis and reserve
senior champion Maerdy Obie
Junior Champion Elrick Outlaw and reserve junior
champion Tweeddale Orbit
Female champion Allanfauld Ozzy and Thrunton Oriental
Group of Three
Elrick Oxford, Oxygen and Outlaw
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
11

AROUND THE RING
STATISTICS FROM STIRLING
Top 10 Leading sires with a minimum of 3 bulls sold to qualify
Sire Number Sold Range (gns) Average (£)
1 Maerdy Gouverneur 4 5,000 - 25,000 14,175.00
2 Harestone Jaquard 4 7,000 - 10,000 8,925.00
3 Elgin Jagger 4 5,000 - 10,000 8,006.25
4 Maerdy Jerusalem 6 4,500 - 10,000 7,752.50
5 Blelack Fabulous 6 3,000 - 13,000 6,510.00
6 Carwood Lochness 3 4,500 - 8,000 6,405.00
7 Ugie Goldcup 4 3,500 - 9,000 6,300.00
8 Balthayock Loyalist 3 4,500 - 8,000 6,125.00
9 Goldies Linford 4 3,000 - 9,500 5,722.50
10 Blelack Blackberet 3 3,000 - 9,000 5,600.00
Top 10 Leading herds with a minimum of 3 bulls sold to qualify
Vendor Name Herd Name Number Sold Range (gns) Average (£)
1 MJ Massie Elrick 4 5,000 - 25,000 14,175.00
2 WK & P Drysdale Glenericht 3 5,000 - 25,000 13,300.00
3 R & N Barclay Harestone 6 6,800 - 10,000 8,802.50
4 RA Milne Elgin 5 4,500 - 15,000 8,778.00
5 W & M Milne Glenernan 4 5,000 - 10,000 8,006.25
6 JHC Campbell & Sons Thrunton 4 4,500 - 10,000 7,743.75
7 Major D F W H & N R Walter Balthayock 12 4,500 - 10,000 6,763.75
8 Mr & Mrs CJ Wight Carwood 3 3,500 - 9,000 6,650.00
9 DE Evans Maerdy 12 3,000 - 13,000 6,562.50
10 J Watson & Co Tweeddale 6 3,000 - 10,000 5,915.00
12 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Aberdeen February
Aberdeen Charolais
average up
on the year
Judge: Ian Goldie
Charolais trade was led by a strong
commercial interest at the Aberdeen
and Northern Marts multibreed Spring show on Wednesday
26 February, where Charolais averages climbed by £481.25
from last year to £4,943.75 for the 12 bulls sold and bidding
peaked at 6,800gns.
The supreme and breed champion was the top selling
Charolais of the day, at 6,800gns. Bonnykelly Officer, a 20
month-old bull by the 10,000gns Carlisle reserve intermediate
champion Gretnahouse Ivory, exhibited by Robert Leggat,
New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, was snapped up by PAK Junor,
Dores, Inverness-shire. His dam Bonnykelly Fern is sired by the
9,000gns New Deer show champion Newhouse Challanger.
Moments later the hammer came down at 6,200gns when A
Anderson, Banchory, Aberdeenshire, raised his hand for the
yellow ticket winner Lettoch Oxford. Out of the 14,000gns
Highland show reserve male champion Goldies Banker
daughter Ugie Giselda, and sired by the 11,000gns Stirling
senior champion Balthayock Imperial, this June 2018-born
lad was bred and exhibited by Colin Stuart, Ballindalloch,
Banffshire.
Just behind, at 6,000gns, was another from the same home.
Also placing third in his class at the pre-sale show, the 20
month-old Lettoch Oscar, who is also by Imperial but this time
bred out of the Killadeas Dwane-sired Lettoch Jemima, was
the pick of AW McArthur, Balfron, Glasgow.
Robert Leggat, New Pitsligo, Aberdeenshire, was another
vendor in the money when his blue ticket winner and 19
month-old Bonnykelly Oliver, was knocked down at 5,500gns
to Messrs Macivo, Thurso, Caithness-shire. The sire here
is the 10,000gns Carlisle reserve intermediate champion
Gretnahouse Ivory, and his dam Bonnykelly Fiona goes back to
the 9,000gns New Deer show champion Newhouse Challanger.
The next highest priced at 5,000gns also came from Robert
Leggat. Bonnykelly Orlando, a May 2018-born bull out of
Bonnykelly Erin, a daughter of the 10,000gns Maerdy Rumbull
is another sired by Gretnahouse Ivory. He goes on to work in
Banchory, Aberdeenshire for C Smith.
Following on at 4,800gns when he caught the eyes of J and
E Finnie, Newseat of Balthangie, Cuminestown, was another
entry from the aforementioned Colin Stuart, who sold a total
of three to average £5,590. Balthayock Imperial is the sire
of the June 2018-born Lettoch Occasion and he is out of the
Killadeas Dwane daughter Lettoch Little.
Bonnykelly Officer, supreme champion and top priced
Charolais at 6,800gns
Two bulls then came under the hammer for 4,000gns, with
the first being Auchincrieve Oblivion, a bull by Blelack Jeffrey,
whose dam Auchincrieve Gaga is sired by the French-born
Sang-D’or. J Baxter, Gamrie, Banffshire, was the man with his
hand in the air as the hammer came down on this 23 monthold
entry from Charles McCombie, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
The other to match the 4,000gns price was the April 2018-
born Kinclune Observer who stood second in his class earlier
in the day for breeders and exhibitors John Wilson and Sons,
Glenkindie, Aberdeenshire. Observer is sired by the 12,000gns
Stirling supreme champion Goldies Ivan and his dam Kinclune
Inga goes back to the 20,000gns Perth supreme champion
Thrunton Crownprince. He stays local going home to Aboyne,
Aberdeenshire, with new owner AJ Blackhall.
The only Charolais female forward was the June 2018-born
Lettoch Oasis from Colin Stuart. A daughter of the 11,000gns
Stirling senior champion Balthayock Imperial and out of
Blelack Fleur, a Swalesmoor Bayonet daughter who was
purchased at the Blelack dispersal sale in 2016, Oasis sold to C
Smith, Strichen, Aberdeenshire, for 1,850gns.
Averages: 12 bulls £4,943.75; one heifer £1,942.50
Auctioneers: Aberdeen and Northern Marts
2020 Forthcoming Sales
Carlisle 2 October
Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington Ltd
Tel: 01228 406230
Stirling 19/20 October including the dispersal of
the Westcarse herd on behalf of Mr JH Christie
Auctioneers: United Auctions Ltd
Tel: 01786 473055
Dungannon 6 November
Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart
Tel: 028 8772 2727
Welshpool 12 November
Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales Ltd
Tel: 01938 553438
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
13

Dungannon March
Commercial demand
drives price
increase at
Dungannon
Judge: Martin Donaghy
The market was packed to the rafters for the Charolais sale
at Dungannon on Friday 6 March, where bidding peaked at
6,200gns and 33 bulls sold to average £3,465.00, up £86.00 on
last year. The sale saw 85% of the bulls forward finding new
homes, an increase of 19% from 2019, most of which were
purchased by the commercial market.
The day’s top seller at 6,200gns was the pre-show junior
champion who also went on the receive the reserve supreme
and reserve male championship accolades. Bred and exhibited
by Sean McGovern, Clogher, Co Tyrone, Ratoary Ourboy is a 16
month-old by the Royal Welsh show reserve junior champion
Montgomery Ianto, and his dam Clooncullane Chloe goes back
to the French-bred Mozart. He was purchased by R Pedlow,
Lurgan, Co Armagh.
The supreme and senior male champion was next in the trade
stakes at 4,900gns. Drumlegagh Odin, who is bred out of the
Deeleview Classick-sired Deeleview Ingrid and is by Tweeddale
Lookout, a double Q AI bull increasing in popularity having
added over 100 sons and daughters into the national herd.
John, Ivan & Ryan Elliot, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, were
his consigners and the aforementioned R Pedlow, was the
purchaser of this August 2018-born lad.
Will Short, Beragh, Co Tyrone, was the vendor behind the next
top selling lot. Woodpark Orion, an 18 month-old who stood
second in his class at the pre-sale show, was knocked down
sold to Trevor Butler, Ballycastle, Co Antrim, in a 4,300gns deal.
The sire here is Invictus, while Orion’s dam Woodpark Leanne
goes back to the Southern Irish-born Deeside Gulliver who has
bred well for the Woodpark herd, producing over 100 progeny
to date.
Just behind at 4,200gns was a yellow ticket winner and the
Reserve supreme champion and top price for Sean
McGovern is Ratoary Ourboy
first lot through the ring. From David and John Connolly,
Ballynahinch, Co Down, Brigadoon Orbit, an April 2018-born
bull sired by the Royal Ulster supreme champion Brampton
Petition, is out of Brigadoon Leona, herself no stranger to the
show ring having picked up the reserve intermediate heifer
champion title at the Minsups final in 2016. She in turn is sired
by Royal Capitan. Colin Maxwell, Clough, Co Down, was the
winning bidder.
Three bulls were knocked down at 4,000gns. The first was
Innisrush Osmond, a class winner from William Whyte,
Portglenone, Co Antrim. T Aiken, Coleraine, Co Derry, was the
man with his hand in the air as the hammer came down on
the 18 month-old Osmond, whose sire is the Black Isle show
champion Lochend Apache. His dam, Edenhurst Ingrid, who
was purchased at Peter Vasey’s dispersal sale in 2016, goes
back to the 10,000gns Carlisle supreme champion Ratoary
Ferguson.
The reserve junior male champion was the next 4,000gns
selling lot. The 17 month-old Drumlone Orlando who caught
the eye of winning bidder A Caldwell, Killen, Co Tyrone, is
bred out of the Oldstone Egbert daughter Drumlone Edwina
and sired by Ashleigh Admiral. Kenneth Veitch, Lisbellaw, Co
Fermanagh, was the consigner.
Matching the 4,000gns price tag was Corrick Orion, who
was placed second in class at the morning’s show and is a
full brother to last year’s champion Corrick Napoleon. Cecil
and Scott McIlwaine, Newtownstewart, Co Tyrone, were the
exhibitors of this 14 month-old lot, who
was purchased by M Gillespie, Killylea, Co
Armagh. His sire the 25,000gns Inverlochy
Ferdie was a Stirling intermediate
champion while his dam Corrick Hazel
goes back the 9,000gns Balmoral supreme
champion Goldies Carnival.
Supreme champion Drumleagh Odin
for JI & R Elliott with sponsor
Dan and judge Martin Donaghy
Champion female Drumacritten
Oaklee for Mr G Nelson
Four bulls then made 3,800gns a piece,
the first seeing Will Short, who sold a
total of four bulls to average £3,648.75,
back in the money. His 3,800gns seller
was the reserve senior male champion
Woodpark Ohio, a May 2018-born son of
the aforementioned Deeside Gulliver, and
14 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Woodpark Orion for Mr W Short
Brigadoon Orbit for WD & JA Connolly
Innisrush Osmond for Mr W Whyte
the Welsh-born Maerdy Indoor, a Maerdy Dynamite daughter.
He was snapped up by D Donnelly, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone.
The second to sell at 3,800gns was Tanhill Obi, a 21 monthold
by Whitecliffe James out of the Dungannon supreme
champion Fymore Glory-sired Tanhill Lorna. He stood second
in his class in the morning for breeder and exhibitor Andrew
Armstrong, Dromore, Co Tyrone, and goes on to work in
Armagh for new owner F Oliver.
Also hitting the 3,800gns price tag was Paddy and Valerie
McDonald’s Glencoe Oak from Killeavy, Co Down. A blue ticket
winner who has already proven to have worked at home, he is
bred out of Glencoe Jewel, a daughter of the 16,000gns Stirling
junior champion Clyth Diplomat and sired by the 13,000gns
Stirling reserve junior champion Glencoe Galliant. Frank King,
Newry, Co Down, was the winning bidder of this 17 month-old
lad.
The next 3,800gns lot, the 15 month-old Royaldowns Oryan,
was purchased by S Watterson, Cookstown, Co Tyrone and
offered for sale by Mervyn McKeown, Crossgar, Co Down. The
10,000gns Stirling reserve junior champion Goldies Icon is the
sire here, and his dam Royaldowns Jenna is a daughter of the
25,000gns Stirling supreme champion Inverlochy Ferdie.
The other making this money was the November 2018-born
Brogher Owen when he was knocked down sold to Stephen
Heenan, Clough, Co Down. Also a son of Goldies Icon, but
this time out of the Fintona class winner Brogher Gigi, who
goes back to the 55,000gns Balmoral interbreed champion
Sportsmans Columbo. He was bred and exhibited by Trevor
Phair, Bellanaleck, Co Fermanagh, who also went on to sell two
more for a total average of £3,780.
Mr Phair’s next highest priced lot at 3,600gns was Brogher
Original who had also earned him a yellow ticket earlier in the
day. Another November 2018-born lad, this time sired by the
26,000gns Balbithan Vespasian and out of Brogher Jebella, a
Blelack Digger daughter, was purchased by R and S Chesney,
Kircubbin, Co Down.
the popular AI sire Davally Illusion who has added almost 400
progeny to the National herd book, the 18 month-old and
yellow ticket winner Outlook is out of the Blelack Digger-sired
Tullygarley Iflo.
The highest price female of the sale was George Nelson’s
female champion from Drumacritten, Co Fermanagh. Selling
at 3,200gns to D McAlonan, Dunloy, Co Antrim, the 17 monthold
Drumacritten Oaklee is another by the aforementioned
Goldies Icon and her dam Drumacritten Duchess is by the
15,000gns Carlisle supreme champion Burradon Talisman.
At 3,000gns, the reserve female champion Derryharney
Oowho was next in the trade stakes. An October 2018-born
daughter of the 18,000gns Derryharney Outstanding and
Derryharney Lizzy who goes back to the popular AI Sire
Blelack Digger, she was offered for sale by Harold Stubbs and
Alan Burleigh, Crummy, Co Fermanagh, and purchased by an
undisclosed bidder.
Another entry from Kenneth Veitch was the other high-priced
female lot. Drumlone Ola who stood third in her class at the
pre-sale show caught the eye of Kevin Ferguson, Garrison, Co
Fermanagh. The July 2018-born Ola is sired by the 18,000gns
Perth intermediate champion Fury Action and out of Gallaway
Heidi, a daughter of the French-bred Nippur.
Topping the lots in the draft sale from Mervin McKeown’s
Royaldowns herd, was a first calving heifer along with her
twin calves who sold for at 2,600gns. The heifer Royaldowns
Margo is a three year-old daughter of the 18,000gns Thrunton
Fairfax and Royaldowns Hope, who goes back to the abovementioned
Sportsmans Columbo. Her male and female, three
month-old twins, are sired by Royaldowns Hemingway Deras.
Averages 33 bulls £3,465, 11 heifers £2,142.95, Royaldowns
Draft: three cow and calves £2,205.00.
Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart
Sponsor: Danske Bank
Judge: Martin Donaghy, Dungannon, Co Tyrone
Woodpark Ohio for Mr W Short
Next up
Tullygarley
Outlook was
knocked down
at 3,500gns and
taken home by
David McFarland,
Beragh, Co
Tyrone. An entry
from John Currie,
Ballymena, Co
Antrim, and by
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
15

