NORMAN CRUICKSHANK

Well-known pedigree Limousin cattle breeder, Norman Cruickshank, has died at the age of 84.

Norman was born at Kingseat Farm, Newmachar, Aberdeenshire – the fourth child of seven to Norman and Maggie Cruickshank. In 1943, the family moved to Waulkmill Farm, in the village of Strachan, Banchory.

After leaving school, he went to agricultural college in Aberdeen for two years before going to the dairy college at Auchincruive for a year. He returned north and took on the shepherd’s post at Glen O’Dye Estate for five years.

He met his future wife, Elma, at one of the local dances and they married in Banchory East Church, in August, 1961, and had two children, Gwen and Paul.

He moved to Lanarkshire in 1963 with brothers, Jim and Eddie and families, buying Hill of Kilncadzow Farm, Carluke, where they ran a herd of 200 dairy cows. After a few years, Eddie returned to Aberdeenshire, and Norman and Jim carried on in partnership at ‘The Hill’, while a further expansion of the business came in 1976 with the purchase of Easter Dunsyston Farm, at Airdrie.

After his famil', Norman’s 'love of his life', Limousin cattle, began with a trip to the Paris Show in 1974 when he spotted his first Limousins. It wasn’t long after returning home from the Paris Show that a Limousin bull was bought to work on the dairy herd at The Hill.

The calves impressed him and by 1978 the first pedigree cow was bought to pave the way for three imported heifers for the newly-established Ruadh Limousin herd. A meeting at an open day at Tommy Holliday’s farm at Coniston, in Cumbria, in 1979, was to have a profound effect on Norman, as attending that open day were Pierre Gardette and Robert Moreaux, renowned Limousin cattle breeders from France.

An invitation to France was made, resulting in the purchase of more heifers and a bull. The bull was Paquebot, who was to make a big impression on the developing Limousin herd. Tragically, in 1981, brucellosis caused the loss of the dairy herd, including half of the Limousins, but Norman and Jim looked to the future, and continued to rebuild the Limousin herd with further imports from France.

An amicable split in the brothers’ partnership was to follow, leaving Norman with 30 pedigree cows. Hill of Kilncadzow was sold and in 1984, Norman and Elma took over the tenancy at Cowford Farm, Carstairs. By then, they had established the Normande Limousin herd and continued to build it up to 70 breeding cows.

One of the major breakthroughs in the herd came in 1983. The late Dick Jobling, of the Rake herd, had bought Paquebot semen and he raved about a bull calf he had by Paquebot, so Norman went to see him at the MLC Test Centre, in York.

He bought a half share in him with Dick and that bull, Rake Terence, had a major impact on the Normande herd, becoming one of the top sires in the UK, his sons eagerly sought after at major sales, with daughters exported regularly to Northern and Southern Ireland.

By the late 1980s and early '90s, the Normande prefix was a major force within the breed gaining respect and admiration of fellow pedigree breeders and regular commercial bull buyers.

In 1992, Norman and his great friend, the late Dougie Edgar, of the Shire herd, went to the National Sale, at Lanaud, in France, and bought the champion bull on the day, Filip, in a 50-50 split. Filip was used successfully in the Normande herd and proudly shown at the Royal Highland Show in 1994 where he was Limousin champion, overall beef inter-breed winner, securing the coveted Queen’s Cup for most outstanding beef animal at the show.

Norman was a natural leader. During the 1970s he was chairman of the Lanark Discussion Society, and held the post of chairman of Lanarkshire NFU for three years. He also served on the council of the British Limousin Cattle Society for 11 years.

As a much admired breeder and tireless promoter of the Limousin breed, he had the honour of being appointed chairman of the society for three years from 1992-1995. Given his vast experience and knowledge of the breed, he was also asked to judge all over the world, including the French National Show, the Sydney Royal Show, in Australia, and the Brazil National Show, twice. He was also honoured to have judged all Royal shows in the UK.

Norman was a very well-respected breeder and as one of the first farmers to bring Limousin cattle to Britain, he was totally committed to the breed’s UK development with a breeding policy that always tried to be a step ahead – which rarely failed.

In 2022, his legacy to the breed was recognised when he was inducted into the British Limousin Cattle Society's 'Hall of Fame' for his services to the breed, a huge honour for him, which he accepted with great pride.

Norman was a devoted husband to his late wife, Elma, a much loved dad to Gwen and his late son, Paul, a dear father-in-law, and proud granda and great granda.