Solwayfirth's Charolais line up for Carlisle Bull Sales is one to watch

Ian took over the running of the Longbridgemuir Charolais herd in 1982 from his father, David and ventured out on his own in 1990, now running two neighbouring holdings which sit near the Solway coast, covering 280 acres in Dumfries and Galloway. The Solwayfirth herd was established in 2001 after Ian and Dorothy suffered the tragedy of losing all their livestock in the foot-and-mouth outbreak. Replacement females were then sourced mainly from the Moyness, Ugie, Brampton and Basset herds to get back up and running again.

Calving is split to spring and Autumn blocks. these young bulls were born in the back end last year and have future sale potential Ref:RH280421263 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

“The Charolais is the breed we have always worked with here and it works well in our system. We are using it as a terminal sire for selling store cattle and now also for breeding herd replacements,” said Ian.

Previously, Ian ran a flying herd of Limousin cross cows, buying in heifers with calves at foot. However in 2012, a closed herd policy was introduced as replacement rates were so high due to fertility and other health issues from buying in cattle.

“We’re now working with Charolais crosses, as the breed dominates the store ring and always sells for a premium grade,” said Ian, who normally sells his steer calves and heifers that are not retained as herd replacements, at between 10 and 12 months old, weighing around 380 to 400kg, and mainly through Harrison and Hetherington’s Lockerbie market.

two of this year calve crop sired by Glenericht Majestic Ref:RH280421264 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

After last year’s poor store calf trade due to the ongoing pandemic and the uncertainties in the beef industry, Ian decided to leave 45 Charolais cross calves entire and is finishing these at home on a TMR diet consisting of home grown cereal and maize meal.

In-calf cows are also fed a TMR diet which includes silage and up to 4kg of ground straw – depending on the silage analysis – to prevent them putting on too much condition pre-calving.

All cows are housed throughout the winter on slats and start calving from around April 10 and all outside.

“It does create a bit more work for us letting them out to calve, but calves are definitely healthier and are quicker on their feet outside than inside I find and probably safer than calving inside on slats as you need to be there all the time,” pointed out Ian.

“We are also tight for space elsewhere in the steading so can’t really afford to house them. A cow catcher crate was purchased five years ago and this has been a game changer for calving outside, weather permitting of course, as it allows calves to be easily caught and tagged!

“The calving ease of the Charolais breed is better now than it had been in the past, but your cow management has got a lot to do with a good calving ... it is not just on the choice of bull. When we restocked after foot-and-mouth all our cows were in calf to the Limousin and I have never calved as many in my life,” said Ian.

fast-growing store calf which will finish within the modern spec' required by meat buyer Ref:RH280421269 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

Currently, some 40 Charolais cross cows are kept, with heifers calving at two-years-old to a Salers bull with a Beef Shorthorn then used on the cows. The best of the Shorthorn heifers are then bulled with the Salers to calve at two years and thereafter get bulled with a Charolais terminal sire. The thinking is to get the benefit of calving at two, but with a bit of an easier calving for heifers using the Salers and Shorthorn.

“The aim behind this strategy is to reduce the dairy influence and have an easier kept, moderate sized suckler cow so that we can maximise our use of putting them to a Charolais sire – the Shorthorn and Salers cross cows certainly seem to be able to do this,” added Ian.

On the pedigree front, a herd of 30 pure cows is maintained, though the heifers go to a Salers bull before being subsequently put to the Charolais when they are a bit more mature. Only the best of the heifers are retained in the herd, with the remaining being sold as stores.

“We used to calve all the pures in the spring, but have now split them 50/50 autumn and spring calvers, so that we have a selection of bulls that are fit and ready to sell at both the autumn and the spring bull sales,” explained Ian.

This year’s team for Carlisle consists of four young bulls, Solwayfirth Presley, Pioneer, Phantom and Panther. All are sons of the 11,500gns Glenericht Majestic, a bull which has been the most influential stock sire used in the herd since re-stocking.

