Show producer, Steven O’Kane, is set for a bumper summer this year after having a show season to remember last year.
Unbeaten at various shows, as well as taking four breeds to the Royal Highland Showcase event and helping produce the native inter-breed champion, a Hereford from Tom and Di Harrison's Moralee herd, as well as Blonde champion and reserve honours in both the Charolais and British Blue sections for Thor Atkinson, of Newland, Ulverston, it was one to remember.
The day job for Thor is Thor Atkinson Steel Fabrications, with the pedigree cattle and the farm being a second business for Thor, so it all lies in the hands of farm manager, Steven, who’s aim is to get the cattle numbers up to 100 Limousins, 50 Blondes, 50 Charolais and 20 Aberdeen-Angus cattle with the whole herd aiming to be home-bred.
Having been farm manager for Thor Atkinson for three years, Steven has another strong show team for the summer which consists of two Limousins, four Charolais and five Blondes. The team already had its first outing at Northumberland and the South of England shows, having been beef inter-breed champion and reserve and ???. They are now destined for the Royal Three Counties, the Royal Highland, Devon, Great Yorkshire, Royal Welsh and local shows thereafter.
“There is a great atmosphere at the shows and there is always a buzz about the cattle rings at the Highland. I was brought up in Northern Ireland with Charolais cattle, so it has always been in my blood. I wouldn’t think anything of spending every weekend at a show to promote our stock to a large audience, it really is the only way to get your name out there for pedigree cattle being the perfect shop window,” said Steven.
Steven’s full-time employee, Duncan McLaren, added: “We don’t know anything better than showing. Our life has always revolved around pedigree cattle. It has always been that way and it is our way of life.”
“Everything is in the breeding. We are 'bred' stockmen, just like the cattle have been bred to be show stars. It is not something you can pick up in life you need to be born with it. Pedigrees are our bible and growing up our homework was to learn them,” said Steven.
Duncan added: “If the animals are not bred right, no matter what you feed them they won’t be anything. They need to be a star from day one.”
Anything not making the grade for breeding is culled, with the intention if they wouldn’t keep it themselves, they wouldn’t want someone else to breed from it.
Having already purchased five stock bulls to improve genetics – two Limousins, two Blondes and a Charolais – since Steven took over, the boys are already making their mark on the herd, with last year’s stock bull being bought out of Carlisle purely for its breeding for 2500gns and went on to win the male champion at the Great Yorkshire Show.
“When we are selecting breeding stock, the first thing I look at is the pedigree, it needs to be bred well for me to buy it. Breed characteristics, top and bottom line, mobility, style and presence all have to be there for any breeding animal that is going to do well.
"You need to identify everything you want and make sure there are no imperfections in the animal. I do have a good eye for seeing something in its working clothes, and being able to see its potential at a young age is critical,” said Steven.
Duncan added: "Every animal must show good locomotion it is a very important part in pedigree cattle that more and more people seem to be forgetting about. When choosing the show team, style is everything and markings in different breeds gives them that extra shine, along with a good bold eye to catch the judge’s attention.”
Steven is also looking at introducing Aberdeen-Angus. “The native cattle are the future they are easy fleshing cattle which is exactly what is required in the pedigree world. Easier fleshing cattle need to be made a priority especially due to the rising costs of feed, fertiliser, and fuel. However, of course there is always going to be a need for continental cattle, there needs to be a balance between the two,” he added.
“Beef is worldwide and the only way we can move genetics about is through semen and embryo work. Other countries are so advanced it is crucial the UK keeps up with this breeding,” said Steven, who with Thor in a joint venture has teamed up with Aces Wild Ranch, in America, purchasing an Aberdeen-Angus heifer and bull calf. The ambition is to get embryos and new blood lines into the country, with 25 embryos already on their way over, with other breeds yet to come.
“American cattle are so much further in front than we are. Everything over there is so advanced and it really is a great way of life. This new venture is to focus on our next generation,” said Steven, whose owne next generation is three-year-old daughter, Cerys, while Thor has two children, Esme (9) and Frankie (7).
To engage further with focusing on the next generation Steven has an American student over this summer to tackle the British showing circuit with the farm. “The show circuit still has a strong future, but we need to prioritise the next generation. They are the only way everything will continue. After two years away from showing enthusiasts have returned to the show ring," he said.
Duncan added: “To make a good job of pedigree stock you need to be in the show circuit, it is the biggest shop window for showcasing your best livestock. On the pedigree sales front it is still the well-known herds that dominate the sales, and to get your name out there is through showing.”
Away from running Thor’s herds, Steven also runs his own business, Keadyview Cattle Grooming, which undertakes services like consultancy work for pedigrees, freelance stock work and livery for show cattle, alongside building his own pedigree Hereford herd and commercial sheep flock.
“I am just the wagon driver. I rely on a lot of other people to make it work,” said Steven, with the backbone of the business being his fiancé, Helen – they are set to tie the knot in September. He added that the hard work couldn’t be done without Helen as she is at home full time on the farm in mid-Wales and runs the day to day livery to allow Steven be away with the consultancy and grooming business.
Steven added: “We are busier than ever with the return of show season and we have had to turn cattle away. It is great to see the excitement and buzz return and that the costs of showing have not put breeders off.
“You must love what you do and although it is hard work, it is our passion and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We have been brought up in pedigree cattle, it is not a job to us it is a vacation,” concluded Steven and Duncan.
Farm Facts
Livestock numbers: 40 Limousins, 20 Blondes, 10 Charolais and one British Blue.
Farm size: 120-150 acres.
Employment: Owned by Thor Atkinson, full time employee, Richard Cleasby, along with farm manager, Steven O’Kane, who runs his own business, Keadyview Cattle Grooming, and his full-time employee, Duncan McLaren.
On the spot:
Best investment: For Steven it is Helen, and for Duncan, it's a good pair of boots!
Biggest achievement: Steven: Winning inter-breed at the Balmoral Show with Carmorn Vonie for the late, Peter Smith in 2006 and 2007 ... as well as making it home from my stag do in Gran Canaria. For Duncan: Winning the grand slam – the Royal, the Royal Highland and the Great Yorkshire shows, in 1988.
Best advice: Steven: Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. Duncan: Dave Smith once told me: “Do your home work, the work starts at home, the rest comes easy.”
Advice to people coming into industry: Start at the bottom and learn from your own eye. Stockmen traits cannot be told they must be of your own judgement. We are still learning today and every day will always be a school day.
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