IT takes real stockmanship, kenning ability and attention to detail to breed any champion, but to produce numerous star performers at major events on a regular basis in no fewer than five different breeds, is a sign of a true veteran.
Over the years, Dr Robert Graham – who may well be better known for his idyllic TV Jersey dairy cattle adverts – has not only won the tri-colour at the Highland, the Royal and the Royal Welsh, on several occasions with Limousins from his Grahams herd, his cattle have also scooped the individual inter-breed beef honours and helped to make up part of the winning pairs and or teams, at all three.
Add to that Robert’s keen eye for quality breeding in both the dairy and the sheep sector, and the family has also triumphed to win the red, white and blue sash at all three Royals with Berrichon du Cher sheep. 
In previous years, the Grahams also scooped the breed championship at the big three with Rouge de l’Ouest and Bleu du Maine sheep on several occasions with sheep produced from their Airthrey Kerse base, near Bridge of Allan.
Not to be outdone, the family’s famous Jersey herd, which numbers just short of 300 milking cows and is based at Boquhan, Stirling, has also made its mark to take top awards at all three Royals. 
Only last weekend, it was host to the Grahams Family Dairy invitational Gold Top Sale of elite Jersey females – staged as part of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau Annual Tour – where a top price of 5500gns was achieved. 
The Grahams produced the second top seller, when the pick of a flush made 5200gns to a German group over with the WJCB tour. The resultant calf will be the highest projected genomic tested Jersey in Europe, being bred from Sunset Canyon Dimensions Maid 153 ET, which is owned in partnership between the Grahams and Rapidbay Jerseys, in Quebec, Canada. 
The Graham family sees genomics as an important step forward in the breed and the heifer will also be bred from one of the highest butterfat cow families in the Jersey breed.
Notably, all this success has been achieved with assistance from some of the top stockmen in the country who have worked for the Grahams, while in the background, the family – Robert, wife Jean, son Robert and daughter Carol – also run the successful business, Grahams The Family Dairy, also based at Bridge of Allan.
This business has gone from strength to strength retailing milk and premium dairy products to all major supermarkets in Scotland.
Now recognised as the No 1 Scottish dairy brand, Grahams The Family Dairy, scooped the 2016 Brand Success of the Year accolade at the recent Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards and won gold with their spreadable butter in the dairy category. 
This year also saw the company lift four awards for their high quality premium ice cream at the Ice Cream Alliance Awards, while Carol Graham was presented with the Marketing Star of the Year award at the Marketing Society Awards, earlier this month.
While the dairy – which employs in excess of 600 people, with its products now featuring in every supermarket in the Scotland – takes up most of the family’s waking hours, Robert’s heart and soul will always remain in pedigree livestock.
“Producing milk and dairy products is one of the easiest things in the world – the hardest thing is selling and marketing,” said Robert snr, who admitted it had taken at least 10 years building up contacts before any of his branded dairy products appeared in major supermarkets.
“I’ll be at the dairy every morning, but I like to make sure I get out to the farm every afternoon to see the stock,” said Robert, who received an honorary doctorate from Heriot University in 2014 for his services to the Scottish dairy industry.
Remarkably, all three livestock enterprises – beef, sheep and dairy – originated as a hobby, with Jersey cattle being the first. 
Mighty oak trees are grown from small acorns and that was the scenario at Bridge of Allan when Robert initially bought 20 Jersey cows from HM the Queen’s Windsor herd, some 30 years ago.
“They were the real jewels in the crown,” said Robert, who quickly realised the potential of this high fat, high protein milk. The herd was soon built up to 40 Jerseys enabling bottled door to door breakfast milk to be sold in the local area.
As sales increased further, the Grahams looked to promote their Jersey milk as a luxury product, being 25% higher in protein and calcium. It grew so fast, to the extent that additional Jersey milk had to be bought in from Gordon Hastie’s large herd based at Haddington.
“We’ve had Jerseys for almost 30 years now and while we have increased cow numbers to just short of 300, we still can’t produce enough of our own milk. Increasing amounts still have to be bought in to meet the growing demand. 
“Jersey milk is fantastic, as so many high value, premium products can be made from it because it is higher in protein and fat.
“Jersey cattle not only produce the best quality milk which is worth more in the market place, they are easier kept, last longer and are better on their feet, which has to be a good thing in any business,” added Robert.
While Jersey milk undoubtedly provides the ‘bread and butter’ of the business, Robert’s Grahams Limousin herd remains equally well-known for its quality, having produced numerous show winners and five-figure priced bulls and females in the past. 
Included in this line up, is the former record priced bull, Grahams Samson, which made 55,000gns in 2003. He was bred from one of the top foundation cows in the herd, Lisette, a French-bred female and prolific bull breeder, with sons having grossed in excess of £200,000.
More recently, Grahams Humphrey, a 16-month-old son of the Irish bull, Baileys Eldorado, made 37,000gns at Carlisle, in February, 2014.
French genetics have always played a major role in any of the Grahams’ livestock operations and their next project again includes cattle from France.
“Anyone in business has to look to be one step ahead, and, while new projects don’t always come to fruition, you have to learn from them and move on. 
“In any pedigree enterprise we have got to look to breed better quality livestock and stock that costs less to produce. 
“In the dairy industry, you can almost buy an animal without seeing it based on its figures and the same will happen in the beef industry. EBVs will eventually become more reliable but at the same time, the industry has to provide workshops to enable commercial producers to better understand the figures.
“I will always look at an animal first before considering its figures, but figures and genomics add to the overall picture,” added Dr Graham, pointing out that he looks for cattle with size and character when viewing potential investments. 
He also likes to see the grand-dam, as well as the mother of an individual animal, thereby viewing breed and female uniformity.
The Grahams' 60-plus pedigree cows, which are based at Boquhan, Stirling, now include a smaller enterprise of homozygous polled Limousins, established five years ago. 
Again, these have been established from French females, although the main stock bull, Hinz which is still going strong at 10 years of age, is German.
“Polled Limousins are easier calved, last longer and they have more milk,” he added.
Admittedly, cattle remain Robert’s real pride and joy, but as a kingpin pedigree breeder and businessman, his smaller sheep flocks have also enjoyed their days of glory. 
While the Rouge and Bleu flocks have been dispersed, the family’s Strathallan Berrichon du Cher flock continues to win championships on both sides of the Border.
But, it is next week’s Royal Highland Show, which the family look forward to most, not only to view the quality of stock on parade – which they believe improves every year – but also to catch up with friends old and new both in farming and business circles.
This year’s event looks set to be a big commitment, again, for the Grahams, as they have no fewer than seven Limousins; five Jersey cattle stalls booked and three Berrichon du Cher entered. 
If that wasn’t enough to keep them on their toes, they also have a busy stand to attend in the Food Hall, featuring many of their dairy products to include milk, cheese, butter, cream, yoghurt, quark, ice-cream, and gold and organic produce.
If the Limousin and Berrichon du Cher are not be your preferred beef and sheep breeds, few can resist Jersey cattle, with their big, bold beautiful eyes and, of course, their famous gold top milk, cream and ice-cream. All we need now is the strawberries!