Carlisle May
Inaugural Charolais
Online Auction Tops
at £10,000
With the ban on pedigree breeding sales in the livestock
markets due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Harrison and
Hetherington developed their online marketing to include
timed auctions, so that the pedigree breeders had a legitimate
outlet at which to sell their bulls.
The Charolais sale which was due to take place at Borderway
mart in the 9 May was converted into the new online timed
auction format, which started on Friday 8 and concluded on
Tuesday 12 May. A total of 19 Charolais bulls found new homes
to average £5,021 with bidding peaking at £10,000 and eight
lots trading at £5000 and above.
Topping the lots at £10,000 was the November 2018-born
Solwayfirth Oneal, who was purchased by John Wight and
Sons, Biggar, Lanarkshire. This bull is the first to be sold by the
11,500gns Glenericht Majestic, who has so far produced over
40 progeny for the herd since his purchase in October 2017.
His dam is Solwayfirth Ingrid, a daughter of the Perth supreme
champion Blackford Samson.
Oneal has some impressive figures with a Terminal Index of
+63 and Self Replacing Index of +60, placing him in the top 10%
of the breed. He also has a copy of both the F94L and Q204X
myostatin genes in his DNA. He was bred and exhibited by Ian
and Dorothy Goldie, Annan, Dumfriesshire, who had a great
day selling all four bulls they had entered to average £5,525.
“I’m delighted with our trade and really pleased that H&H
have set up this new online system so quickly,” said Ian. “I feel
that we would never have achieved a price of £10,000 in the
current situation without this. These are the first four sons of
Majestic we’ve sold, and hopefully there’ll be some more in
the pipeline for February.”
The second highest price of £9,000 was paid for Mornity
Pedro, an entry from Jack Nicoll Farms, Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
Sire verified as by the renowned 14,000gns Westcarse Houdini,
and he’s out of the exceptional breeding of Guthrie Laura who
goes back to Falleninch Hamzoraj. His TI of +66 places him in
the top five percent of the breed. He’s also amongst the top
one percent of the national herd for 200 day weight, and the
Solwayfirth
Oneal top
price at
£10,000
top five percent for 400 and 600 day weight gain, and was
purchased by Tom Story, Greenburn, Dumfriesshire.
At £7,400 the next highest priced lot was the October 2018-
born Goldies Orchard who boasted the highest Terminal Index
and Self Replacing Index in the sale catalogue at +86 and +76
respectively, placing him in the top one percent of the breed
and he also has two copies of the F94L myostatin gene.
Another to be fully parentage verified, his dam is the
15,000gns Gretnahouse Heman-sired Goldies Lottie and his
sire is the 10,500gns Tweeddale Matador, a prolific show
winner whose accolades include the National show junior
championship. Orchard was purchased by Ouston Farms,
Lobley Hill, Tyne and Wear, and he was bred and consigned by
Hamish Goldie, Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire.
An entry from RM Adam and Son, Forfar, Angus, was the
next top selling bull at £6,800 and he goes on to work in
Caernarfon, Gwynedd for new owner Ifan Thomas. Newhouse
Olympus, a 17 month-old with a myostatin status of F94L-1,
Q204X-1, who has also been fully parentage verified, is out
of the 26,000gns Maerdy Hearthrob daughter Newhouse
Lass, and sired by the 28,000gns Perth supreme champion
Brampton Nacodar.
At £5,100 was the 21 month-old Retties Oasis from Richard
and Carol Rettie, Methven, Perthshire. The popular AI bull
Davally Illusion is the sire here and his dam is Retties Harmony,
a daughter of the 10,000gns Stirling senior champion Chunal
Dougie. He was purchased by JC Rennie and Son, Inverurie,
Aberdeenshire.
Three bulls achieved bids of £5,000 and the first was
Gretnahouse Onside, an October 2018-born lad who is fully
parentage verified. He has an impressive calving ease score
(+11.6), which positions him in the top 10% of the national
Mornity Pedro sold for £9,000
Goldies Orchard sold for £7,400 Newhouse Olympus sold for £6,800
16 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Retties Oasis sold for £5,100
Glenericht Onside sold for £5,000 Glenericht Oger sold for £5,000
herd and he also has a copy of the Q204X myostatin gene.
His sire is the 12,000gns Carlisle reserve senior champion
Wesley Equinox and his dam Gretnahouse Maradise is a
first calving daughter of the 17,000gns Balthayock Gladiator.
He was offered for sale by Alasdair Houston, Gretna Green,
Dumfriesshire, and was purchased by R and J Stannard,
Bethersden, Kent.
Matching the £5,000 price tag when he was snapped
up by John Nelson, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire,
was Glenericht Oger an entry from WK and P Drysdale,
Blairgowrie, Perthshire, who places in the top five percent of
the breed with a TI of +69 and in the top one percent for SRI
with a score of +70.
He also places in the top 20% for calving ease, gestation length
and 200-day weight, top five percent on 400 day weight and
top 15% for 600 day weight gain. An October 2018-born bull
who boasts two copies of the F94L gene, he is sire verified to
the 12,000gns Caylers Gladiator and his dam Glenericht Gigi
goes back to the popular AI sire Blelack Digger who has added
over 2,000 progeny into the national herd.
Another who was bid to £5,000 was Mark McGahan’s 15
month-old Chunal Primeminister from Hadfield, Derbyshire,
who was the second easiest calving bull in the catalogue at
+14.5 and has a myostatin status of F94L-1. His dam is the
12,000gns Wesley Equinox-sired Chunal Mistletoe and he
is sire verified as by the Yorkshire-bred Whitecliffe James.
He’s off to work for Andrew Wilson in Newton Stewart,
Wigtownshire.
Next in the trade stakes at £4,800 was Solwayfirth Ozzy, a
November 2018-born bull from the aforementioned Ian and
Dorothy Goldie, who has a myostatin status of F94L-1. Sire
verified to Glenericht Majestic, his dam is Solwayfirth Hayley,
a daughter of the homebred Solwayfirth Bandit. He was
snapped up by Mark Jones-Davies and Co, Brecon, Powys.
The Goldies success didn’t stop there, and their other top
lot sold when a bid of £4,200 secured Solwayfirth Oliver for
Scott Hiddleston, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire. The 17 month-old
Oliver is again sire verified to Glenericht Majestic, is out of
the Solwayfirth Bandit-sired Solwayfirth Heather, and has one
copy of the F94L myostatin gene in his genetics.
Achieving a bid of £4,300 was Harestone Oasis, an entry from
R and N Barclay, Insch, Aberdeenshire. Born in November 2018
and a carrier of the Q204X gene, he is fully parentage verified
and sired by the Highland show supreme champion Harestone
Jaquard, while his dam is Knockmahon Jane, who goes back
to Cloverfield Excellent. He was purchased by A and B Fisher,
Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire.
The star of the female section was the 2019 Royal Welsh show
reserve junior female champion Bassett Oakleaf, who was
offered for sale by Brailes Livestock, Banbury, Oxfordshire. She
is a January 2018-born heifer who was bred in North Yorkshire
by Jean Atkinson and was sold AI’d to Westcarse Houdini
to Kenneth Hall and Son, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, for
£5,600. Her sire is the 10,000gs Harestone Domino and she is
bred out of Bassett Ebony, a daughter of the 16,000gns Perth
junior champion Balmyle Vagabond.
The other top priced female seller at £3,000 was Bassett
Olivia, a March 2018-born heifer who is sire verified to
Whitecliffe Lacroix and one of the first to be sold by this bull.
She is bred out of the 10,000gns Harestone Domino daughter
Bassett Hifi, was bred and consigned by Jean Atkinson, Thorpe
Bassett, North Yorkshire, and purchased by Lee hopwood,
Littleborough, Lancashire.
Averages: 19 bulls: £5,021.05, four heifers: £3,362.50
Auctioneers: Harrison and Hetherington Ltd.
Chunal Primeminister sold
for £5,000
Solwayfirth Ozzy sold for
£4,800
Solwayfirth Oliver sold for
£4,200
Harestone Oasis sold for
£5,300
Bassett
Oakleaf
Top priced
female at
£5,600
Bassett
Olivia sold
for £3,100
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
17

The 2020 Harman Awards
In February, before all of the madness of Covid-19,
when we were all blissfully ignorant of all of the
disruption to come, the presentations of the
Harman awards went ahead as usual at the Stirling
sale.
The awards recognise the herds that have shown
the highest genetic gain in each region over the
previous 12 months, by measuring the percentage
of age improvement in SRI using the Breedplan
recording system.
Society chairman and awards founder, Ben
Harman, said: “With the approach of Brexit and
implementation of the new Agriculture Bill, it’s
never been more important to have a reliable
measure of excellence in the stock we produce in
the UK. It’s no good us just saying we have some of
the best stock in the world if can’t prove it.
“The rate of genetic progress (days to slaughter
and carcass traits) in the pig and poultry industries
has been measurable and stark – and was achieved
through performance recording and the selection
of stock using the information garnered. When
we’re to provide what the customer wants with a
lower financial and carbon cost this can only be done through
accurate recording and genetic evaluation.
“Now in its 11th year, it’s fitting that this award is in memory
of my grandfather who recognised in the 1960s that the UK
herd needed to improve the quality and growth rates of the
national herd, and so was the instigator of the British Charolais
Society.”
The highest improvement of the year was shown by the
Scottish regional winner Michael Massie, with his Elrick
Charolais herd. The 35-cow strong Aberdeenshire-based herd
showed a whopping improvement of +15.3 points in SRI in the
past 12 months, ending the year on an average of +45.1.
A member of Breedplan since its adoption in 2007, Michael
has been performance recording with the Society since moving
onto his own holding and establishing his Charolais herd 25
years ago. Building his herd on a foundation of females he took
with him from Blelack, all of the females that he has today are
bred from these originals with the male contribution coming
from a little AI but mostly carefully chosen stock bulls.
Michael says: “I’ve
always thought of
performance recording
as an essential way of
keeping a track of your
progress, and most
importantly as a way
to provide data for our
bull byers.”
“We’ve a 320-acre
holding. Alongside
our Charolais we
also raise pedigree
Limousin and run a
Michael Massie
The Harman awards at Stirling
small flock of commercial ewes. Our intention over the next
few years is to increase our Charolais numbers to around 50
cows and followers. All our pedigree Charolais females are put
to Charolais bulls. We choose bulls that suit our females and
our heifers, which we calve at 2 and a half, and don’t have any
issues with calving.”
Driving the herds improvement has been the use of Mr
Massie’s current stock bull Maerdy Gouverneur, who was
purchased at six years old from fellow Harman award winner
Esmor Evans. “Prior to the contribution that Gouverneur has
made, we have always had good beef figures, but his calving
ease direct score is what’s tipped the balance,” Michael said.
“He was +17 for calving when we purchased him, and this has
followed through onto his progeny.”
We don’t have to look far back to see what this bull has
contributed. His first two sons were offered for sale at Stirling
in October, where the two averaged just under £6,000 each.
Then in February his four sons sold averaged just over £14,000
and topped at 25,000gns. Add to that the £15,000 private
sale of Elrick Paragon to the Balthayock herd in the summer
and you can see why Michael said: “He just clicked with our
females and has bred really well for us.
“Although he’s now coming up to 10 years old, he’s still doing
a job for us, but with the autumn sales just around the corner
we may be on the look out for a new stock bull to join us here
at Ellon. As always, we’re looking for a bull with good calving
figures to complement our females and I’ll also take myostatin
into account. Before all of that, of course, any bull we purchase
must be visually right and structurally correct,” he says.
Having grown up with Charolais, Michael is obviously a
dedicated lover of the breed, but this love is backed up on
a sound financial basis. “Aberdeenshire is predominantly a
Charolais area. They lead markets here and so the commercial
finishers want to buy them. Some of our bulls are sold at
Stirling and Thainstone but we also have a ready home buying
18 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

market made up of these commercial customers.”
The English regional winners with an improvement of +7
taking the herds’ average year end value to +48.3 were Caylers
Charolais, David, Louise and Greta Barker, Nuthampstead,
Hertfordshire.
The Caylers herd was established in 1973 by Greta and Tony
Barker, and is now run by son David, a council of management
representative for southern England, who’s grown up with
the Charolais breed. Alongside their 100 head pedigree herd,
the family also manages 900 acres of arable land as well as a
haylage business.
Louise and David Barker
The innovative Caylers have been on board with performance
recording right from the off, following the Society from MLC,
Signet and in 2007 to Breedplan. They’re still keen to embrace
the latest advances in cattle breeding management, and were
one of the first Charolais herds to fully myostatin type all of
their breeding females.
David says: “We’re keen to do all that we can to monitor
and improve our herds performance and with the use of
performance recording you can do that. There’s also the
opportunity to compare your performance to that of other
herds. Our ultimate goal is to keep improving and producing
animals which are sought after in the commercial market, and
produce the meat yield the end producers require.”
In order to keep moving forward, the herd concentrates
heavily on the management of their females. “We feel that
the cow we use is just as important, if not more important,
than the bull,” he says. “The females are the foundation of
the pedigree herd, not only have we myostatin tested all of
our females, we only keep heifers which fit our strict criteria.
We want medium sized, easy fleshed cows with good feet
and legs and an excellent temperament, they also need good
pelvic area and plenty of milk to rear their calf. Any that don’t
measure up are culled.”
David continued by saying: “In combination with some
other high figured AI bulls, our stock bull Rosanna Jupiter
has definitely contributed towards our SRI rise this year. We
purchased him in 2015 from Southern Ireland, and as he was
imported his figures started at a fairly low accuracy.
“Luckily his father had already been brought to England by the
Cliftonpark herd and that, in combination with the fact that
he’s got some breeding familiar to the British herd book on his
dams side, meant that he at least wasn’t starting from scratch
with his figures. However, even with this advantage, if we take
for example his calving ease, when he was first added into the
UK herd book, it was +1.9 with an accuracy of 33%, now as his
accuracy has increased to 65% his calving ease direct figure
stands at +19.3.”
This increase in accuracy brings a rise in his EBV’s across the
board, and has seen the value of Jupiter’s sons rocket. His first
sons were sold in 2017 and averaged a respectable £4,480
whereas his 2019 sales saw an average of £7,848, representing
a value increase of 75%, which just proves that when it comes
to selling bulls, figures definitely help.
When purchasing bulls David says “I am looking for a positive
calving figure, it doesn’t necessarily have to be high, but
as much as possible I look for an above average score for
everything else, the most important thing is that we get an
allrounder and that he has quality breeding behind him.”
The Welsh regional
winner, Esmor Evans,
needs no introduction.
He’s a stalwart of
the Charolais breed
who runs a busy
veterinary practice in
Mold, Flintshire, and
a pedigree Charolais
herd on a 1000ft hill
farm spread over two
holdings, making his
successes over the
past four decades
of cattle breeding
remarkable.
Esmor Evans
With an improvement of +5.1 to a year average end value of
+47.5, this is the second time in three years that the Maerdy
herd has been awarded a Harman plaque.
With numerous show championships under his belt, and a
herd top sale price of 56,000gns for Maerdy Director, Esmor
is no stranger to Charolais success. The foundation of this has
been the variety of sires used across his Maerdy Charolais
herd, with AI and French breeding from his imported bulls
playing a large part.
Esmor purchased his first Charolais in 1972, but has always
had an interest in pedigree sheep and cattle breeding, having
bred Suffolk’s and Hereford’s in his early days. These days his
800 acres - which made up of several farms spread over more
than a 10-mile radius - accommodates his 80-strong Limousin
herd, 300-head Charollais and Texel flocks and of course his
150 Charolais cows plus followers. Esmor describes his love
of pedigree breeding as a hobby, with his main business his
veterinary practice in Mold.
Being, in his own words, ‘dragged into it’, Esmor wasn’t
convinced by the merits of performance recording at first, but
has since conceded the benefits of the system. He says that
it’s “not without its flaw, being open to abuse, however. It’s
important if you wish to monitor your own herd correctly as
well as ensure the integrity of the national herd book that you
enter your weights accurately.”
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
19