Sale bound Solwayfirth Presley, Phantom, Panther and Pioneer. All of which are by the 11,500gns Glenericht Majestic Ref:RH280421260 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

“Majestic has bred really well for us, with his first crop of six bull calves sold at auction since May last year averaging 6750gns, with another two good sons retained for use on our own cross cow suckler herd!”

His influence had a big part to play in Solwayfirth Oneal, which was sold in May at the Harrison and Hetherington’s online sale for £10,000 to the Wight family, at Midlock. However, the Goldies’ best price to date was achieved at Stirling Bull Sales, in February past, when they sold the 17-month-old Solwayfirth Peterpan for 14,000gns for pedigree work with Gareth Jones, of the Esgob herd, in Wales.

“Making that investment in Majestic has clearly paid off when you have such strong offspring to sell, and a big bonus that has helped sell his sons has been Majestic’s EBV ratings.

"I am not a big fan of figures because I believe they are not accurate enough and for the fact that a good strong bull could go unsold just because the figures aren’t there to match it nowadays.

“Birth weights, gestation length and calving ease are all very important criteria, but buyers have to be able to trust breeders to enter the correct data!” said Ian.

Stock Bull Glenericht Majestic, which has been the most influential bull used on the herd since re-stocking Ref:RH280421270 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

He added that the strong sale prices are also a direct result from the showring, which Ian said is a great shop window.

The Goldies compete at the Highland Show and some local shows, with their best achievement to date being winning the beef inter-breed at Dumfries Show – after 18 years of trying – with Solwayfirth Hannibal, a Balmyle Vendetta son, which was subsequently used on both pure and commercial cows.

Another highlight was Solwayfirth Abbi, a Maerdy Restful daughter out of Basset Tilly. She was first at the Royal Highland in 2006 and was also junior female champion at the Scottish and Northern National Show at Cumberland Show.

“When we are picking out our pedigree replacement females, we are looking for something with a bit of character that is correct with soft fleshing and is going to produce a fast-growing store calf which will finish within the modern spec’ required by meat buyers quickly,” he added.

one of the Charolais cross cows with her Shorthorn sired calf Ref:RH280421268 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

The proof of what the Charolais can do for their herd and others, lies with its success in the Goldies’ commercial suckler herd, which Ian and Dot look on as the main enterprise. Having said that, the pure-bred Charolais – which were a hobby to start with – are now really paying their way. They also prove that Solwayfirth is breeding the right type of cattle as their suckler herd utilises as much of their home-bred Charolais genetics as possible.

The couple also has a small flock of Cheviot Mules that are put to Beltex tups, to keep their daughters, Heather (13) and Grace (9) keen on the farm.

“The next generation needs to continue to come through for any future for the industry. However, the farming industry doesn’t always receive enough for their end product to keep our heads above the water, so it is important that the government continues to support us,” concluded Ian.

Cows calve out on the grass to avoid the calves picking up any buys inside

Farm Facts

History: Family have been involved with the Charolais since the 1960s

Livestock numbers: 170 breeding cows, of which 30 are pedigree Charolais plus followers along with 19 Cheviot Mule ewes

Acres: 280 acres

Involvement: Ian and wife, Dorothy

Home to the Goldie family and the Solwayfirth Charolais herd Ref:RH280421271 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer

On the spot questions

Best investment: With the pedigrees it has got to be Glenericht Magestic – his purchase has taken the pures up another notch and with the sucklers it has to be the cow catcher, which has made calving outside a lot easier ... and safer, now that I'm not as fast as I used to be!

Best advice: If you ever buy a farm ensure you buy the farm cottage!

Biggest achievement: Getting 14,000gns for a bull.

What are you most looking forward to with lockdown restrictions easing: A vodka and Irn Bru or two in a beer tent at a show.

the herd is split 50/50 autumn and spring calvers, so that we have a selection of bulls that are fit and ready to sell at both the autumn and the spring bull sales Ref:RH280421267 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer