Beef Shorthorn – the functional cow at Lee Meadow

Better known in Texel and indeed sheep shearing circles, Dye and his wife Elizabeth, daughter Katie (21/2years) and son James (1) farm some 295 grassland acres at Lee Meadow, Braidwood, where the wet ground and rushes are more suited to traditional cattle breeds than some of the larger continentals.

Furthermore, their ease of management, fleshing ability, milkiness and good temperament mean they are the ideal type of cattle to work with when Dye primarily runs the business single handedly while Elizabeth switches her talents between full-time nursing and farming.

"I want a good functional, easy fleshing cow that will produce a good calf at the least cost and the Beef Shorthorn is proving ideal here," he said.

"Our Shorthorns and their cross-bred females produce calves that sell just as well as our Charolais crosses bred from continental cross cows and they have a fantastic temperament. I can tag the calves myself without fear of injury, which is a big thing these days when there are not the people on farm to help out.

some of the young bulls at Leeburn showing future potential Ref:RH280121228 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

"Everyone is looking at their suckler females now in bid to find an easier, more profitable system and the Beef Shorthorn with its ease of calving, fleshing abilities and great temperament certainly fit the bill here," said Dye.

Proof of the pudding is in the returns produced from these medium-sized red and white females, and last year, 10-12-month-old stot calves from the spring-calving herd sold at 217-220p per kg, either through Lawrie and Symington at Lanark, or United Auctions, Stirling.

"There is a real premium for native-bred cattle which combined with the easy fleshing ability of the Shorthorn, means our Beef Shorthorn calves sell just as well as the Charolais crosses," commented Dye, adding that his cows produced calves that were half the weight of their mothers at weaning, with creep feeding introduced from three months onwards.

Furthermore, with few if any calving problems, there are few barren cows.

"At least 85% of them will calve themselves – the only ones I do end up assisting are those that are misrepresented. Last year we only had three cows that failed to hold to the bull, but a lot of them were older cows we had kept on when we're building up numbers."

the herd is housed from October through to the middle of May, depending on the weather and with ease of management, fleshing ability, milkiness and good temperament mean they are the ideal type of cattle to work with Ref:RH280121223 Rob Haining / The S

Dye has also discovered over the past couple of years that by feeding the cows their silage at night, after he's finished up, instead of in the morning, there are fewer calvings at night.

Of the 90 pedigree and commercial cows at Lee Meadow, 60 calve in the spring in straw-bedded courts, with the remainder calved in an eight-week period in the autumn inside. Heifers join the herd at 2.5years, with the herd housed from October through to the middle of May, depending on the weather.

Having previously relied upon Salers and Limousin cross suckler cows to breed to a Charolais bull, Dye is now focussing on the Shorthorn cross Salers, which he has found to be easier fleshing and of a better size.

"I do like my Salers cross cows but they were too big for this farm when it's so wet. Shorthorn cross Salers cross cows are that bit easier fleshed and managed and they calve really well to a Charolais."

As a result, the best female breeders are bulled with a Beef Shorthorn to produce females to go back into the herd or to sell privately, with the remainder crossed to a Charolais and sold as yearlings.

It's the returns from the stot calves and the quality of the cross-bred females that convinced Dye to invest in pedigree Beef Shorthorns too.

Kaite is keen to help feeding the store cattle Ref:RH280121245 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The first Beef Shorthorn bull was bought some six years ago from Alistair Morton's Lanarkshire-based Stobilee herd, with the first foundation females for the business' Leeburn herd acquired in 2018.

First to join was the six-year-old cow, Stonehills Thrashers Gem, a Cairnsmore Thrasher daughter bought at Carlisle in May 2018, from Geoff Riby, with bulling heifers bought privately from James Playfair-Hannay's Tofts herd from Kelso.

A year later, the Clarks bought their first stockbull in Castlemount Masterpiece at the October Bull Sales at Stirling and last year, Dunsyre Lily from Carey Coombs' herd reduction sale at Stirling was acquired.

It has nevertheless been the Gem cow that has to date made her mark most when AI'd to Poynington Himself, breeding the first home-bred stockbull in Leeburn Navigator.

"I'm aiming for a herd of well balanced cows that will produce good calves that leave a margin, so I look for cows that are not too big, but have plenty of frame and are good on their legs. They also have to be fleshy and that is where the Beef Shorthorn scores over other breeds.

some of the Heifers, which get calve at 2.5 years old Ref:RH280121258 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

"Cattle need a bit of muscle for shape, but we do have to watch the breed doesn't introduce too much of the myostatin gene or the breed will lose it's ease of calving and fleshing ability characteristics.

"At the end of the day, cattle of any breed or cross have to be commercial, and if they don't pay, there's not much point in having them," said Dye who was brought up to buy a stock sire or tup to suit the needs of his herd or flock, hence the reason why he bought a bull carrying a myostatin gene when all of his cows are free of the trait.

With or without the gene, it's the growing demand for the Beef Shorthorn as a commercial female and the improved quality of meat produced from this red and white native, that looks set to ensure a positive future for the breed.

"Most people are looking to change the type of suckler females they have for an easier managed system that is less reliant on expensive feeds and can be outwintered if need be and the native breeds fit that bill. Morrisons pay a good premium for Beef Shorthorn beef too which also ensures a strong demand for the calves and makes the job worthwhile. Everyone is looking for easier managed, functional cows that leave a margin at the end of the day."

Leeburn Potcheen, first calf by Castlemount Masterpiece, born unassisted mid September 2020

With the herd being in its infancy, and a few bulls already sold privately, Dye unfortunately does not have any entries for the breed sale at Stirling, although he does have a few bulls for the sales in October from his Hi-Health herd which boasts a Level 1 for Johnes and is BVD accredited.

February is also a busy time for the family when many of their highly prized Clarks pedigree Texels and recipient ewes will be lambing before the main batch of commercial females start in March.

There's no doubt the Beef Shorthorn is a completely different animal to the modern continentals out there, but with Dye having made a huge success of the family's pedigree Blondes in the past, just watch his Leeburn herd go from strength to strength in the coming years ...

FARM facts:

Farm: Lee Meadow, Braidwood, bought April 1, 2010, comprises 295 grassland acres and a lot of rashes!

Herd numbers: 30 pedigree Beef Shorthorn females and 60 commercial Beef Shorthorn cross Salers cows

Calving: All calve inside on straw-bedded courts with 70% in the spring and the remainder in the autumn. Heifers calve at 2.5 years

Sheep flock: Clarks flock of nine pedigree Texels with a further 250 Bluefaced Leicester cross Texel cross ewes used as recipients and for producing commercial prime lambs. The couple also run a small flock of MV accredited 'true' Bluefaced Leicesters.

Diversification: Sheep shearing, although he reckons he's too old for shearing now and commentates instead!

ONTHE spot:

Best investment? "Texel ram, Procters Chumba Wumba and Beef Shorthorn bull, Castlemount Masterpiece."

Best advice? "Follow your first impressions."

Biggest achievement? "Being asked to commentate at three World "Shearing Championships."

Who inspires you most? "My late father, Jim Clark."

Where do you want to be in 2030? "Hopefully back showing our Texels, Shorthorns and traditional Blues at shows."

What you miss most during lockdown? "The Royal Highland Show and sitting around Beachy's kist at his legendary parties" ...