Esmor continued: “During my time in Charolais, the breed
has made great improvements on calving which is of
course integral to our success as breeders as well as for
our commercial customers, and now myostatin testing has
introduced an extra tool for selection to further help us
progress in this area.”
Although in the past the Maerdy herd has prolifically used AI,
over the past few years Esmor has become more reliant on
his stock bulls and his herd sire Blelack Fabulous has been the
key to the rise in the herd’s SRI over the past three years in
particular.
With a calving ease direct score of +9.3, a terminal index of
+75 and a self-replacing index score of +80 it’s difficult to
disagree when Esmor says that: “he was an easy calving bull
and his progeny have scanned very well, especially if you take
into account his sons have sold to a top of 40,000gns and an
average price of £8,530.”
Esmor added that: “When looking at EBV’s I focus on growth
rate and muscle score. Carcase weight and good loins are the
important things to any commercial producer and combined
with easy calving, and that’s what the Charolais is all about.
It’s not about massive back ends, and breeding for this is what
causes the majority of calving issues.”
The Northern Ireland regional winner was Will Short and his
Woodpark herd in Beragh, Co Tyrone, with an improvement of
+5 bringing his average year end value up to +50.6, the highest
average of all of this
year’s winners.
Will, a member of the
Will Short
Charolais society since
1973, recognised the
importance of using
performance recording
early on, and signed
up under the Signet
scheme before moving
to Breedplan when
the Society made the
change in 2007. He
said: “I saw this was
the way forward, and
that the commercial
man, as well as
pedigree breeders, were using figures to help them make their
purchasing decisions. To be honest I felt adopting them was a
no brainer if I wanted to appeal to as many potential buyers as
possible.
“I can only assume that the main reason for the improvement
in our herd is the stock bull Deeside Gulliver, who has to date
bred over 100 sons and daughters into our herd since his
purchase in 2013 and is still going strong with a CED score of
+20.8, TI +76 and SRI +66.”
“You can see that Gulliver has proved his worth when we look
at the sons that he’s produced. In the showring we can count
a Swatragh supreme champion, a Dungannon reserve senior
male champion, a Carlisle reserve junior champion and a
Clogher show class winner among his progeny. And his Stirling
sold sons have averaged £6,523 for the eight sold and topped
at 16,000gns for Woodpark Longbow who has a calving ease
score of +9.9, a TI of +80 and an SRI of +74.
“Another reason for the improvement is that I try to
concentrate on enhancing the females in my herd, as I feel
the genetics from the maternal side are just as important to a
pedigree breeder as those coming from the sire. To this end,
I try to flush a cow every year, that way I can capitalise on my
herd’s best breeding females as well as bringing in some new
genetics from AI bulls without interbreeding from my herd
sires.”
Looking to the future Will has two new stock sires in the works
that he’s using on his Gulliver’s daughters. Will says that when
looking at bulls, EBV-wise he focuses mainly on two scores, the
calving ease “well who doesn’t look at this, and this is always
what I’m asked about first by potential purchasers” and the
Terminal Index Score: “this gives me an all-round indication
of the bull, and is a really invaluable part our performance
recording set.”
Breedplan and
Performance Recording
The Charolais Society is pleased to announce that from
1 July 2020, we’ve taken Breedplan and Performance
Recording (PR) in-house. Moving forward all scanning,
weights and queries regarding PR will need to be sent
to the Society office; preferably by email to julie@
charolais.co.uk . Due to the current Covid-19 situation
and the temporary closure of the office, Julie will also
be contactable on 07377 119233.
Requests for weigh sheets and copies of BLUP reports
will also be issued and dealt with by the Society office
and only posted out when requested by the member.
Alternatively, all PR members that pay by direct debit
have access to their individual information from the
download section of the on-line database. (if you don’t
currently have access to your on-line account, please
contact the Society office and we can set you up with a
username and password).
The PR financial year will remain the same, which runs
from the 1 January – 31 December and members will
continue to be invoiced in March of the following year.
For BCCS members participating in the Charolais
Breedplan Genetic Evaluation system the annual membership
fee is £150 plus VAT for the first 10 breeding
females. Thereafter £3 plus VAT per breeding female;
to a maximum of £500 plus VAT.
To improve the breed,s overall pool of data and to
increase EBV accuracies, the BCCS currently offers ultrasound
scanning credits as a financial incentive and to
encourage members to record as much scanning data as
possible. A credit of £75 plus VAT is added to the
members account, for up to a maximum of two
scanning visits per year providing a minimum of two
Charolais calves of the same sex and in the same
contemporary group are scanned.
Should you have any queries, please don’t hesitate to
contact Julie by email or telephone.
20 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

BUTTINGTON CROSS, BUTTINGTON,
WELSHPOOL, POWYS SY21 8SR
Telephone: 01938 553438 Fax: 01938 554607
Email: welshpool@auctionmarts.com
AUCTIONEERS:
Welshpool Livestock Sales
Pedigree Charolais Cattle Sale
Thursday 12th November 2020
LIVE AUCTION EVERY MONDAY
9.00 Cull cows and Prime Cattle
10.00am Prime Lambs (weighing from 6.30am)
11.00am Cull Ewes
10.30am Store Lambs followed by Store Ewes
FORTNIGHTLY CATALOGUE SALES
Store Cattle, Store Bulls,
Cows & Calves, In Calf Cows and Heifers
Sale from 10.00am
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
21

The Charolais Virtual Show Must Go On
With the cancellation of the summer shows, it was decided
that the Society would hold the inaugural virtual Great
Charolais Summer Show which was kindly sponsored by
Welshpool Livestock Sales.
Competitors were required to submit pictures and a short
video of their entries, and each week we’ve been accepting
entries for a new class. Public voting on Facebook has decided
the winners.
At the time of writing, the show is still going on, with the last
few classes and championships still to be decided. We’ll catch
you up on the full results for the show in the next newsletter,
but for now we thought you’d like to see a few pictures of our
class winners to date.
The commercial competition
On the back of the success of the pedigree competition, we’ve
just launched our virtual commercial calf and Charolais Youth
stock judging competition, and although entries will be closed
when you’re reading this, you can look forward to seeing the
results posted on the Society website, and on our Facebook
and Twitter feeds.
Thank you to our sponsors Breedr who run the Precision
Livestock network which is a free precision beef app that
helps you produce ultra-efficient animals with real-time
performance data and compliance on the go. Sell cattle with
confidence in Breedr with the growth predictor that keeps
cattle on track for top returns and connects you to the buyer
who pays the best prices for cattle with data pedigrees. Find
out more @ www.breedr.co
FEMALE, born on or between 01/03/2019 – 30/04/2019
Teme Processo – The Corbett Family
And thanks to AHBD #ShoutAboutTheSire who is helping us
to promote this competition. With only 23 per cent of sires
currently registered on passports, AHDB Beef & Lamb is urging
farmers to start recording to improve profitability and boost
competitiveness. Find out about the benefits of recording the
sire of your animals when registering your cattle @ https://
ahdb.org.uk/shout-about-the-sire
Look out for the winners of the following classes which will be
announced online on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 September,
along with details of the Charolais Youth Stock judging winners
and reasons from our master judges.
1. Best individual female calf born between 01/01/2020
– 31/03/2020
2. Best individual female calf born between 01/04/2020
– 30/06/2020
3. Best individual male calf born between 01/01/2020 –
31/03/2020
4. Best individual male calf born between 01/04/2020 –
30/06/2020
5. Best group of 5-9 calves born between 01/01/2020 –
30/06/2020
6. Best group of 10 or more calves born between
01/01/2020 – 30/06/2020
7. Individual Champion
With the winners of classes 5, 6 & 7 will each be awarded a
£500 bull voucher to spend at Society sales.
FEMALE, born on or between 01/01/2019 – 28/02/2019
Newlogie Princesslaika – AJR Farms
FEMALE, born on or between 01/07/2018 – 31/12/2018
Teme Opaque – The Corbett Family
22 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

FEMALE, born on or between 01/01/2018 – 30/06/2018
Bostockgreen Opal – Charlotte Boden
BULL, born on or between 01/03/2019 – 34/04/2019
Annabelle Howell – Whitetower Pride
FEMALE, born on or before 31/12/2017: Edenhurst
Infanta – Charlotte Boden
BULL, born on or between 01/01/2019 – 29/02/2019
AJR Farms – Newlogie Perejacquemin
BULL, born on or between 01/05/2019 – 31/07/2019
Marwood Pascal – The Blyth Family
REGIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION
A list of all the regional club contacts can be
found on the Charolais website.
Please use the link below to find your regional
contact.
http://www.charolais.co.uk/society/
regional-contacts/
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
23

Charolais take the top accolade in the 2020 online
show season
The Scottish Farmer
Champions of the
Decade Competitions
In July, the Scottish Farmer announced the winner of its
Champions of the Decade competition, which ran across its
website for a few weeks gathering over 9,000 votes that were
registered during the competition.
The public voting whittled down the Charolais entries to a
short lead of three, then the judges - Society Chairman Ben
Harman and Society President Michael Atkinson had the final
agonising task of deciding the ultimate Charolais champion.
They said: “After looking at the final three we chose the winner
who showed all the attributes of a great Charolais female. She
has great depth while retaining clean lines and manages to
carry plenty of power, while retaining her femininity. In the
picture she is standing beautifully, shows great angles through
the pasterns and upward and already hints at being a great
milker. She looks good across the plates and the tail head,
leaving us to think she will have all the attributes to become a
productive breeding cow.”
The winner of the converted prize was the 2013 champion
Elgin Catherine, who also won the interbreed beef
championship at the same show along with her February-born
heifer calf Elgin Iona. No stranger to the showring, she had
previously won the junior female title in 2009.
Bred and exhibited by the Milne family, out of their 50-strong
pedigree cow Elgin herd based at Kennieshillock, Llanbryde,
she was by Gower Versace and out of the 14,000gns Rumsden
Samurai daughter Elgin Unity, a cow which has bred sons to
9,000gns.
Her last year in the showring was in 2013, and she sadly passed
away in the spring. However, she has produced nine sons and
daughters in total and most of her female calves have been
retained for breeding in the herd. One daughter sold was Elgin
Lynsey who made 3,600gns at the 2016 herd reduction sale at
Stirling.
Since his success with Catherine, Matthew has added to his
Highland show accolades with winning tickets in the Charolais
classes but also being awarded the championship of the beef
breeder classes twice and the junior interbreed title in 2018
with Elgin Neuer.
A week after the breed championships were decided the
Interbreed championship title was awarded and Elgin
Catherine was the pick of judge Kay Adam “The Charolais is
an outstanding animal as she just oozes style, with all of the
correct traits and is my choice of Champion of the Decade”
said Kay, a Royal Highland Agriculture Society director and
chief steward for all cattle lines and Young Farmers. “She’s
an easy winner being full of breed character with a lovely
presence, combined with great size and overall stature, whilst
also managing to remain a sweet looking female that fills her
frame well.”
The first of the other two Charolais champions to make it
to the short list was the 2019 winner Balthayock Nessie, an
entry from Major David and Nick Walter, Perthshire. A heifer’s
calf bred out of Balthayock Jessie, a Swalesmoor Cracker
daughter, she is sired by the 30,000gns Dingle Hofmeister.
Nessie also visited the Aylth show last year securing the breed
championship, the supreme beef interbreed championship
and the overall champion of champions awards, and she’s
gone on to produce her first calf in March of this year.
Also selected in the top three was Olrig Dubarry, who was
crowned breed champion in 2010. The 2008-born Dubarry,
who was bred and exhibited by The Logie Farm Partnership,
Newburgh, Fife, was also awarded the reserve ticket in the
inter-breed championships of that year. She was sired by
the £25,000 Maerdy Impeccable who was himself a prolific
show winner, counting amongst his many successes the 1999
Highland show championship. Her dam was Maerdy Alien, a
daughter of the Royal Welsh show supreme champion Maerdy
Ulm.
Finally, congratulations must go once again to all the last
decade’s Charolais Highland show champions, which
also include: John and Raymond Irvine’s 2011 champion
Inverlochy Cathy; Balmyle Eclipse from 2012 who secured the
championship for Bill Bruce; the 2014 champion Balmaud
Eclipse exhibited by M Bruce & Partners; Balthayock Imp who
secured the title in 2015 for Major Walter; Jenny and John
Rix’s 2016 champion Wissington Jocasta; Kilbline 1 Instigator
who claimed the 2017 title for previous winners John and
Raymond Irvine; and the Barclay family’s 2018 champion
Harestone Jaquard.
Scottish Agricultural Show Online in Association with the
Highland Show
Congratulations to AJR Farms, who were awarded the
prestigious Scottish Agricultural Show Online Champion of
Champions award.
Champion Maerdy Morwr, who was purchased by David
Stubbs of AJR Farms for his Ellon-based Newlogie Charolais
herd in December 2017 for £25,000 has proved a worthy
investment going on to produce almost 40 progeny into the
herd to date.
Bred by Flintshire Vet Esmor Evans, Maerdy Morwr is a son of
the home-bred Maerdy Dynamite who has sired almost 170
offspring in Esmor’s herd since 2011. His dam Maerdy Fee is
sired by the French-bred Victorieux who
24 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Balthyaock Imp
Balthayock Nessie
Balmaud Eclypse
Balmyle Eclipse
Elgin Catherine
Harestone Jazquard
Inverlochy Cathy
Kilbline 1 Instigator
Maerdy Morwr
Olrig Dubarry
Wissington Jocasta
Autumn Sale Dates
Carlisle 2 October Auctioneers: Harrison & Hetherington Ltd Tel: 01228 406230
Stirling 19/20 October Including the dispersal of the Westcarse herd on behalf of Mr JH Christie
Auctioneers: United Auctions Ltd Tel: 01786 473055
Dungannon 6 November Auctioneers: Dungannon Farmers Mart Tel: 028 8772 2727
Welshpool 12 November Auctioneers: Welshpool Livestock Sales Ltd Tel: 01938 553438
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
25

Charolais Youth
Sadly, following everything else this year, the Charolais youth
program was suspended due to the restrictions placed on us
because of the pandemic. Therefore, the only Charolais youth
participant this year was the shadow judge at the Society sale
in Stirling, February.
Thank you to Louise McArthur who agreed to judge for us,
Society judge Raymond Irvine and steward Ben Harman
who were very impressed by your conduct in the ring and,
on the back of that, have recommended to the council of
management that you’ll be added to the full judging panel to
be considered at the forthcoming September council meeting.
The Charolais youth programme will resume next year all
being well and we look forward to getting the show back on
the road.
Charolais Youth International
At last year’s technical congress in Ireland, Charolais
International once again invited member countries to send a
delegate to the Charolais Youth International Congress, which
is held each year at a different location. The 2020 congress was
to be held in Kansas, USA between the 3 and 12 July.
The trip was to be mostly funded with a grant from Charolais
International and the British Charolais Cattle Society would
cover the remaining costs, which would ensure that whomever
won the trip would not have to worry about making their
travel arrangements or covering the costs of their travel,
accommodation or meals.
As we had already awarded prizes to the winners of last year’s
national stock judging competition it was decided that we’d
invite candidates to apply for the chance to visit America.
For the first stage of the two step process, candidates were
required to complete a comprehensive application form
which we sent to all members of previous Charolais youth
competitions whose ages qualified them to take part, as well
as advertising the competition on our website, Facebook and
Twitter feeds.
The application required the candidates to tell us about
themselves as well as to write a personal statement and an
outline their ideas for promoting the breed. There were some
very impressive
and comprehensive
answers and the
judging panel had
their work cut out
trying to determine
who would be
chosen to progress
to the interview
stage, which was
held at Stirling bull
sales in February.
After a lot of
consideration by the
judging panel it was
decided that five of
the applicants would
be interviewed -
Julie Wight from
Biggar, Lynsday
Stirling shadow judge
Louise McArthur
Nelson from Brechin, Lois Scott from Glamis, Annabelle Howell
from Dereham and Tom Brown from Selby, and interviews
were arranged to be held with them and the interview panel –
Chris Curry, Andrew Hornall and Allen Drysdale on Saturday 15
February.
The interviews were scheduled for 30 minutes, and the
interview panel were really impressed with the answers given
by the candidates to questions such as: How would you best
describe British Charolais cattle and how would you promote
our genetics to the international delegates? What are your
aspirations and vision within the BCCS breed for the next 10
years? and What do you think could be done to encourage
more young farmers to use Charolais bulls?
Again, after the interviews, lengthy discussions were held with
the three experienced council members debating the merits of
the five excellent shortlisted candidates and the Society would
like to take this opportunity to thank them for taking on this
difficult task.
The winner and candidate who was due to travel to America
in July was Annabelle Howell, an 18 year-old from Norfolk
who runs her own Charolais herd and is taking a gap year to
gain more experience within the beef industry, before starting
university next year. Keen to embrace all things Charolais,
Annabelle is secretary of the Anglia Charolais club, has been
a consistent competitor in the Charolais youth program and
has served a work placement at the Society office. Although
this year’s International Youth Congress has been cancelled,
Annabelle’s international trip will still go ahead, as we’ve
booked her in for the Charolais International Youth Program
2021 due to be held in Perry, Georgia next June.
Thank you to all of the candidates who applied to take part,
all of the applications really were very impressive and it was
an extremely tough decision on who should go through to the
shortlist and then who would win the trip.
Annabelle Howell presentation at Stirling
All of the shortlisted candidates were asked if they would like
to become involved in Charolais youth and if they would write
an article for the newsletter. The first article we have received
is from Tom Brown, take it away Tom……….
26 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Hi, my name is Tom Brown and I’m
now 21 years of age. I’ve been involved
with Charolais cattle since I could walk, I
actually believe one of my first words was
‘Charolais’. As I’ve always had passion
and enthusiasm for the breed, I happily
agreed when the Charolais Society asked
me if I’d like to write an article about my
involvement.
My early influence came mainly from my
dad Andrew, who founded the ‘Ellerton’
Herd when he was a mere 15 years old,
so we’re talking a long time ago now.
From the start we’ve always aimed high
and enjoyed striving to produce the very
best we could.
In that time, we’ve competed at some of
the biggest shows in the country including
the Great Yorkshire, the Scottish National
and the National Charolais shows.
We’ve been placed in the top three
fairly regularly, and have won the odd
Championship section prize.
An early highlight was with ‘Ellerton
Utopia’ when she was junior champion,
female champion and reserve overall
champion at just over ten months of age. This was at the
Great Yorkshire show in 2004, when I just five years old. My
parents tell me they were really embarrassed taking such
a youngster to a major show, but this soon changed as she
started to do so well.
The following year ‘Ellerton Una’ beat Utopia in the young
two-year-old heifer class, and together they won the pairs
class at the Northern Charolais promotional event, also held at
the Great Yorkshire Show.
Our success continued in 2006 at the Scottish National show
where we took ‘Ellerton Audrey’ who won her class as a 10
and a half-month-old heifer. A year later she claimed the red
rosette once again at the Great Yorkshire winning the young
two-year-old heifer class.
Tom and younger brother Stuart
Ellerton Utopia – Reserve breed
champion at the
Great Yorkshire show
My early
show
days
A few years passed by and in 2013 we had
‘Ellerton Honeysuckle’ who came first in
her class and was placed reserve junior
champion at the Great Yorkshire again.
More recently has been ‘Ellerton Lucy’
who was also first in her class and
reserve junior female at the National
Charolais show in 2017 and ‘Ellerton
Nettle’ winning her class at the National
Charolais show in 2018, both held at my
beloved Great Yorkshire Show.
As well as my love for showing, probably
more importantly, we’ve sold many bulls
at the annual sales in Carlisle and Stirling.
Two of our earlier best sellers being
‘Ellerton Rambler’, who took first prize
and sold for 7,500gns in Perth, February
2002, and ‘Ellerton Crockett’ second in
his class and winner of the Yorkshire and
Lancashire championship, where he sold
for 6,000gns in Carlisle, May 2009.
The most memorable one of them all was
‘Ellerton Alberto’ who was a grandson
of our best cow and my dad’s favourite
‘Ellerton Larissa’ – she had sons sell up
to 5000gns. ‘Alberto’ went on to win
his class, and the Yorkshire/Lancashire
trophy, and sell for the top price of 22,000gns at Carlisle in
November 2006,
which is still the
record top price
for that sale
today.
Our only other
five figure
bull to date
was ‘Ellerton
Independent’
who was a
second prize
winner and sold
for 10,000gns
at Stirling
October 2014. I
Ellerton Una – Our show cow and one
of our best show heifers
remember the day well, sat in my teacher’s office watching the
bidding on her laptop, the cheers echoed down the corridor.
He was sold to the Chestnutt family in Northern Ireland, where
at their annual on farm sale ‘Independent’s’ sons have sold for
over 5,000gns a number of times.
‘Independent’ also went on to win the breed championship for
them at Ballymoney Show twice on the trot, including reserve
interbreed champion the first year, where he was literally
just taken out of the field to the showground. We are so
pleased and relieved Independent is doing well, as when
someone puts trust in your breeding it’s nice when they’re
rewarded.
I’ve gained experience as the years have gone by, keeping
Charolais and then going on to train as a butcher. Dad has
also been a big influence in teaching me what to look for
when stock judging. All these elements have helped me
understand what makes a good beef animal for the farmer
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
27

and the butcher.
This helped me a lot when it came to
competing at Young Farmer events where
I’ve been placed at County level including
third, second and first overall for Junior
Stockman of the year. This also led me on
to compete at a few National level stock
judging competitions, one being the Isle of
Man, which with being Young Farmers was
treated more like a holiday rather than a
competition.
Along with Young Farmers stock judging I’ve
competed in the Charolais stock judging
regional qualifiers, where I’ve been placed second a handful of
times. In 2018 I was fortunate enough to attend and win three
regional qualifiers in a row. This put me automatically through
to the Charolais Stock Judging final held at Peter Donger’s. I
was delighted to be placed third overall in the senior category,
which led me on to being asked to shadow judge the Stirling
October Bull sale, under the very helpful judge - Will Short
(Woodpark), who made time for me despite the pressure task
of judging Stirling.
Ellerton Larissa – Probably our bet
ever cow, with shape and size. Dam of
Audrey and Granddam of Alberto
Ellerton Audrey – Placed first at
both the Scottish National and Great
Yorkshire shows
to represent
them at the
‘National Young Stars’ held at the Three Counties showground
in August 2018. We had to prepare two heifers ready to be
shown for the ring, kindly provided by Mortimers Charolais.
This also included advertising why our breed is the best by
delivering a speech plus preparing a promotional stand.
I was chosen along with Mick Dumbreck (Brampton/Valentine)
and Harry Stobart (Scalehouse/Stobarts) to represent the
breed. Harry injured his hand in a neck collar, but despite
being all bandaged up and his arm in a sling he still got stuck in
with a comb and show stick.
Sadly, we didn’t win that competition (probably partly due to
three different clipping styles). But we were both unaware we
were also being judged for another competition (which you
had to be over 18 for and unfortunately Harry wasn’t) to be
awarded to the best three stockpersons where the prize was a
once in a lifetime trip to Canada.
Ellerton Lucy – Reserve
junior female champion
at the National show
Ellerton Nettle – First prize
at the National show at less
than a year old
I thought this was the biggest honour I could get, until I
received a letter from the Society inviting me on to the judging
panel, which at aged just 19 was a dream come true.
Along with stock judging, I’ve had the privilege to do a bit of
freelance stockmanship work for ‘Thrunton’ and ‘Brampton’
herds at the annual bull sales. I was delighted to pick up and
learn new skills from these experiences and I’m very grateful
to both families for being given the opportunity to help.
Another great honour was to have been chosen by the Society
I hate having to praise my father this much, but the passion
to produce something relevant to the industry directly comes
from him. The little things like how to relax the animal so it
doesn’t kick are also so useful as well as the actual farming
knowledge.
Alongside breeding cattle, my parents guided me down
the career path of butchery. I started as an apprentice at A
Laverack & Son butchers and bakers immediately after leaving
school five years ago. Laverack’s is a relatively large butchery
supplier to the quality end of the market with throughput
steadily increasing all the time. I enjoy my job and I’m learning
constantly, but one thing I have learnt is that hard work is
appreciated.
I get mocked by the other butchers for checking the breed
crosses of every carcase, but I find it most interesting. I can’t
say Charolais crosses are our most prominent, but my boss
Tim Laverack is quite
Recent show days
Ellerton Rambler – First
prize at Perth selling for
7,500gns
Ellerton Alberto – Sold for
22,000gns at Carlisle
28 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Ellerton Independent – sold to the
Chestnutt family for 10,000gns at
Stirling
One of Ellerton Independent’s sons
which sold for 5,100gns to the
Oldstone herd
Stockjudging regional winner at
Welshpool
Shadow judge at Stirling in October 2018
happy with a good Charolais that fits his specifications and
he acknowledges they have got more of a rear end over the
years. From my limited knowledge in our type of premises it is
a bit of a myth that fat cattle don’t need a back end, but I think
my boss would agree that gradual changes in eating habits
over the years do mean the rear doesn’t need to be quite as
extreme.
I love judging cattle and looking for perfection but a butcher
is basically looking for as much volume of beef as possible
throughout the whole carcase, as it all sells and cuts can be
tweaked to meet demand to a degree.
Michael, Harry and I at the National Show
Stars competition
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and I’m looking
forward to what the future holds for the British Charolais. I
can’t claim to fully understand all the complexities of Brexit,
but my boss certainly doesn’t anticipate us all being out of
a job. Fingers crossed the outcome is positive one overall,
meanwhile we wait with baited breath…
Fat cover and marbling are also very important for it to be
just right. Overall meat yield, killing out percentage and meat
to bone ratio are important factors as the bone ratio within a
carcase can vary quite significantly. Obviously a butcher buys
what they buy as they are looking for a profit, but this isn’t
necessarily directly hand-in-hand with the farmer’s profit,
as growth rate and feed efficiency are much more a primary
concern for the farmer rather than the butcher. Just out of
interest the ‘butcher’s choice’ of steak tends to be the ribeye
due to the marbling running through it adding to the flavour.
Both gene testing and myostatin are areas that interest me,
and I’m learning along with everyone else as it develops.
I’m sure at this stage we need to get too hung up with the
myostatin, as most breeds that Charolais tend to get crossed
on to don’t possess a double muscling gene so it isn’t
necessarily going to be on issue for them.
As a breeder we’ve tended to prioritise gestation length
over calving ease for years. We’ve certainly seen a benefit,
but reduction is a lengthy process to be honest. One thing
that hasn’t changed I can report first-hand, is the growth
superiority over other breeds that the Charolais were brought
in for nearly 60 years ago.
Here I am with one of our
Charolais heifers on the
block
At the Butchers
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
29

Brigadoon take judging to another level
The Connolly family at Brigadoon
have been in the Charolais business
since 1979. They’re huge supporters
of both national and local shows in
Northern Ireland. Their passion for
showing is perhaps unsurpassed
across any breed in the UK and
Ireland.
In their short mid-May to July
summer show season, it’s not
unusual for them to attend up to
eight shows, often varying their
team each week to showcase
the progeny bred at their 90 plus
head herd. If you’ve ever had the
opportunity to visit the Royal Ulster
Agricultural Show at Balmoral, then
you can’t have missed their stand.
They’ve won the coveted Champion
Interbreed Display Award multiple
times, and their success in the
show ring follows suit with a raft
of silverware, championships, and
placings, including Interbreed success.
So, when you’re hit with Covid-19 and no show team to
prepare, it’s no surprise that the Brigadoon crew sprang into
action to deliver a novel idea. They wanted to encourage
interest in the Charolais breed whilst at the same time
creating a bit of fun, and so they developed a Stock Judging
Competition on Facebook.
David Connolly, Council Member for Northern Ireland, told us
that he had the idea in the run up to what’s usually their last
show of the season at Clogher. “I was thinking that it was sad
that there was no National Show at Clogher, as last year was a
tremendous spectacle for us.”
As Chairman, David was pivotal
in organising the NI Charolais
National Show. He was also the
driving force behind the young
stock judging teams visiting
Northern Ireland to participate in
UK Finals for the first time.
David said “I was completely
delighted with the turnout of
stock for our National Show and
the number of young people who
arrived to take part. It really was
a sight to behold watching the
young breeders walk across the
show field en masse to judge
the rings of cattle. There was
huge interest, with the ringside
spectators standing three or
four deep. We also had a small
team of 17 cattle out at the show
ourselves, so it was a pretty full
on day… thankfully we also had
the full Brigadoon crew of helpers
out to assist, and a few of the young breeders rolled their
sleeves up and joined us for show time too.
“So, when you don’t have that amount of organising to do,
you have to find something to fill the void. I came up with the
idea of doing the Facebook Stock Judging competition and it
spiralled from there.
“Before I knew it, we had a sponsor on board; Provita Eurotech
Ltd. It’s a locally owned private company who develop,
manufacture and market natural animal health products. It’s
the only GMP licensed facility for the production of veterinary
probiotic products in Europe.
“We’ve been using the products at home and really like them,
so it was really good of George Shaw and
the team to get on board with us. And
then I was off out and about in the fields
with the camera one morning taking
photos of the young stock, no fancy filters
and all in their working clothes.
“Some folk were surprised that the
cattle were all from the same herd. To
be honest I had a bit of a job deciding
which ones to use, as there were many
to choose from. I wanted the classes to
be relatively challenging, as I knew this
would help the young breeders to learn
from the experience. I know the stock
bulls are both breeding really consistently
for us and they’re definitely leaving their
mark, which means that some of the
classes were very close.”
The stock are all home bred at Brigadoon,
from senior stock bull Goldies Icon, and
junior stock bull Newhouse Maxamus,
with many of the dams going back to
generations of Brigadoon breeding.
30 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

“There’s been great feedback about the
way that Ben put his points across and
was certain in what he was looking for,
giving a clear rationale for his placings. As
with every judging, not everyone agrees,
but there’s been huge respect for and
acknowledgement of the fact that Ben
was very clear in what he was looking for
and consistent in his views.”
There were 207 Facebook users who sent
in their results for each of the classes.
David said “To be honest we were blown
away by the interest. We never expected
to get such a cross section of ages from all
parts of the country and across the breeds
sending in their results and even receiving
postal entries too.
David went on to say “We were lucky as kids, as both dad
and mum (Albert & Maree) were instrumental in getting the
Charolais Young Judging up and running in Northern Ireland in
the 80s. We were always encouraged to take part in any stock
judging regardless of the breed.
“We also had a long and industrious career stock judging beef,
dairy, sheep and pigs in the YFCU. It was Young Farmers that
taught us the art of giving reasons, and also how to have a
good honest discussion about the stock with the coaches and
judges.
“Having Ben Harman, current British Charolais chairman as
our master judge was superb. If you haven’t already logged
onto Facebook to listen to his reasons, you really should. I’m
sure that many young people and judges alike could learn from
listening to him.
“We had some of the most elite and
highly respected judges from across
UK and Ireland taking part, and it was
really interesting to see how they would
have placed the classes. It’s also really
special to know that you can have three
generations of a family around a kitchen table, debating the
merits of stock.
“That’s how you learn the art of judging, and with over 1500
viewing the results videos, it really does just go to show the
level of interest in Charolais. We as a family had great fun
chatting back and forward to those who were taking part, and
keeping Maggie (David’s sister) on her toes recording all of
the entries when they were coming in thick and fast. It was a
lovely way to catch up with so many breeders & friends in the
unprecedented times that we are living in. Now the fun has
ended and the goodie bags are parcelled up and in the post.”
If you missed it on Facebook and want to have a go at judging
based on the photos, go ahead, you will find the results on
page 46. You can also go to the Brigadoon or British Charolais
Facebook pages to listen to the reasons for each of the classes
from Society chairman Ben Harman.
Thanks to David and the rest of the
Brigadoon crew for developing the
creative idea and encouraging interest in
the Charolais breed and the development
of our breeders both old and new.
Well done to everyone who took part,
especially to our young breeders.
Congratulations to those who were placed
in each of the classes.
Dougie McBeath won the senior section,
Dougie has had a long and industrious
breeding and show career with partner
Sarah Jane at the Springsett Limousin
herd, although very often seen with a
Charolais in hand.
New and upcoming breeder Naomi
Hamilton who has just recently purchased
her first pedigree Charolais along with
fiancé George Hadnett starting the
Sydenville Charolais herd won the
Intermediates.
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
31

