BCCS September Newsletter 2022

Loch-Ends on a high after reaching
thirty year milestone
Thirty years ago, Iain and Rhona Millar first began breeding
Charolais with a view firmly focussed on the great commercial
attributes of the breed. Since then, the Lochend Herd has
established itself as one of the UK’s most notable herds, having
enjoyed plenty of success in the show and sale rings.
Iain and Rhona have farmed at Lochend Farm, located at Port
of Menteith, Stirlingshire, for 32 years, where Iain was initially
a commercial beef cattle farmer.
“Our first bull, Garner Editor, was
bought specifically to breed show
calves and he bred us five or six every
year, which we then sold at specific
show calf sales. We bought the bull
from Garner Farms for 2,000 guineas
from Perth and later sold him to Genus
for £20,000,” explains Iain.
Their first foundation cow, Beeford
Angelina, was bought in-calf with
twins from Ed Clayhills- Henderson
at the Hallyards dispersal because Iain and Rhona Millar
she was Editors’ mother. She was
immediately put back in calf to
Brigadoon Ulsterman which gave the
Millars, Lochend Legend, the first bull they ever presented at a
society sale. Winning his class at Perth, it was Lochend Legend
that gave the Millars the ‘Charolais bug’. They went on to
flush Beeford Angelina which gave them 3 heifers and 12 bulls
which sold for an average of 6,000 guineas.
Understandably, with Iain’s commercial cattle background,
their biggest aim has been to breed good commercial cattle. A
hands-on stockman, along with using his eye, when purchasing
Iain gives great consideration to Estimated Breeding Values
(EBVs). Their stock has been bred for shape, growth, ease of
calving, and temperaments.
The 30 strong herd runs on 270 acres in the most magnificent
location overlooking the Lake of Menteith, alongside
a commercial flock of Mule and Texel cross sheep. The
pedigree Lochend Charolais Herd has very much been a
family enterprise, especially in the early days with daughter,
Katreen, and son, John, helping out and showing great interest
preparing cattle for and attending shows and sales.
In the showring the family have enjoyed a number of
successes over the years, with two junior champions and
one overall champion at Perth, and two reserve senior
champions at Stirling. Most livestock are sold through Stirling
and Borderway auction marts and the top price bull sold was
Lochend Hickory in February 2014 at Stirling, after scooping
Reserve Senior Champion it sold for 22,000 Guineas. Another
highlight for the Millars was when they sold Lakelady Hulk,
Katreen’s bull, at Borderway for 9,000 guineas. Their most
successful homebred bull was Lochend Apache, with sons
including Gretnahouse Indian selling up to 18,000 guineas.
Retaining the high health status of the herd has been a priority
for Iain and Rhona, however, this has taken commitment and
dedication. Iain explains: “We
have kept a closed herd, and
this has paid off. It is the only
way you can truly protect your
health status and has allowed
us to maintain ours. We are
four-yearly TB testing and the
herd has been BVD and Johnes
accredited since 2008.”
In addition to the running of
the Lochend Herd, Iain also
sat on the Charolais Council
for 12 years, acting as a highly
respected Chairman throughout
2008 and 2009. The British
Charolais Cattle Society has
been an integral part of Iain
and Rhona’s journey and in speaking of what the society has
done for them, Iain said: “If it was not for the Charolais Society
I might never have been out of the UK. I had never left home
soil until I became a member, so it has opened up so many
opportunities for both Rhona and myself.”
Whist Iain was Chairman, the society took them around the UK
and on a world tour of North America and the Czech Republic.
“I’ve made so many great friends,” adds Iain. “It has not just
been work, but a hobby and an interest. When the children
were young, their holidays and days out were the shows and
sales, however, as part of the Charolais Youth Program both
children qualified for trips to France and Canada.”
In his retirement, Iain and Rhona will continue to farm for the
next two years and are intending to increase the sheep flock.
However, the Charolais will be a big miss.
“The Charolais Cattle Society has been our life. We would both
like to thank it for all the opportunities it has presented to us
through the last 30 years,” concludes Iain. “I hope that the
society continues to promote the youth, the next generation,
whose talent was certainly very evident at the Major Walter’s
National Stock Judging competition at the end of July. I
hope our young Charolais breeders can utilise some of the
opportunities I have had throughout my time with the society
as it really has been a fantastic journey.”
Stirling 17th October
Including the Dispersal of the Ravensworth and Lochend Charolais Herds
Auctioneers: United Auctions Ltd Tel: 01786 473055
- No bull works harder for the farmer, the plate and the planet - 37
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