Beef Shorthorn is at the heart of a criss cross breeding programme which one Orkney producer is confident will deliver a functional suckler cow.

“You could say it’s work in progress, however so far we’re pleased our intentions will meet the unit’s objective – to maximise output per cow,” says Brian Moss who together with his wife, Hazel, and son Peter, manage a 120-cow suckler herd at Ocklester, Holm.

“We had taken our suckler herd down the Angus road but decided we needed to introduce some new genetics in the form of Beef Shorthorn to encourage hybrid vigour. And the result so far – a slightly stronger framed heifer with a quiet temperament,” he explains.

“These Beef Shorthorn crosses are easily calved, lively and soon up and away. And they have the growth edge over the pure Angus. The heifers have grown sufficiently fast enough to reach 400kg bulling weight at 13 to 14 months in order to achieve our 24-month calving target. What’s more, these heifers are already noticeably wider across their backs than our pure Angus cows which means they have greater eye muscle.

“So far, we’ve been retaining a large percentage of Beef Shorthorn cross heifers for future replacements – we select on frame with good backs carried down. In future, we are quietly confident that any surplus will find a ready market,” he says.

For more than two centuries the Moss family has been farming Ocklester, a 650-acre unit comprising less than half in-bye and the remainder outrun, along with 80 acres of seasonal grass. During that period, they’ve not only focused on improving the unit but also remained flexible by tweaking the system to step up efficiency and match market requirements.

“Nowadays, we are finding we are having to become more extreme in our core objective – to maximise cow output, since both payments and returns are dwindling, there is an obvious seasonal shift in the weather pattern with shorter grass growing periods so the herd has to survive extended lengthy winters on a pure forage based diet, and our cattle are in major competition with a big resident population of geese.

“We used to have Beef Shorthorn cross cows over 50 years ago, and they performed well on this unit, however my father got involved in the continental invasion and it was not until BSE and the following really difficult years that we had a change of mind. We witnessed the British consumer supporting the industry and the quality meat produced by native breeds which were also undergoing modernisation.

“Like us, many other Orkney beef herds have since stopped chasing continental cow genetics and started to have confidence in low input native breeds,” explains Brian who has had the opportunity to scope out various tried and tested native genetics whilst taking up a number of suckler herd tours organised by Orkney Agricultural Discussion Society. “These visits reinforced our perceptions that native breeds managed on forage-based systems really did have a lot to offer.”

Three years ago the Moss family invested in their first Beef Shorthorn bull at Stirling, which was selected on Breedplan data including maternal traits, as well as eye. The rest is history.

“We felt we had used Angus as far as we could, and decided to introduce Beef Shorthorn to a criss cross breeding programme. We had witnessed the breed’s improvement over a short period of time and believed the new genetics would bring some hybrid vigour, particularly a little bit more length and height.

“Furthermore, Beef Shorthorn has that natural hardy foot with dark horn that tends not to overgrow, consequently we are hoping the breed will redress some of the herd’s feet issues. We are also confident the infusion will improve milk yield, they’ll calve down and quickly get back in calf and go on to achieve an average eight calf crops.”

That’s not all. The Moss are finding their Beef Shorthorn cross steers have real value. “They’re weighing well and selling well in the Kirkwall store ring at an average 15 months. We’re aware that previously the steers were a by-product from the suckler herd, however since there’s been consumer recognition of their eating quality combined with Morrisons Shorthorn Beef scheme, they’re commanding prices that match those of continental crosses.

“An alternative has been to finish a portion of steers off homegrown barley and dark grains and we’ve already seen them reach 360kg target weight at 24 months to sell direct to a processor.”

Brian Moss says he and is family are equally passionate about the eating quality of beef they produce. “Beef is like whisky; it should hit the spot and encourage a repeat purchase.

"We believe we are on the way to developing that hardier functional suckler cow rearing one calf per year and which also has a traditional carcase with marbling lending to tenderness and taste and a potential premium,” he said.