James Morrison, from Drummeer Charolais in Fermanagh won
the junior class. James is definitely following in the footsteps
of dad, Alan and Granda Edwin and has already had great
success across the breeds as he develops his stock judging
skills.
Dougie McBeath Naomi Hamilton James Morrison
PENTERVIN POLLED CHAROLAIS
Large selection of Homozygous bulls available sired by
French imported and homebred UK stock bulls
Easy calving bulls, great shaped calves, semen for sale from
homozygous bulls.
Please contact David & Sadie Littlehales
01743 891188 / 07771 571478 / 07767 633200
www.facebook.com/pentervinpolledcharolais
Sadieanddavidlittlehales2018@gmail.com
www.polledcharolais.co.uk
32 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Measuring pelvic area proving a useful tool in
heifer selection
Measuring the pelvic area of heifers selected for breeding is
proving a useful management tool and reducing the incidence
of difficult calving in suckler herds in the North-east of
Scotland.
Vet, Ewan Jamieson of Meadows Veterinary Centre is
encouraging farmers to weed out heifers with small pelvic
areas with encouraging results in terms of fewer assisted
calving’s and higher scanning percentages.
to increase, but more slowly, up to three years of age. Growth
is influenced by many factors, including breed, weight,
nutrition and genetics.”
Measuring is carried out by the vet using a set of specially
developed callipers. Both height and width are measured –
not just pelvic area – as these are the critical measurements
required to determine whether a heifer is big enough to calve
easily.
“We have found that similar looking heifers often have a wide
range of pelvic sizes,” he says. “Those at the extremes of the
scale are easily detected and pulled out from the group before
bulling.”
ROUTING PELVIC SCORING
Ewan Jamieson is encouraging his clients to adopt the
routine pelvic scoring of heifers. Any heifers considered not
big enough to breed, whether home bred or bought-in, are
finished and culled rather than being taken into the breeding
herd.
Valuable information has been collated on the various types of
cows found in Aberdeenshire and a cut-off point determined
for each breed or cross.
“Selecting on the basis of pelvic score will bring benefits
throughout the animal’s lifetime,” he points out. “Pelvic size
increases most in the first year of a heifer’s life and continues
Pelvic measuring has been
found to improve calving
ease, with less traumatic
calving’s, fewer caesareans,
lower vets’ bills and more live
calves. Easier calving also
means cows get back to the
bull more quickly, resulting in
tighter calving intervals.
“One of the herds we look
after which has been using
Charolais bulls and practising
pelvic scoring for a number
of years had it first caesarean
this year for five years – and
that was only because of a
backward presentation,” Mr
Jamieson reports.
“Similar looking heifers
often have a wide range
of pelvic sizes” - Meadows
vet, Ewan Jamieson
Who to contact at the Charolais Office
• Peter Phythian, Chief Executive – Tel: 07949 262293 Email: peter@charolais.co.uk
• Rusmi Parekh, Office Manager: herd book enquiries – Tel: 07377 119224
Email: rusmi@charolais.co.uk
• Sue Stenner, Communications Manager: for social media, website, competition entries,
Charolais Youth, DNA typing & sales enquiries – Tel: 07958 210243 Email: sue@charolais.co.uk
• Rebecca Fraser: for accounts enquiries, ET registrations, inspections & memberships –
Tel: 07377 119307 Email: rebecca@charolais.co.uk
• Fiona Warner: for registrations, transfers, newsletters & website enquiries –
Tel: 07377 119345 Email: fiona@charolais.co.uk
• Mandy Mooney: for DNA enquiries – Tel: 07377 119312 Email: dna@charolais.co.uk
• Julie Holmes: for Breedplan enquiries, sale entries and herd book enquiries–
Tel: 07377 119233 Email: julie@charolais.co.uk
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
33

Investing in top bloodlines is vital
Hoping that the ‘early bird caught the worm’, respected
Charolais breeder Major David Walter has snapped up the
stunning young bull Elrick Paragon from Mike Massie for
£15,000.
Major David Walter
When the bull arrived at Balthayock, Major Walter said how
pleased they all were in the way he had grown since they first
saw him. “He has great length, good muscling, a fine head
and a great temperament… but only time will tell if he meets
our high expectations when his first sons enter the sale ring in
three years’ time.”
The farm was the under-bidder for a Maerdy Gouverneur son
that took the reserve championship at Stirling in February and
sold to Charlie Boden for 25,000gns.
“Paragon joins the farm’s other new purchase of a half share
with the Smeaton’s of Maerdy Osgood. Both bulls share
Massie, Evans and French bloodlines so will bring something
a little different to our herd. We’ve always used the mating
predictor program to plan our breeding and it’s proved
invaluable. Our policy is to avoid any inbreeding beyond 7 per
cent, so we’ve been on the lookout for some new bloodlines
for a year or so.”
Paragon has incomplete EBVs but his raw data of over 800kgs
when last weighed, and scrotal circumference of 39cms would
give him terminal and replacement EBVs in the low 60s which
will blend in nicely with some of our home grown bulls such
as Impression and his son Nevada who are all in the top 1 per
cent of the breed. Gouverneur’s calves in three herds have all
had low birth weights with is an added attraction.
“There’s a direct correlation between scrotal circumference
and fertility,” he says, “and at 39cms he’s well above average
for his age.”
Major Walter is all too aware that this young bull still has
everything to prove, but hopes he was the early bird that
caught the worm, buying the bull before he was put in the sale
ring.
“You have to be prepared to spend to find a great herd sire,”
he says. “Yes, it’s high risk because you don’t know what you
have, but you must invest in the future or you don’t make any
progress.”
He’s very enthusiastic and supportive of Breedplan, and as a
Charolais breeder for the past 50 years, is keen to do all he can
to improve the national herd as well as his own animals.
Balthayock is 1600 acres, mostly grass, and carries 115
pedigree Charolais cows and followers, plus 140 suckler cows
which are a mixture of cross Simmental and Shorthorn. The
heifers run with home bred Charolais bulls that they know
offer easy calving. A flock of 700 Lleyn run with Texel tups to
complete the livestock enterprise. The farm also grows oats
and both spring and winter barley, all for its own use, selling
any surplus.
“We use an Aitchison direct drill from New Zealand and add
clover and good grass into the paddocks. We buy in a lot of
straw as the animals are inside over the winter, well-bedded,
and then spread this on the fields from spring. The dung adds
P and K and the clover helps to fix N.”
After such a severe drought this spring the farm may have to
reconsider its stocking rates, but the aim will still be to sell
between 30 and 40 bulls a year through the national sales, and
privately, plus some pedigree heifers, but the policy has always
been to keep the cow herd young and benefit from the rapid
genetic improvement that’s available.
The cattle are all housed in big open sheds, and around the
turn of the year the bull calves are weaned from their mothers
and put in pens of three with access to their own, separate,
small paddocks controlled by electric fencing. The grass
paddocks allow them to exercise and, as they grow at a fast
rate, give them room to move about.
“There’s no double that the supermarkets and largely Irishowned
abattoirs are doing the suckler industry no favours,”
says Maj Walters. “Beef from the dairy herd is a poor imitation
of the wonderful beef we have traditionally produced in
Scotland from grass-reared cattle of native breeds and also
from continental breeds which, during the past 50 years have
been introduced and modified to suit our environment and
extensive system of beef production.
They are vital to the management of the 60 per cent of our
countryside which cannot grow arable crops and which would
otherwise soon become an unsightly wilderness of scrub
and bracken. What sort of effect is this going to have on our
tourist industry?”
“At the same time arable farmers are finding that the organic
content of their soil is fast disappearing. A simple way to put
that right would be to fill their empty sheds over winter with
store cattle and they would soon find that the resultant dung
34 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

spread on their fields would transform the soil quality and
might even earn them some extra Government support for
their efforts.”
Maj Walters points out that a costing exercise in Northern
Ireland by a cost accountancy firm nearly 20 years ago found
that the annual cost of keeping a suckler cow was £800 and
the breakeven price of its offspring was 480p/kg.
“As producers we used to be paid 55 per cent of the retail
price for fat cattle, now we’re lucky if we get 44 per cent,”
he says. “I can’t help but think there is some conspiracy
among the Irish abattoirs to promote the beef from Ireland to
replace our quality Scottish beef from our herds and supply
the supermarket’s less discerning customers with Holstein
crosses.”
He finds it interesting to compare the Scottish industry with
that in Norway. “The main difference there is that their
Government appreciates the importance of maintaining the
suckler herds and insured that the farmers are paid a price
which leaves them a well-earned profit. The abattoirs are all
owned cooperatively by farmers and the result is a price of at
least £6.50/kg or equivalent for both the breeder and feeder. I
think we have much to learn from their system.”
He says that Charolais are “the most wonderful cattle to work
with” and that now the breed has moved on from going for
big backsides at the price of difficult calving, the Society is
breeding cattle that calve easily with unbeatable liveweight
gains, milk fertility and good temperament.
“After 50 years in the breed I still feel I have a lot to learn, but
with the help of Breedplan I have seen huge improvements
in the breed and I’m confident that we’ll soon reclaim the
position of the breed as first choice in beef production.
“Over the years I have tried all the breeds, and I know from
my own experience that nothing can compare with a Charolais
as a terminal sire on a suckler herd. And, with their great
character, they’re a joy to work with.”
Declarations at Society Sales
All VET declarations at Society sales will be placed on the pen card and marked as
yellow on the lot number.
THE YEAR LETTER FOR 2021 IS S
New Entries on to the Semen Royalty Scheme
Northhouse Mccoist MBM0070239 £30.00
Prices include the VAT
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
35

UK Charolais bull gets selected for leading AI business
A Charolais bull has hit the record books
- purchased by Norbreck Genetics for
the bull catalogue offered by leading AI
company Semex.
The young bull, Millbridge Pedro, has
been purchased from Emily Harryman at
Wigton, and will now enter performance
testing where Norbreck Genetics will
record between 150 and 200 of his
calving’s in the next 14 months before
confirming his suitability for Semex sales.
Assuming all goes well, his future may
well be in Hungary where the European
stud for Semex is based, allowing for
easier semen export across the world.
This is the first UK-bred Charolais bull to
be purchased by Norbreck, and director
Philip Halhead has said he’s ‘excited’ to
be adding the bull to his collection. He
enters the breed records as the first
UK Charolais bull to be purchased for
Semex’s bull catalogue.
Millbridge Pedro was born on March 19
2019, and was shown once as a calf at
Thirsk, where he scooped first prize in a
multi-breed Rising Star class at eight months of age.
He is by Northhouse Mccoist, the farm’s stock bull, out of a
Blelack Flower dam that was bought with money from Emily’s
parents for her 21 st birthday.
“I’m really excited to have secured this lovely young bull,”
said Philip. “The partners did a cracking video of him at the
start of lockdown that they placed on social media, and I was
immediately attracted to the type of bull he was. I went to
visit him and was equally impressed.
“In the past dairy farmers have moved away from the Charolais
as an obvious cross because they used to have some calving
difficulties. But today’s Charolais is a very different animal, and
dairy producers are coming back to Charolais in droves. They
The Millbridge family with Millbridge Pedro
have so much to offer in terms of growth rates, beef yield and
market demand.”
Philip says he was particularly drawn to this bull because of
his calving ease, liking his smoother shoulder and slightly
lighter bone, which is combined with shorter gestation length
attributes.
“The number one priority is to provide a bull that’s first and
foremost what dairy farmers need to provide the demands of
the supply chain. Now we can combine easy calving with high
growth rates we’ve a breed in big demand within this sector.”
Emily says she was overwhelmed when Philip approached
her about the bull. “We’re a small set up, with only seven
pedigree Charolais cows on 30 acres. So to sell a bull to
Norbreck is really exciting.”
Emily farms with her mother Judith Hunter at Bridgemill
Farm, Wigton near Carlisle in Cumbria. She milks cows as
a living, and her mother is a bank manager, so she admits
the cows have always been ‘a bit of a hobby’.
“I’d love to be able to grow the herd, but so far I’ve sold
virtually all the progeny. We always thought a lot of Pedro
as a calf and when he won the class at Thirsk we had lots
of comments about him. So it’s great to know that others
like what we like.”
She admits to having a couple of tears when he was
loaded to leave the farm, but’s excited about following his
future, and still having access to his semen.
Millbridge Pedro
“He’s a lovely example of the Charolais – he has the easy
calving traits as well as growth rates, and we are very
proud breeders.”
36 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Society Chairman Finalist in the 2020
British Farming Award
Society Chairman Ben Harman has been shortlisted in the Beef
innovator of the year category of this year’s British Farming
Awards which are held in association with Morrisons.
Now in its eighth year, the awards celebrate British farmers
who have successfully introduced innovations to drive their
businesses forward.
Sophie Throup, Head of Agriculture, Fisheries and Sustainable
Sourcing at Morrisons, said the awards were a welcome
reminder of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by
UK farmers all year round.
“In these unprecedented times, we’d like to thank and
celebrate the work of British farmers and growers who are
helping to feed the nation,” she says.
“At Morrisons, we’ve always valued British farming and being
able to buy products directly from farms for our stores and the
many food banks who rely on us is more important than ever.
“The awards provide us with a timely reminder to pause and
acknowledge the effort, innovation and skills which go into
providing food farmed to the high standards that we all enjoy.”
The awards night, and presentations, will take place on
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 and due to the current
restrictions will be taking place virtually.
Ben was nominated for the awards after the article written by
Angela Calvert featured in the Farmers Guardian in April, an
extract of which follows:
‘Ben’s enterprise runs across three holding, totalling 677 acres
of the Chesham countryside in Buckinghamshire. His 50 cows
and followers (totalling about 120 head) include his beloved
Chesham pedigree Charolais herd and his father Dan’s Silver
herd.
“My aim is to produce easy calving bulls with the focus not
on the backend but on the cuts which add value, such as
loin and fillet, so increasing the eye muscle area is key. Milk,
functionality and temperament is also important, as quiet
cattle grow better and are easier to manage,” he said.
“Although being in a TB one area makes it hard to take bulls up
to Stirling, it’s the farms location which is proving to be one of
our greatest assets when it comes to beef sales. We’re within a
25-mile radius of eleven of the country’s richest postcodes and
19 million of its richest consumers which presents a fantastic
opportunity to sell a high value product.”
The product Ben is marketing is his Chagyu beef, which he
explains is a concept, not just a cross. It derives from the result
of Wagyu semen used on his Charolais females.
Ben started using a little Wagyu
semen from around 2006, but a
visit to the Rockhampton beef
week in Australia in 2009 led to a
greater understanding of how to
achieve repeatable quality meat,
hence the creation of the brand.
Ben Harman
He said: “The Charolais already produces a quality carcase but
crossing with Wagyu results in increased marbling on the meat
and produces a succulent high-quality beef which is not as
extreme in taste as pure Wagyu.
“To be successful when direct selling, the product has to be
consistent and be consistently of the very highest quality – it is
about repeatability. Every time the consumer eats our beef it
has to exceed expectations.
“This is not only down to genetics, but also to feeding and
management throughout the animal’s life, at slaughter and
immediately afterwards,” says Ben.
“Stress has a big impact on meat quality and it takes 42 days
after an animals has been stressed for its hormones to return
to normal. We take the right steps throughout the animal’s
life to reduce stress by avoiding mixing groups, using fence
line weaning and ensuring we have a good handling system in
place. We also maintain a consistent diet to minimise growth
curve disruption and avoid gristle developing in the meat.”
Ben aims for his heifers to calve at two-and-a-half years old
and all heifers are inseminated with Wagyu semen, which is
chosen purely on the eye muscle area and marbling estimated
breeding values. He says “By using Wagyu on heifers, it gives
me the opportunity to see what they’re like as cows before
using them for pedigree breeding. I don’t use Wagyu semen
on any cows.”
The resulting calves are usually slaughtered at 21-23 months
old, producing a 400kg carcase, which Ben says achieves a
balance between tenderness and flavour. The beef is then
hung for 28 days after slaughter and butchered locally before
being sold to private customers and high-class pubs and
restaurants.
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
37

