A character in the show ring that needs no introduction this week is Bert Taylor who told us all about his stockman career.

Tell us a little bit about your stockman career and where it began?

I was born and bred at Townhead Farm, Greenloaning where my father worked for Keir and Cawdor Estates.

When I was 12 years old, we moved to Lawton, Coupar Angus, which was home to the Lawton herd of Beef Shorthorns where I began my interest in pedigree cattle.

When I left school, I attended Lawers School of Agriculture where I was top student.

On leaving Lawers I went to work for the Grant family at the Thorn, Alyth, where I was third stockman alongside Willie Stewart. Willie’s forte was feeding fatstock cattle, the first year I was there – 1966 – they were champion and reserve at Smithfield.

My first appointment as head stockman was with the Gloagburn herd at Tibbermore. My first bull sales there, we were senior champion at Perth. Tom Brewis judging was controversial as he was choosing bigger, more muscly bulls for the commercial market, this didn’t go down too well with the old die-hard breeders.

Following my time at Gloagburn, I then went to work for Slade Farming Co, Carmyllie, who were importing continental cattle and shipping the calves out to the USA. I remember going to Dundee to pick heifers from an importation of Romagnola cattle – a breed I had never seen in my life before which made it quite daunting!

Why your chosen breed?

Like many of my generation, I started with Aberdeen-Angus. I went to work for the Lawson family Newthrums who had both Aberdeen-Angus and Charolais. They would be my choice of breeds but I have a soft spot for Beef Shorthorns and Herefords as well as they are so easy to work with.

Best Highland Show achievements?

Since coming to live in Kirriemuir and going freelance in 2002 I have assisted the Panmure Herefords at every Royal Highland Show, where we have secured the champion on two occasions in 2006 and 2014. However, the best day was in 2016 when we were senior female, junior female, junior male and were only beaten to the supreme by Normanton Laertes who went on to be supreme inter-breed champion, which was well deserved.

Biggest showing achievements?

While working for Newthrums Charolais, our bull Chesham Patrice was male champion at the Highland Show. After moving to Shamley Farms, Guildford we competed at the Royal Show, Stoneleigh where we were female champion once, reserve female three times and junior male and reserve male once. However, the best year was the convention year as we took six animals and came home with two first tickets, three seconds and a junior female champion rosette.

Best sale day?

My best sale day would be October 1989 - the last sale in the old Caledonian Road market in Perth when we sold the Charolais bull, Shamley Dominant for 20,000gns to Baggrave Farms. An unforgettable day!

Which is the best animal that you have ever shown?

When I was with the Shamley herd at Guildford we showed the Charolais heifer, Mountpleasant Alexis, she was junior champion at the Royal in convention year and came back the next year with a calf at foot to be female champion and reserve overall to the bull Fleets Vibrant who we shared with the Ogden family of Fairthwaite.

Her bull calf at foot was sired by Vibrant and went on to sell for 20,000gns.

What was the best animal you have ever seen?

Every breed seems to have an animal that you remember - the Hereford bull Laertes, Willie McLean’s Galloway bull, Blackcraig Kodiac, the Angus bull, Shadwell Black Botham, the Charolais cow, Kilkenny Celia but my top animal would be the Charolais cow Livermere Susie which was champion at the Royal. She was a big cow but had style and a great mover and has always stuck in my mind as the near perfect animal.

Abiding memory?

Helping the Fraser family of Idvies secure the first Aberdeen-Angus bull sales champion was a special day as they had competed for many years and were stalwarts of the breed.

In 2008 showing the Simmental bull, Dirnanean Typhoon for the McGowan family who was senior champion and reserve overall, before going on to make 22,000gns, which was a breed record at that time.

Another record day for the McGowans was at the Luing sale at Castle Douglas in 2007. We had two exceptional bulls – Dirnanean Glencoe and Dirnanean General. Neil and I favoured Glencoe, while Neil’s father Finlay favoured General. Neil went into the sale ring first with Glencoe and received 12,000gns – a new record. I followed in with General and Finlay leaned over and whispered, “You know what you have to beat that”. Beat it he did – receiving 14,000gns!

Most influential person in your career?

I was lucky when I was young to know top men like Willie Stewart, Bert Rugg, Dave Smith, George Cormack and Fred Smith, who were all were willing to help and advise me in the right direction.

Choice of best stockman ever?

Dave Smith, Richard Thompson, Richard Rettie, Dougie McBeath and my friend Alistair Smith. All had and have the ability to bring out any breed of cattle to perfection.

Favourite quote?

My friend Ken Stewart tells this story. As a young man he took a team of Shorthorn bulls to Perth. He penned them, cleaned them up and was trying to get them to eat without much success.

An old stockman said to him “Laddie go and get drunk and when you feel like feeding them, they’ll feel like eating!”

Judging experience?

I have been lucky enough to judge at shows from Cornwall to Orkney and made many good friends, but the highlight would be judging the native inter-breed at the Highland, it was an honour to be asked.

Are you involved in any committees or have any hobbies?

I am a past chairman of central Aberdeen-Angus club and still sit on committee.

I am an armchair supporter of Dundee United and recently enjoyed a day out with my daughter Fiona with her partner Oliver and my pal Jim Muirhead at Murrayfield for the match with France. We enjoyed the day if not the result!

Future of the show circuit?

After two years of lockdown, I believe everyone will be keen to come out and show again. There are plenty of young show people who are keen to carry on the tradition. It remains to be seen whether the shows which have gone all-ticket will still have good attendances…