Todhall breeding shines

FOR a young breeder to achieve the top shearling price as well as the average and sell tups to pedigree flocks within his first few years of being in the pedigree game is quite an achievement, but for those tups to go on and breed many of the top priced rams sold during the 2015 sale season is better yet.

While the name Todhall may be recognisable to many for producing lead price prime cattle as well as pedigree British Blues, the name is now making its mark in the Beltex world, despite the flock only being on the go for six short years.

Ian and Helen Wainwright moved to the 500-acre arable unit near Dairsie, Cupar, from a dairy farm down in Cheshire 26 years ago, but it wasn’t until 2010 that youngest son, Andrew, brother to James who works full-time at Todhall, bought his first Beltex ewe and the Todhall flock was founded.

“I was drawn to the Beltex breed because of the quality of carcase and the price fat lambs were making. We had lowered the number of commercial ewes but didn’t want to get rid of the sheep entirely so wanted to concentrate on lower numbers but for sheep with a bit more value to them,” started off Andrew (25), who works as a vet to trade with Eden Veterinary Practice, in Cupar.

And so it was that Andrew purchased his first ewe at an in-lamb sale at Lanark in the shape of the Longley Hero daughter, Calla Linzi, that was carrying a set of three to Beachy Loch Lomond.

The following year, a few more females were added to the Todhall flock from Brian Ryder and the MacLeans’ Tiree flock, but one of the most influential ewes is Forglen P27, a daughter of Buckles Morgans Spiced bought at the Chelford in-lamb sale five years ago.

It was this strong female base that provided not Andrew’s Todhall flock with a number of sale headlines.

Take the Calla Linzi ewe, for example, as a ewe lamb from that first set of triplets by Beachy Loch Lomond went on to breed the 3600gns Todhall Wishmaster that topped the shearling trade at Lanark last year when Andrew sold three shearlings to average £1800, as well as the 1700gns Todhall Showman, while a daughter of the Tiree ewe bred Todhall Sumo that was bought by Richard Wood and Stuart Wood and has since bred sons to 8000gns for Stuart’s Woodies flock.

But proving her influence is the Forglen ewe. Her first son by Woodies Pride of North, just the second tup Andrew ever bought, was Todhall Superstar that went on to sire Ross and Kirsty Williams’ 16,000gns Black Jack Well Hung sold last year.

While the females provided a solid base for the Todhall flock, with Andrew adding that he bought females in lamb to good rams to get the genetics that way rather than buy expensive tups, it was the purchase of the aforementioned 2000gns Woodies Pride of North that really made his mark, not only for Andrew but for those other breeders too.

His first batch of sons, Sumo, Superstar and Showman, all sold to consortia of six of Scotland’s leading flocks and sons of these went on to breed many of last year’s trade leaders – three out of six of the top priced shearlings were Pride of North grand-sons.

Kingledores Warrior, a 3700gns purchase, is another that has done well at Todhall with the majority of females retained for breeding and some promising ram lambs on the ground this year.

With a good genetic base behind him, Andrew knows exactly what his Beltex aims are: “I want the bigger and active type as my grand-dad used to criticise Beltex for being too wee and not doing enough work, so I want mine to prove him wrong!

“I’m breeding the bigger, more powerful sort of Beltex that will go on and do well for their new owners as they’re out-wintered so very hardy and only offered a small amount of beet pulp shortly before they’re sold – that’s the only feeding they get.

“I like a bit of colour about the head, particularly a bit of speckling around the eye, which Pride of North always bred, as it looks good on fat lambs at market and distinguishes them from a Texel.

“But I’m commercially minded so not too fussed on the head as I’d rather a tup that is good on its legs, tall and long with a good gigot and top line – the head is the last piece of the jigsaw.”

Andrew is quick to point out, however, that the flock is essentially his hobby, albeit a productive hobby, and that the farm’s main income comes from the 100-strong herd of commercial cows, with Todhall regularly topping the prime trade at Lawrie and Symington’s Forfar mart as well as Caledonian Marts, Stirling. The 20 pedigree British Blue cows produce the goods, too, as a top of 6200gns was paid in 2010 for Todhall Dancer.

With this in mind, any commercial lambs bred from Mule ewes or pure lambs not making the cut for the pedigree world are sold through Forfar or Stirling, with the first batch away just last week topping the Forfar trade at £100 per head.

This, Andrew says, is down to the Beltex sires: “We’ve used Beltex cross and Texel tups on the commercial flock but you just can’t beat the Beltex for carcase quality. Even when the lamb trade was struggling last year, the Beltex lambs held up well and there was always a premium for them which can make a huge difference to flock margins.”

But it’s not just in the prime ring that the Beltex proves its worth, as the ewes make excellent mothers and the lambs are quick to get up and go.

“The Beltex ewe is just as good as any other at lambing time as the ewes make great mothers and are as good as the Mules for their mothering ability. I’m keeping ewes that have plenty milk – the Calla ewe raised three lambs as a gimmer and all her daughters have been just as milky,” Andrew pointed out.

“But then, if one proves to be a problem at lambing time she has to go as I have a day job so need to keep things as simple as possible and I don’t want dad or James to have to deal with them.

“They might have a bad name from those out with the breed for difficulties ay lambing but I don’t feed before lambing and think it’s important to keep an eye on body condition to prevent problems.”

Likewise, Andrew is quick to dispel the myth that Beltex lambs don’t get heavy enough quick enough, adding: “Sometimes when you look at a Beltex it might not seem all that heavy but will surprise you when you put it on the scales as they are often a lot heavier than they look – don’t let the shorter legs fool you!”

Looking forward to next week’s sale at Carlisle, Andrew has a strong team of 10 shearlings, eight by Woodies Pride of North including a full brother to Todhall Superstar, one by Kingledores Warrior and another Belgian import up for grabs in what is the very first time he’s entered tups at Carlisle.

The pen may have been drawn late on in the sale, but with sons of Todhall tups selling well and commercial lambs doing well in the show ring, it will definitely be worth holding out for, but if you miss your chance Andrew will have a further five for Chelford and seven for Lanark as well as a selection of gimmers at the in-lamb sales later in the year.

To date, all tups have been bred naturally but for the first time Andrew will be putting a few ewes through a flushing programme, particularly the Forglen ewe whose daughters and grand-daughters are all breeding well.

“I’ve booked Superstar’s dam in for flushing this year as she’s bred well so I’d like a few more of her in the flock to keep the proven lines on the go.

"While it’s good to flush gimmers, you don’t know how they’re breeding and with the costs involved I would rather they’re breeding well before starting the precess,” Andrew pointed out.

It’s been a great start to Beltex breeding for Andrew, but it’s the other breeders that have really encouraged him along the way: “That’s one thing about the breed and the folk involved – they’re a very friendly bunch of breeders, especially to someone that’s new to the breed, and will always speak to you at shows and sales and even offer advice. And there’s nothing better in terms of encouraging a young lad than for a number of the big names in the breed to buy a tup for the pedigree job.”

So, for Andrew, there’s one thing that’s certain – the future is bright if the future is Beltex.