James Jeffrey 1926 -2020 A Charolais Pioneer
James Jeffrey (Jimmy) was born on the
10 September 1926 and was raised
at Deuchrie, an upland farm in the
Lammermuir hills in East Lothian. It was
mainly a sheep farm carrying flocks of
Blackface and Border Leicester sheep.
The Border Leicester flock is still in
existence and is the oldest registered
flock. In 1953 Jimmy married his wife,
Margaret Young and in 1958 followed
his uncle into Kersknowe, a much more
productive farm on the Roxburgh estate
in the Scottish Borders close to Kelso.
Jimmy and Margaret had four children
namely Elizabeth, Judy, John and Susie.
Jimmy
Being a keen livestock man Jimmy
became excited when the Charolais
cattle were given the green light to
be imported from France into the UK under strict quarantine
conditions. He applied for some heifers in 1965 and was
bitterly disappointed to miss out on the ballot as due to foot
and mouth in France, only breeders in England were allocated
animals.His disappointment didn’t last long as he secured six
‘C’ heifers the following year and the Kersknowe Herd was
founded with a membership number of 173.
and Northern Charolais Association as well as
setting up the Charolais sales with MacDonald
Fraser (later to become United Auctions) in the
Caledonian Road Perth market. In 1971 the first
5 figure Charolais bull was sold at Perth when
Kersknowe Festival was sold for 10,000gns to the
Scottish Milk Marketing Board. Since those early
days there will have been Kersknowe bulls sold
annually through the Perth/Stirling Society sales.
Jimmy`s involvement with the BCCS culminated
in his presidential appointment in 1991/92 and
during this time he together with Margaret
attended the Australian World Charolais
Congress. Another highlight of his presidency was
presenting Queen Sofia of Spain with a Charolais
figurine when she officially opened the newly
constructed Charolais pavilion during the 1993
Royal Show. (Pictured below)
Jimmy became very much involved with the recently formed
BCCS and was appointed onto the Council of Management
and subsequently visited France on numerous occasions on
the official buying commissions. These were heady days in
the early years of the Society and to listen to Jimmy telling
countless yarns of the buying groups splitting up to view
cattle and then re-convening at La Renaissance hotel in
Magny Cours to discuss the day`s selections over a glass or
two of rouge with the occasional brandy was quite absorbing,
particularly when his old friend Bobby Robinson was leading
the Commission!!
Jimmy was one of the members who formed the Scottish
In 1992 Jimmy was awarded an OBE for his services to
agriculture and in 2002 the Royal Highland Agricultural Society
awarded him the Sir William Young award in recognition of
his service to the Scottish livestock sector. Other honours
included being the Deputy Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick and
Lauderdale for his commitment to the Borders area which was
so dear to his heart.
Beyond the Charolais world he was also chairman of the
Moredun Institute and was instrumental in setting up Scott
Country Potato Producers co-operative in Kelso which
specialises in seed potato production. He was also, for a time,
the President of the Borders Area in the SNFU and for a period
was the livestock convener.
Kersknowe Festival in the paddock prior to being sold at
the Perth bull sales for a then record price of 10,000gns
Jimmy attended the Kelso tup sales every year since 1942
when he sold half bred tups and Border Leicester tups. He
was a past president of the Border Leicester Sheep Society,
38 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

as were his father and grandfather
before him and like his father
and grandfather kept all the sale
catalogues going back over a
hundred years. In fact he recently
showed me a catalogue in which his
grandfather had shown sheep and
he wistfully remarked whether the
next generation would have a good
bonfire when his time was up.
In 2019 he was given the accolade
of ringing the bell at 10 am at the
Kelso tup sales for the various
auctioneers to be given notice to
start the sale in their various rings.
This was a momentous occasion
as it set a precedent for somebody
other than the Border Union
secretary to announce the start
of the sale in this time-honoured
manner.
Some 20 years ago he and Margaret
left the farm and moved to Kelso
into a house which overlooked
the Tweed Bridge and beyond to
the world-famous salmon fishing
Junction Pool and Floors Castle.
When at home he continued to
take the papers to Kersknowe
each day and keep an eye on the
proceedings particularly when John was away with his rugby
commitments. He was also a regular visitor to Deuchrie and up
to being 90 would stay there for several weeks during lambing.
When visiting Deuchrie he would return with bottles of the
fresh spring water, which tasted much sweeter than that from
the cold-water tap, especially so when added to his favourite
tipple of Johnnie Walker Black Label
On a personal note one of my first recollections of meeting
An early importation of heifers at Kersknowe are checked over by Jimmy and Bobby
Robinson, Alec Calder, Pierre Dewavrin, Jacques de Maintenant,
Perry Fairfax and Margaret Jeffrey
Jimmy was when he was judging Charolais at the Great
Yorkshire Show in 1982.
I was working at Brampton and we had won the Charolais
championship and the Burke Trophy the previous week at the
Royal Show with Parsonage Nebulus and we came back to
earth with a bump when Jimmy placed the bull third, although
he did make amends by making Brampton Mull champion and
later backed his judgement by buying her bull calf.
When my daughter moved into the Kelso
area, I would call in to see Jimmy for a chat
or to pick him up and drive him to a Charolais
show or sale. He had the most remarkable
memory for people, places and dates and
loved to tell a story or tell a joke.
Time soon slipped by when listening to
Jimmy telling livestock stories about the good
old days with a glass of Johnnie Walker Black
Label and Deuchrie water to sip.
He lived life to the full and he had even taken
in two sheep sales a day or two before he
passed away. He has unfortunately taken a
wealth of knowledge with him.
So the next time you have a drink of whisky,
especially Black Label, raise a glass to the
memory of Jimmy Jeffrey one of the early
Charolais pioneers.
Jimmy enjoying the Stirling bull sales pictured with Jim Goldie
David Benson
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
39

John Blewitt - Reddivallen Charolais
Monday 10 February 2020, after a weekend of 80 mile an
hour gale force winds, family, friends and neighbours from
all over the South West travelled to the beautiful parish
church in St Teath to remember and say our goodbyes to
John Blewett. The day came with the full gamut of Cornish
weather as the mass of crocuses around the church shone
and sparkled in the sunshine and showers, with a dash of
thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure. After a
service full of references to John’s beloved Cornwall, with
the haunting sounds of Jethro’s renditions of ‘Red Rocks’
and ‘Cornwall My Home’ still in our ears we decamped to
The White Hart for refreshments and a ‘catch up’ when all
the happy memories of past shows and sales with John,
Marjorie and the family brought laughter and tears.
Members of the South West Charolais will remember the
whole family being involved with the Reddivallen herd
and they were an important part of our Show scene. John
was a past Chairman and President of the SWCA and twice
represented us Nationally as our Council Member. His
knowledge of the breed made him the ideal person to help
and give advice to any new members and his humour and
friendship was something we all missed when they left for
Australia.
John’s children Clare, Mark and Fay have sent me some
words and pictures which sum up John’s love of our breed
– pointing out his ‘claim to fame’ as being the only person
to win a Supreme Championships in Perth on two different
continents. Some achievement. Thank you for this - he was a
real champion.
--------------------------------------------
Sadly John Blewett (Reddivallen Herd 1983-2000) passed
away peacefully, in his adopted country of Australia in January
this year after a long illness. John and Marjorie founded the
Reddivallen herd in Cornwall in 1983 with the purchase of a
cow from the Balmyle herd, a heifer from Wesley and the bull
Dunningswood Utrecht, a Lunesdale Harvest son. They went
on to expand their herd with additions from the Tamar herd
and in 1987 they purchased two heifers from Mrs McAlpine’s
Cullum herd. These two heifers Beaujolais and Britannia
proved to have a huge influence on the Reddivallen herd.
Beaujolias went on to produce Reddivallen Eau De Vie who
sired some excellent quality females and Reddivallen Heiniken,
a Brampton Chopper son, who went on to produce the Perth
Supreme Champion, Reddivallen
Magnum in 1998.
With the addition of two heifers
from Gredington, and two cows
from Givendale the herd size
increased and in 1993 a great
breeding cow Meade Christa was
purchased. She bred cattle with
presence and excellent growth. One
of her sons Reddivallen Oneman
went on to be Junior Beef Breeder
Champion at The Royal in 1999.
In 1994 Coley Jackpot was
purchased at Perth as a calf for his
great backend which proved to be an excellent investment
as he passed this onto his progeny. Jackpot was out of
the excellent cow Brampton Crystal and sired by Chamois
Ambassador who was Perth Champion in 1986. Moyness Mars
sired by Maerdy Impeccable was purchase at The Royal in
1997 after being Junior Champion and his two brothers both
being placed first in their respective classes.
A highlight for John and Marjorie was being part of the British
Charolais contingent to
travel to the 1997 World
Charolais Convention in
the USA. Where they
viewed some outstanding
cattle and made some
great memories. They
even experienced prairie
oysters!
The Reddivallen herd
was dispersed in 2000
following the family’s
decision to emigrate to
Western Australia and John
and Marjorie settled just
40 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

outside Kojonup in Western Australia with their son Mark and
his family on a 4,000-acre property. It didn’t take long for John
to start building a Charolais herd again, he purchased about 25
or 30 cows and he also imported semen from his bull Moyness
Mars.
John continued to show his beloved Charolais’ across Western
Australia and had most success at the Perth Royal Show. In
addition to his pedigree cattle he branched out for several
years showing Commercial Steers and won the Supreme
Championship at the Perth Royal.
In recent years John and Marjorie’s health failed them but the
Charolais herd is still run commercially on the property near
Kojonup.
John leaves his wife Marjorie and family in both Cornwall and
Australia.
Obituraries
We’re very sad to tell you about the sudden and tragic deaths
of two of British Charolais’ longest standing members in the
past month. Our thoughts and sincere sympathies go out to
their families and friends.
John Davies – Tanat
A well-known and well-respected breeder, John was a stanch
Charolais supporter. His interest began with a holiday to
Brittany in the early seventies, and progressive as he was, he
recognised the potential of the breed, taking a trip back over
to France shortly afterwards to purchase his first Charolais
cattle.
Heavily involved in the Society from the beginning, he was
a Welsh representative of the council of management in the
1980’s plus a steward at the Royal Welsh show for many years,
and his animals regularly featured amongst the top priced at
the Society’s Welshpool sales.
Described as a quiet man and a real gentleman, when asked
for advice it was said that he would always give you a level
and measured response.
Mike Brown, Barons Cross Charolais Stud –
Charbron
Having joined
the Society in
1977, Mike
Brown will be
remembered
for his
determined
and spirited
nature. He
was passionate
about the
Charolais
breed, and a regular attendee and Charolais exhibitor at the
Three Counties, National and Royal Welsh shows, to name but
a few. Securing a continental title at the Burwarton show, an
interbreed championship at the Three Counties, and a reserve
supreme championship at the Royal Welsh were just three of
the highlights of his show career.
Throughout his time as a Charolais member he was a constant
supporter of Society sales and took bulls to auction marts
throughout the country and as far afield as Stirling, where
he had his most successful visit in 2013 selling three bulls
to average almost £10,000 and topping at 12,000gns, an
impressive feat from a six-cow herd.
Beginning his career as a grader for MLC, grading lambs and
cattle at livestock markets, his love for exhibiting cattle began
at the fatstock shows before he purchased his first Charolais,
although his passion for showing Charolais didn’t really take
hold until his retirement in the late 90s.
Mike leaves behind his wife Anne, son and daughter. His
beloved Charbron herd is due to be dispersed at Welshpool on
22 September.
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
41

NOSTALGIA Can you remember what happened 25 years ago?
See page 51 for the answers
1
6
6
2
7
3
4
8
5 9
10 10
42 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

BALMYLE CHAROLAIS
SCOTTISH & NORTHERN OVERALL HERD WINNERS 2018
A PREMIUM CATTLE HEALTH SCHEME HERD
JOHNE’S LEVEL 1: BVD ACCREDITED: IBR ACCREDITED: TB 4 YR TESTING
STOCK BULLS 2020
His
Dam
OVILL LENNON
Sire: Goldies Usher by Dingle Hofmeister
SAGESSE FLORIENNE
“ALL IRELAND “ Champion heifer
OVILL LENNON Sired the best group of 3 at Stirling in October 2019 including the
Intermediate Champion Balmyle Oscar sold for 9,500gns.
He also sired Balmyle Onward sold for 9,000gns in February 2020.
He is the sire of 5 more outstanding bulls for sale at Stirling in October 2020
BALMYLE JASPER
Sire: Gwenog Banjo Dam: Balmyle Flourish
Sire of Allanfauld Neptune 20,000gns
His first son from Balmyle ‘Oleary’ sold to Balthayock
for 10,000gns
Calving ease +5.5
SEMEN FOR SALE FROM MOST OF OUR PREVIOUS AND
CURRENT STOCK SIRES
BULLS AND FEMALES FOR SALE PRIVATELY
BALTHAYOCK MINSTREL
Sire: Balthayock Ferdinand Dam: Balthayock Gem
UA Stirling Champion February 2018
His first son Balmyle Panther is impressive and will be sold
at Stirling in October 2020
Calving ease +11.7
Bruce Farms - Balmyle, Meigle, Perthshire PH12 8QU
Phone - Office/Bill Bruce: 01828 640228
Herd Manager/Dane Ivison - 07881 100378
Fax: 01828 640287 E-mail: bill@brucefarms.co.uk
Web: www.brucefarms.co.uk
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
43
43

Northern Ireland
NI CHAROLAIS CLUB PRIZEGIVING SUCCESS
Northern Ireland Charolais club held
their prize giving night after the club’s
AGM at the Glenavon House Hotel,
Cookstown on 27 February 2020.
The club would like to thank all our
sponsors who have supported the
club throughout the year.
Awards as follows:
March sale 2019
THE MILLAR TROPHY – SUPREME
CHAMPION, MARCH SALE- 2019 MR C
& S McIlwaine– CORRICK NAPOLEON
THE NORTHERN BANK SALVER – HOMEBRED SUPREME
CHAMPION - 2019 MR C & S MCILWAINE – CORRICK
NAPOLEON
FIRST TRUST BANK SALVER – CHAMPION FEMALE MARCH
SALE - 2019 MR K VEITCH – DRUMLONE NADINE
Eilis Kelly
pictured with
Neil McIlwaine
receiving the
Millar Trophy
and the
Northern Bank
Silver Salver
SWATRAGH SALE 2019
THE ELMPARK CUP – SUPREME
CHAMPION, JUNE SALE
2019 Aaron Quigley – Ardmacree Noah
Aaron Quigley
with his trophy
the Elmpark
Cup at the
Swatragh Sale
in June
THE BARDIN TROPHY – BEST CHAROLAIS ANIMAL, BALMORAL
2019 Patrick Gallagher – Elgin Nancy
THE BREEDERS PERPETUAL CHALLENGE PUNCHBOWL WITH
ORNATE LID – BEST BULL BALMORAL
2019 David Bothwell – Killadeas Orlando
THE ORAGE TROPHY – BEST COW OR HEIFER, BALMORAL
2019 Nigel & Gail Matchett – Tawny Jasmine
H A CURRY CUP – BEST JUNIOR BULL BALMORAL
2019 David Bothwell – Killadeas Orlando
JOHN K CURRIE CUP – BEST HEIFER BALMORAL - 2019 Patrick
Gallagher – Elgin Nancy
BRIGADOON PERPETUAL TROPHY – BEST HOMEBRED
ANIMAL, BALMORAL -2019 Susan Smyth – Bessiebell Nana
Eilis Kelly
presenting
Kenny Veitch
with the First
Bank Salver
Patrick and Niamh
Gallagher pictured
with their trophies,
The Bardin Trophy
and the John J
Currie Cup
MAY SALE 2019
THE SIMPSON TROPHY – SUPREME CHAMPION, MAY SALE
2019 S MCCAUGHEY – FYMORE OLAF
Eilis Kelly
presenting David
Bothwell with his
trophies for Best
Bull and Best Junior
bull at Balmoral
Eilis Kelly
presenting Sean
McCaughey
with the
Simpson Trophy
at the May
Dunnganon sale
Gail Matchett pictured with
The Orage Trophy for the best
cow or heifer at Balmoral
44 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

BANK OF IRELAND NI NATIONAL CHAROLAIS CHAMPIONSHIP
FARMING LIFE CUP – SUPREME CHAMPION - 2019 Matchett
Family with Summervilla Niki
BEST PAIRS – BROKERS BOWL - 2019 Matchett Family
SENIOR MALE CHAMPION – PLAQUE - 019 John McGrath with
Sportsmans Monarch
JUNIOR MALE CHAMPION – PLAQUE - 2019 S & D Bothwell
with Killdeas Orlando
SENIOR FEMALE CHAMPION – PLAQUE - 2019 Matchett Family
with Summervilla Niki
JUNIOR FEMALE CHAMPION – PLAQUE - 2019 – Jeremy
Paynter – Drumilly Overjoyed
OVERALL PAIR - PLAQUE - 2019 Matchett Family
Eimear and Orlagh
McGovern pictured with
their trophies, Eimear
was senior champion and
Orlagh was the intermediate
champion
Eimear and Orlagh
McGovern pictured with
their trophies for highest
points in stockjudging
Eilis Kelly presenting Gail
Matchett with her plaque
for the Senior Female
Champion and Overall
Pairs champion
Gail and Nigel Matchett
with their trophies for
Supreme Champion and
Best Pair
NOVEMBER SALE
LAMBEG CUP NOVEMBER SALE – SUPREME MALE CHAMPION
2019 - Royaldowns Orlando owned by M McKeown
AUCTIONEERS SILVER SALVER – BEST EXHIBITOR BRED
ANIMAL NOV SALE
2019 - Royaldowns Orlando owned by M McKeown
ULSTER BANK ROSE BOWL – FEMALE CHAMPION NOVEMBER
SALE - 2019 - Gallion Nancy owned by E Johnston & Son
Sarah Johnston
receiving the
Ulster Bank Rose
Bowl for female
champion at
Dungannon
David Bothwell pictured
with his plaque for Junior
Male Champion
Eilis Kelly presenting
Jeremy Paynter with his
plaque for Junior Female
Champion
STOCK JUDGING 2019
McAllister shield – Adult StockJudging: 2019 – Trevor Phair
Millar Shield – Junior Stockjudging: 2019 – Erin Quigley
UK Stock Judging Trophy - Highest Points in Stockjudging at UK
level: 2019 – Orlagh & Eimear McGovern
Eilis Kelly presenting
Trevor Phair with the
McAllister Shield for
adult stockjudging
Eilis Kelly presenting
Erin Quigley with
the Millar Shield for
junior stockjudging
Jenna and
Mervyn
McKeown with
the Lambeg
Cup and the
Auctioneers
Silver Salver
for Supreme
Champion
ALLAMS FATSTOCK SHOW
MCALLISTER LIVESTOCK TROPHY - Commercial Champion,
Premier Beef & Lamb Championship - 2019 - Alan Veitch
Kenny Veitch receiving
the McAllister
Livestock Trophy
for Commercial
Champion at the
Allams Fatstock Show
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
45

NI CHAROLAIS CLUB AGM
The Northern Ireland AGM was held in
Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown Co Tyrone
on 27 February 20, Chairman Mr David Connolly
welcomed members and thanked all the
sponsors who have financially supported the
club events over the past year.
Eilis Kelly (secretary) gave a flavour of events
over the past year. Outlining the success of
Sales and especially congratulating our young
breeders who represented Northern Ireland at
the youth stock Judging Finals at Clogher Valley
Show a first for the club to host.
Treasurer Trevor Phair outlined his report on
the past financial year showing that
sponsorship was up and sales where
well up because of the demand of the
Charolais breed. A number of new
members had joined the club, and this
was to be encouraged. Membership
by Standing Order is £20 or cash
payment annually £30.
The NI Charolais Herd Competition
was re-announced after its great
success last year and also the National
Charolais Championship to be held in Clogher.
After the business was dealt with David introduced the
speaker for the evening Donagh Berry from Teagasc and he
gave a very informative talk on genomics.
There was great audience participation and plenty of
questions from the floor.
David thanked Donagh for coming to speak to us.
New committee members elected – Liam Devine,
Sandra Cochrane & Nigel Matchett.
Office Bearers for 2020
Chairman Jeremy Paynter, Armagh
Vice Chair Robert McWilliams, Maghera
Treasurer Martin Donaghy, Dungannon
PRO/Youth Officer Kevin Reavey, Jerretspass, Newry
TB Stakeholders Group Will Short Beragh
David closed the AGM by thanking all our sponsors and asked
that we all give them our support. He thanked our outgoing
committee members for their hard work
and dedication. He thanked our judges,
stewards, breeders, and exhibitors without
whom this year would not be a success.
Thanks were given to Glenavon House Hotel
for their hospitality for the year and for
accommodating our meeting.
David wished everyone a safe journey home.
Brigadoon take judging to another level - Results
Brigadoon Stock Judging Placings
Here are the results of the stock judging competition in our
article on page 30. The classes were all judged based on the
photographs by Charolais Society chairman Ben Harman. You
can check out his reasons on the Brigadoon or British Charolais
Facebook pages.
Class 1 – 1st X, 2nd A, 3rd Y, 4th B
Class 2 – 1st A, 2nd B, 3rd Y, 4th X
Class 3 – 1st A, 2nd X, 3rd B, 4th Y
Top places were as follows:
Seniors: 1st Dougie McBeath, 2nd Carmel McConnell, 3rd John
Robson
Intermediates: 1st Naomi Hamilton, 2nd George Shaw, 3rd
James Rea
Juniors: 1st James Morrison, 2nd Holly McConnell, 3rd Mark
Turney, 4th Jason Whitcroft, 5th Annabelle Howell
46 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

THE BREED THAT IMPROVES ALL BREED
CHAROLAIS TO THE FORE IN BALLYNAHINCH
With another challenging
year in the beef sector now
over the focus on many
suckler farms throughout
the country now turns to
the year at hand. Among
the major decisions and
projections for farm maybe
be the purchase of a new
stock bull, with this comes
a huge range of factors that
must be considered. These
include the farming system,
breeding females in the
herd and the end product
for the marketplace.
The Charolais breed is the first choice for top breeders,
given their prolific growth rate and returns that top the
marketplace week on week.
One such farmer was the winner of the 2019 Charolais
Suckler herd of the year Mr Frank Reid from outside
Ballynahinch Co
Down. Mr Reid and
his family operate a
spring calving herd
of approximately
30 select cows and
a small flock of
commercial sheep.
The spring calving
herd aims to calve
in early spring and
the cows comprise
of predominately
black and blue lim
cross cows as well as
approximately ten
pedigree charolais
cows under the
Burrenvale prefix.
A major emphasis
on the Reid farm
Brownhill Owenroe pictured with Mr
Reids pedigree heifers
is one of ‘quality and not quantity’ whereby select cows are
combined with the use of top charolais bulls to achieve the
optimum product for the farms output. The business focuses
on producing top end charolais calves for sale in the winter
suckling sales and Franks aim is to have bull calves coming
to market in the region of 350-400kg and the heifer calves in
the 300-380kg bracket, it is aimed to calf early and get teams
to grass as soon as ground conditions allow, with creep feed
being offered in the final 8-10 weeks prior to sale. Over the
year’s calves have been sold in the charolais suckler sale in
Hilltown mart where the herd has achieved numerous awards
and excellent prices for quality produce.
Frank Reid pictured with Rodney Carson Brown, Danske Bank
(sponsor) of Dungannon show and sale in March and
Jeremy Paynter NI Charolais club
issues and when hit the ground continue to grow and
thrive all the way through to weaning stage. So satisfied
with this purchase Frank purchased another bull from
the same herd in November 2019 in the form of the days
Reserve senior champion Brownhill Owenroe, a Rumsden
Fawkes son with tremendous character that he believes
will cross onto the herds cows to further improve the
quality of calf on the farm. The NI Charolais Club would
once again like to congratulate Frank and his family on
their success in the suckler herd competition and for
allowing us to visit and showcase his farm operation and to
Dasnke bank for their continued support.
The NI Charolais Club show and sale was held on Friday, 6
March, and the full report can be found in the sales section
at the start of the newsletter.
Calves currently on the ground on farm are bred out of a
former Dungannon reserve senior champion Brownhill Issac
purchased in the November sale 2014, Frank commented on
the quality of these calves and how they are born with little
Calves recently born
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
47

Scottish & Northern - Carlene Mackay
This is the time of year when I start to write up our autumn
newsletter and in normal circumstances, I always have lots
to report on and can take me a few weeks to collate all the
information and pictures but sadly ‘normal circumstances’
have changed and we are all living in a ‘new’ normal. Face
masks & sanitizer are our new way of life for the foreseeable
if we decide to leave our own bubbles and venture out. The
shows, open days and social gatherings are obviously a great
miss for us all, but we will come back next year stronger, wiser
and with a hunger to win and get involved.
daughters in total and most of her female calves have been
retained for breeding in the herd. One daughter which was
sold was Elgin Lynsey who made 3,600gns at the 2016 herd
reduction sale at Stirling.
Summer 2021 will most certainly be a massive Charolais
party!! And as a breed we certainly know how to put on a
party!! So let’s look forward to kist parties, highland show
antics and lots of laughs. In the meantime stay safe everyone.
Carly x
May Bull Sales
Stirling
Leading the Charolais trade was Harestone Oblivion from Neil
& Stuart Barclay’s Harestone Herd at Banchory, Aberdeenshire.
Oblivion sold at 7200gns and is by the 12,000gns Carlisle
reserve senior champion Wesley Equinox, out of Harestone
Mo, a homebred daughter of the 25,000gns Stirling
intermediate champion Inverlochy Ferdie and was sold to A
Smith, Tarland, Aboyne.
Carlisle
Solwayfirth Oneal took the top spot this time selling for
£10,000 to J Wight & Sons, Biggar. Oneal is the first bull to be
sold by the 11,500gns Glenericht Majestic. His dam Solwayfirth
Ingrid was a daughter of the Perth Supreme Champion
Blackford Samson.
Full Sales Reports can be seen on page 18 onwards
Scottish Farmer – Champions of the Decade Competition
The Scottish Farmer ran a competition over the few weeks
leading up to what would have been our annual outing to
the Royal Highland Show. This was to find the prestigious
Champion of the Decade animal - The public voting whittled
down the charolais entries to a short lead of three and then
the judges - Society Chairman Ben Harman and Society
President Michael Atkinson had the difficult task of deciding
the ultimate Charolais champion. They found their champion
in Elgin Catherine from the Milne Family at Kennieshillock.
Elgin Catherine then continued her virtual success and won
the Interbreed Championship which was judged by Kay Adam,
Newhouse, Glamis.
Previously in 2013 Elgin Catherine won the Charolais
Champion and then went on to win the interbreed beef
championship at the same show along with her Februaryborn
heifer calf Elgin Iona. No stranger to the show, she had
previously won the junior female title in 2009.
Bred and exhibited by the Milne family, out of their 50 strong
pedigree cow Elgin herd based at Kennieshillock, Llanbryde,
she is by Gower Versace and out of the 14,000gns Rumsden
Samurai daughter Elgin Unity, a cow which has bred sons to
9,000gns.
2013 was her last year in the show ring and she sadly passed
away in the Spring, however she has produced nine sons and
Elgin Catherine
Charolais Youth Development – Maisie Turley
With one of our main focus’s as a breed being the Charolais
Youth Development we are going to be doing spotlight
interviews in every newsletter on our up and coming young
breeders. This time round we spoke to Maisie Turley whose
grandad is the very well Kent face of Jim Muirhead at Firhills
along with Aunty Alison. They have both ensured Maisie is
starting life with the same enthusiasm and passion for the
breed as they both have. We can’t wait to see Maisie out in
the show ring with her chosen one ‘Firhills Polly’ next year.
Can you tell us about yourself and the name of your most
favourite charolais animal and why it’s your favourite ?
My name is Maisie Turley and I am 10 years old. I stay in
Markinch with my Mum, Dad and little brother, Hamish. My
hobbies are gymnastics, country dancing and Judo.
When I get time I visit my Grandad Jim and Auntie Alison - I
enjoy helping out with the cows and now the new addition of
sheep.
My favourite Charolais at the farm this year is Polly. I got a
chance to show her this year and she is the one I have been
able to work with.
Looking to the future what would you most like to win in the
years ahead ?
I would like to start showing the cows once I am old enough
and as my favourite show is the Highland maybe winning
at that would be good. I have been at the show every year
since I was a baby until 2020
What is your most favourite task and least favourite task
outside on the farm?
On the farm my favourite job is feeding the cows and helping
48 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

with handling the cows . My least favourite job has to be
moving the dung especially during washing.
What do you want to do when you grow up ?
I am going into Primary 7 and I have no idea what I would like
to do yet - plenty of time.
What things would you like to see the British Charolais Cattle
Society do in the future for the Youth Development ?
Not being able to be on the farm as often as others I think
it would be good if the Society were able to post tutorials
online from others giving ‘top tips’ on handling, grooming and
showing, explaining what to look out for.
Golden Wedding Anniversary
There were more celebrations this summer at Balthayock as
Major Walter & Lady Sarah celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary in June. Congratulations and the very best of
wishes to you both.
Births
During lockdown these very special little people made an
entrance into the world – wishing both of the families many
congratulations with the new additions to their herds.
Jess Malone came into the crazy world on the 30 March and
now has a very proud big sister Alba to look after her and
show her the ropes at Pitcairn, including looking after the new
brood of hen’s. Wishing Craig, Katreen, Alba and Jess all the
very best.
Gayle & Bruce Campbell had an arrival in May, of a new
junior stockman at Thrunton – Fraser Bruce Campbell. Many
Congratulations to you all at Thrunton.
Engagement
Very best wishes and a long & happy future for freelance
stockwoman Kim Brown & her partner Colin Mcewan who got
engaged during the summer.
Young Farmers Overwintering – Thainstone
Cameron Hunter (pictured
right) with his Young
Farmers Overall Charolais
Champion heifer which he
bought for 324kg £820.00
from WM Paterson & Son,
Upper Forgie, Keith – this
April born heifer was sired
by Bill & Garry’s home bred
bull Aultmore Gladiator.
The heifer had a daily
liveweight gain of 1.219kg
and she sold weighing
502kg for £1200.
IMPORTING ANIMALS, EMBRYOS AND SEMEN
CHECKLIST
A link for all the information you require on importing can
now be found on the Charolais website at
http://www.charolais.co.uk/society/admin-proceduresand-fees/
then clicking the relevant link.
Other useful information and forms can also be found on
this page.
Please give the office a ring on 02476 697222 if you
have any queries.
January 2021 Journal
The next edition of the Charolais Journal
will be published in January 2021.
ADVERTISING - KEEP YOUR HERD IN FRONT
By producing a more attractive publication
it is envisaged that it will be used as a
Charolais reference point throughout the
year.
Advertising is available at the following
prices:
Members
Full page colour price of £250.00 + VAT
and 1/2 page colour £150.00 + VAT
Non Members
Price on application
This represents remarkable value and the
adverts can be either sent camera ready
or send draft details for Fiona to design
the advert. Email: fiona@charolais.co.uk
Deadline for adverts is 3 December 2019
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
49

Border - Betty Graham
South East - Peter Heath
Our year started in February with the AGM held at the
Auctioneer with a decent turn out of members. The officials
were re-elected with Will Cleasby starting his second year
as Chairman, Judith and Betty continuing in their roles as
Treasurer and Secretary respectively. After the formal business
we had a business meeting to receive suggestions for activities
for the coming year.
These suggestions were all in the process of being activated
when coronavirus arrived and then lock down started. We
would like to pay tribute to all key workers including NHS who
have worked very hard and long hours and continue to do so.
Many offices closed and many began to work from home albeit
in more difficult conditions.
Many businesses have suffered as they had to close but we
wish everyone well as re-opening is allowed and restrictions
are lifted.
Our thoughts go to anyone who has had the virus and hope
they have made a good recovery. It has been strange times
to live in and we have all missed the summer shows and
events that we look forward to attending. Health is the most
important factor so we look forward to 2021 when hopefully
events will be re-scheduled.
In August our Club members Tom and Claire Lawson got
married and celebrated with a small gathering in their garden.
We wish them well for their future together.
2020 has been a bad year for the weather and coping with the
pandemic but in true farmer style, we struggle on. We have
had a significant lack of rain and many farmers are winter
feeding in our area and with a poor yield from this year’s crop
there is concern about feed shortages over the winter – let’s
hope it rains soon!.
It’s been a sad year for me as I made the difficult decision
to sell my cows. Dad isn’t as mobile as he used to be and
he has been subsidising the farm as we’ve had a tough few
years at the bull sales. I feel I’ve had a good run over the past
25 years enjoying every minute with various achievements
including first prizes at the bull sales and senior champion
at Stirling with Hercules. A significant success was in Perth
selling Casanova for 20,000gns to John Jeffrey and Claudius for
18,000gns - I’ve never managed to repeat it! Sackville Adonis
was sold at Carlisle for 14,000gns to Bill Bruce & Bob Adams
and has since had a big impression on the breed, most notably
his grandson Thrunton Gladiator who is still going strong.
I have particularly enjoyed the shows with my highlight being
a win in the cow class with Sapphire (dam of Adonis) at the
Royal at Stoneleigh. I have gained many friends through
owning Charolais and I would like to thank everyone who has
helped me on my journey. I always remember my first time
at the Royal Show being greeted by David Benson and made
to feel very welcome even though I was only a small breeder.
I would consider Charolais the friendly breed and would
encourage anyone who wants pedigree cattle to buy some. I
think over the years I have achieved most of my goals but I still
have a few embryos so haven’t quite finished yet!
I have sold a couple of cows with calves at foot, two in-calf
heifers and six yearlings to help start up a new herd near
Clitheroe in Lancashire. three cows have also been sold to
Robert Temple’s old Rumsden farm which is now owned by
Australian Cate Blanchett and I wish them all the best in the
future. My farm has been rented out and they have purchased
a bull and a few cows from me so I still have an interest in
them and can stay a bit involved. They may buy a few more in
the future to increase the herd.
We are running a herd competition this year following the
virtual format of photos and videos with Libby Clarke and
a few youngsters from Northern Ireland agreeing to judge.
Unfortunately, we have taken the decision to cancel the
calf show as we feel it would be unsafe to hold it with the
pandemic still having a large impact on events – this year will
have to be a write off and here’s to next year being better.
Tom and Claire with their children Charlie and Hannah
We hope the Autumn sales can all go ahead with social
distancing in place and there is a good demand for stock.
Keep safe everyone and we hope 2021 is a better year.
Autumn sales look to be impacted by the pandemic as
well with sales happening via online auctions, and other
means including facebook and sell my livestock. The use of
technology has been hastened and even I have managed a
zoom meeting. I have been watching the virtual show classes
that have been happening, along with online sales, and I have
been shocked by the mobility of some of the bulls – care
needs to be taken on preserving the longevity of the bulls as
we don’t want the breed to get a bad name.
Closing date for regional reports in the next January Journal
is 2 January 2021
50 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

NOTALGIA, 25 Years ago with Charolais
Picture 1 - Mrs Newby won the bull carcase section and a Border Fine Arts Charolais bull model
Picture 2 - Charolais were reserve in the Duke of Norfolk competition at the Smithfield Show. l t r: Limestone Icicle,
Fairway Itman, Bold Ideal
Picture 3 - Riddlecombe Enrico Overall and interbreed champion at the Royal Ulster Show
Picture 4 - The BCCS Vice-Chairman Ralph Needham received the Trehane Trophy from Sir Richard and Lady Trehane
Picture 5 - Ray and Jean Holmes congratulate Alistair Smith on his sucess in presenting Bassingbourn Impact at Perth
Picture 6 - Greta Barker and Anglia Club Chairman John Goodwin congratulate Stephen Flack on winning the trophy
for the highest priced sold bull sold from the Anglia region, awarded to the 10,000gns Culford Imperial
Picture 7 - Thrunton Ideal with Ian Campbell are congratulated on the Perth championship by the judge Sandy Innes
and the Society President Major David Walter
Picture 8 - Charolais ‘The Farmers Choice’ at the Dairy Event
Picture 9 - The Interbreed winning group at the Royal Welsh Show
Picture 10 - Kelton Celeste Overall champion at the Royal Highland
GIFT ITEMS
Insulated Travel Mug £6.00
Rucksack £10.00
Notebook with Pen £3.50
Calf Measuring Tape £5.00
Umbrella £17.00
Lorry Sticker £6.00
Mug £5.00
Key Ring £10.00
CHAROLAIS BOOKS
The Charolais Adventure by AS Harman £10.00
A Calf Called Valentine by Berlie Doherty £5.00
Valentine’s Day by Berlie Doherty £5.00
Charolais Leading the British Beef Revolution Hard Back
£5.00
Charolais Leading the British Beef Revolution Paper
Back £5.00
Promotional Goods
ACCESSORIES
Spotted Ties Burgundy, Navy or Pink £10.00
Baseball Caps (Suede Peaked) Silver £8.00
Woollen Hat with Logo, Charolais or Bull £6.00
CLOTHING
Carlton Quilted Jacket (Dark Green) £55.00
Selkirk Softshell Jacket £35.00
Mens Regatta Softshell Bodywarmer £30.00
Ladies Regatta Softshell Bodywarmer £30.00
Poloshirt £15.00
See our sales catalogue on the
promotional page of our website
www.charolais.co.uk
All postal orders are subject to P&P – prices vary depending on the size of the item from £1.50. ** postage is
included in the price. Overseas postage prices on application.
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
51

MINUTES OF THE 58th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE
BRITISH CHAROLAIS CATTLE SOCIETY LIMITED (Limited by guarantee)
Held on THURSDAY, 18 June 2020 at 1.00P.M. in The Charolais Office
Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, CV8 2RG and via zoom with permission
from the charities commission
Chairman:
Mr B Harman
The Chairman welcomed members to the 58th Annual General Meeting of the British Charolais Cattle Society Ltd.
1. To read the Notice convening the 58th Annual General Meeting of the Society
The Chairman called upon the Chief Executive, Mr Peter Phythian, to read the notice convening the Meeting.
2. Apologies for absence
Apologies were received and recorded as follows:
Peter Donger
3. To approve the Minutes of the 2019 57th Annual General Meeting of the Society
The minutes of the 57th Annual General Meeting held on Thursday 20 June 2019 were included in the September 2019
issue of the Charolais News and circulated to the membership.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions.
There were no matters arising and Mr Allen Drysdale proposed acceptance of the minutes as a true record. Seconded by Mr
David Thornley.
4. To receive and consider, and if approved, adopt the Report of the Council of Management presented by the Chairman of
Council.
The Chairman re-iterated that it was a great honour and privilege to chair the society over the last year and he had really
enjoyed it and met a lot of great people, he invited the member’s to read the chairman’s report which follows:
When I wrote this, we are about a month into the Covid-19 lockdown, facing the biggest social and economic upheaval
since 1945. Last year’s Chairman’s report talked of the uncertainty and confusion in the industry caused by Brexit. While
that remains, it has been completely usurped by the immediacy of a global pandemic, the effects of which will be felt for
years to come.
Our society was quick to react, Rusmi (our office manager) set up the facility for staff to work from home before it became
compulsory, systems were put in place to keep the office working for members for as long as the lockdown continues.
We held our March council meeting online, this was successful in terms of input from the council members, in terms of
safeguarding the health of staff and council members. It is likely that we will continue to work in this way for some meetings
even after life returns to ‘normal’.
The society holds significant funds invested on our behalf, the dividends and growth from these funds has served to
subsidise the members costs for many years. In recent years council has taken the view that these should not be relied
upon as a guaranteed income. Through better use of our assets, cost cutting and by finding other revenue streams Peter
(the chief executive) has helped steer the society closer towards self-sufficiency. It was prescient. Nearly 30% of the value
of the portfolio has gone, dividends will be seriously cut. The pain felt by members over the loss of the spring bull sales will
also be reflected in the accounts for next year where we will see a significant drop in sales commission.
There is financial disruption right across the food industry, McDonalds alone takes 50,000T of beef a year. The closure of
pubs, restaurants, hotels, and venues has directly led to a drop in slaughter price and a consequentially to store prices of
around £120/head.
Peter has been working closely with the main auction houses to find a way to run the spring sales in new and innovative
ways in order to find ways for members to be able to market their bulls at this most important time in the annual calendar.
At the time of writing that work is ongoing. Sue has been editing and publishing to our social media sites videos of
members’ bulls and creating online catalogues. I should take this opportunity to thank all our staff. We are so fortunate to
have the team we have. Peter, Rusmi, Sue, Rebecca, Fiona and Mandy have all done their utmost to look after our business
before and during this pandemic. I am happy to speak on behalf of the entire council when I thank them all for the work
that they do for us.
The show season has been at best severely disrupted and at worst may still be written off completely. It doesn’t take me
52 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

to tell you what a blow that is. Agriculture’s shopfront to the general public has gone as well as the highlight in the social
calendar for so many stock people whether it be your small local show or one of our fantastic National events. I fear that not
all shows will be able to sustain the hit on their finances that a cancellation will bring.
The Chairman concluded by thanking everyone.
The Chairman asked if there were any questions on the report.
There were no questions on the Chairman`s report.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr Chris Curry and seconded by
Mr David Connolly.
5. To receive and consider, and if approved, adopt the Annual Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheet for the 2019 year
and the Auditor’s Report thereon, presented by the Honorary Treasurer
The Chairman invited the Treasurer to present the 2019 accounts.
During this pandemic crisis and indeed the 2019 year the staff deserve a special mention. I guess that I work more closely
with them than most and fully appreciate their individual qualities, skills, and talents. I do not mind repeating myself, the
BCCS is extremely fortunate in the staff that we have.
Moving on to the financial results for the year there was a degree of satisfaction with the year end result coming in
considerably better than budgeted. Long term underlying trends as with the pedigree sector as a whole saw reduced
registrations and membership, although it must be said that BCCS registrations fared far better than most breeds. On the
whole there is a lot to be positive about in the results, albeit in a vastly changed place from pre-BSE days.
2019 Financials
At the end of the year BCCS funds stood at £2,936,056 (2018 - £2,585,582), up by £350,474 which was mainly due the stock
market rebound with an agreement on BREXIT and more political stability.
The total income for 2019 increased in the year by 24% from £549,700 to £680,177. The major contributions to the Society
income are derived from members’ subscriptions, registration fees, transfer fees, auction sale commissions and investment
income.
Breedplan income totalled £51,918 (2018 - £52,776) whilst PCS and ABRI support cost £54,051 (2018 -£52,413).
Investment income
• The dividend income from the investment portfolio decreased by 2% to £78,331 (2018 - £79,770).
Cattle Society Income
• Rent received from the society tenants increased to £47,471 (2018 - £38,001).
• Registration income increased to £183,019 (2018 - £164,235).
• Membership income decreased to £65,046 (2018 - £71,418).
• Gift aid refund and interest increased to £11,039 (2018 - £10,843).
Expenditure
Total expenditure for the year increased to £692,656 (2018 - £628,427).
• Staff were given a 2% pay increase in line with inflation.
• Building repairs increased £3,376 (2018 - £195).
• Computer repairs and maintenance increased to £5,344 (2018 - £1,716).
• The purchase of promotional goods increased to £6,446 (2018 - £3,471).
• Legal and professional fees increased to £8,164 (2018 - £6,407).
BCCS members were refunded £16,800 for supporting the Charolais classes at the National and Royal Shows.
This support attracted 22 more Charolais cattle than in the previous year, the credit of £100 per animal forward assists with
some of the expenses incurred by the Charolais exhibitors.
SNP testing, the change over from microsatellite cost the society £26,864 which has also been fully capitalised
The loss for the financial year was £21,434 (2018 - £40,593) compared to a budgeted loss of £89,000.
Last year I mentioned that difficult decisions were going to be considered. In September I presented a budget to the council
for discussion. After long and detailed consideration, the proposal was adopted unanimously. In the light of the current crisis
WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK
53

we have had to revisit the budget recently. With the inevitable reduction in dividend income and the likely reduction in sale
commissions along with the possibility of reduced registrations all pointing towards reduced income. On the expenditure
side of the calculation we are foreseeing considerable savings in
show expenditure, Charolais youth etc with an overall difference to the budget of £1,000. These calculations unfortunately
involve a lot of guesswork, and will be regularly monitored, but if correct are far better than we first hoped.
Finally, I would like to wish you all the absolute best of luck and hopefully the pandemic will soon be over and we can start
looking forward to renewing friendships.
There were no questions on the Treasurer’s report.
Adoption of the report was proposed by Mr David Barker and seconded by
Mr David Thornley.
6. Election of members to the Council of Management
The Chief Executive reported:
Messrs D Barker (Southern England), D Thornley (Northern England) and R A Owen (National) were re-elected unopposed to
serve for a further term of 3 years.
Mr J H Christie made a decision to retire after his first 3-year term and therefore a vacancy was available for the Scotland
region.
Nomination for this vacancy was received from Mr M Milne (Scotland) which was unopposed.
Mr G C Robinson has been asked to become Honorary Treasurer for the next 12 months.
The Chairman welcomed the new council member and thanked the outgoing council member for their contributions over
the years.
7. Election of President
The Chairman started by thanking Mr Michael Atkinson for acting as president for the society for the last year. Mike is wellknown
and is highly regarded throughout the UK and has represented the society fantastically well.
It is the feeling of the council that due to the Pandemic Mike should stop on another year so he can complete a full year of
show and sales
Mr G Robinson proposed, Mike should stay on another year David Connolly seconded the motion
The Chairman then welcomed Michael as the new President and asked for a few words
Mike began by thanking the society for presenting him with the great honour of being president for a second year. He went
on to say he has enjoyed meeting many old friends and is looking forward to meeting many new ones in the future, he has
thoroughly enjoyed all the shows and sales especially the Royal shows and the Clogher show which was a great success for
the young breeders and what a great job the NI club and Sue had done to organise the event, Another highlight was the
Welsh winter fair where he spoke to the Prime minister Boris Johnstone and offered him some advice!
Mike went on to say he is looking forward to the shows and sales starting again so once again we can enjoy the social side
of the membership at the events
The Chairman then went on to thank Mr Robinson for the hard work he does as Treasurer of the society and said he would
like to invite him to continue as Honorary Treasurer for the next 12 months.
8. To appoint Auditors
The Chairman invited the Honorary Treasurer, Mr Robinson to propose the Society auditors for the forthcoming year.
Mr Robinson proposed Harrison Beale & Owen Ltd to continue as auditors. Seconded by Allen Drysdale.
9. To transact any other business
There was no other business.
Meeting closed 1.26pm closed
54 WWW.CHAROLAIS.CO.UK

Culmvale NOVELLO
NEW Premier Collection
Charolais Sire
Learn more at WWW.GENUSBREEDING.COM or talk to your
Genus ABS representative today.
Alpha Building, London Road, Nantwich, CW5 7JW 01270 616681
ISSN 2632-7589

GRETNAHOUSE CHAROLAIS
Quality * Performance * Integrity
WESTCARSE JIMMY
This bull is doing a remarkable job with short gestation and easy calving combined with
great growth and muscle. Bulls and heifers available on farm
Sons of Westcarse Jimmy
Gretnahouse
Neverland
Gretnahouse
Nelson
Gretnahouse
Nylon
Gretnahouse
Orangutan
LOCHEND NIGHTHAWK
Introducing Junior Stock Bull Lochend Nighthawk
His pedigree certifiate contains many of breed’s best cows. He has developed into an
incredible specimen and his first calves look really exciting!
Bulls, semen, females and embryos available from some of the
best bloodlines in the UK
Visitors always welcome
Alasdair G Houston: 01461 800671 or 07798 892231
Email: gretna.house@btinternet.com www.gretnahouse.co.uk