Red Angus delivers for low-input systems

Red Angus delivers for low-input systems

Breeding low-input cattle that thrive on forage has become vogue in recent years as farmers face the demise of the Basic Payment Scheme.

But for Hampshire Aberdeen-Angus breeder Robert Whitcombe, this philosophy has underpinned his and his wife Sophie’s breeding goals for more than three decades of cattle breeding.

It was a visit from Leachman Cattle Company (LCC), a leading US seedstock breeder, back in the nineties that set the wheels in motion. LLC came to find South Devon genetics from Robert and Sophie’s herd.

“Working with them led to an invitation to become multipliers for Red Angus in the UK and supply genetics to Europe which was not easily supplied by the US,” explains Robert.

Although they no longer have ties with Leachman, which are now world-famous for producing composite genetics, it was the catalyst that set the Whitcombes on a new trajectory.

Red Angus remains an uncommon beef breed in the UK, Robert explains: “Red Angus are bred in about 28 different countries and in those countries up to 30% of the Angus cattle population is Red whereas in the UK it is still unusual. We have a lot of native red cattle breeds but there have never been many Red Angus.”

BREEDING

This made establishing the herd more challenging, he reflects.

The herd’s founding genetics were imported in the form of embryos from the Leechman Cattle Company in Montana and Hidden Creek Farms in Wisconsin.

Since then, the gene pool in the UK has widened slightly. A son of the famous Red Fine Line Mulberry from Oaklea has had a lot of influence in the herd. Most recently, sires have been sourced from Mosshall Red Aberdeen-Angus in West Lothian. Two of the herd’s current stock bulls,

circumference, because it is a direct measure that impacts fertility,” says Robert.

“If a black Aberdeen-Angus dam and sire both carrying recessive red genes are mated, one in four calves will be red,” explains Robert, who has keenly sought out these phenomena as outcrosses. Red bulls from Bramshaws Hill, Netherton, Retties and Shadwell have been used over the years.

“The Red and Black Aberdeen-Angus is recorded and registered under one umbrella in the UK which makes it easy to compare animals,” says Robert.

Berry Grove near Petersfield is now home to the 45-cow Hawkley herd and their most prolific cow families are Zinfandel, Firefly, Pride and Jiba.

Cows and heifers calve indoors for nine weeks starting in February, with most animals calved within two cycles.

Cows are mated to stock bulls while heifers are served exclusively to artificial insemination (AI), with semen from the Danish bull, Bakkens Red Advantage, and Australian sire, Paringa Iron Ore, used last season.

Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs) are closely scrutinised with priority given to calving ease and low birthweights.

“In selecting stock bulls, it is so important also to have good temperament, good feet and a large scrotal

He adds: “We look for breed average growth rates at 200 and 400 days and a moderate cow size, all with the aim of producing animals that grow and finish on a grass-based system.”

Most of their bull buyers are suckler farmers with farm shops so eating quality is a prerequisite.

“We believe that scanning is essential, and we look for marbling scores that are above average although the American genetics, on which the herd is based, tend to have higher marbling,” explains Robert.

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Cows are expected to rear calves outside on permanent pasture during the spring and summer and get back incalf with no hard feed.

To deliver this, the Whitcombes have culled heavily for misdemeanours such as poor fertility, conformation, feet and legs and udders in the past.

In turn, they have been rewarded with a very uniform herd, recently winning the South East of England Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Club middle-sized herd accolade.

Hawkley Red Saturn 020, and Hawkley Red Tiger 872, are sons of Mosshall bulls.

Temperament is also imperative with more beef farmers lone working.

“More people are working cattle by themselves and the last thing you want is to be injured by a cow so they must be really quiet to handle,” adds Robert.

Red clover is grown for youngstock alongside herbal leys comprising chicory, plantain, yarrow, birdsfoot trefoil and clovers.

About half of the crop of bull calves is kept entire and will be sold privately mainly as yearlings. The rest are sold to ABP as steers at 20 months.

Focus is placed on producing ‘fit bulls’ that will work hard in tough terrain, with many customers hailing from the Salisbury Plains and National Trust common grazing lands.

FUTURE

There is a high demand in Europe for Red AberdeenAngus genetics, but since Brexit it has become difficult to export animals to Europe. Robert has been chairing an Aberdeen-Angus sub-committee on export in the hope to change this.

“The next step is to get a custom post on the other side of the channel, in France or the Netherlands, so animals can transit to those countries to access other markets,” he explains.

Farm facts:

• Farming 280 acres of all grassland, mostly permanent pasture.

• 45-cow pedigree herd, spring-calving, and sheep

• High-health status, accredited BVD and Johne’s-free.

• Selling about 15 yearling bulls annually and a select number of quality females.

• Remainder of steers and heifers finished by 1820 months and sold to ABP.

• Previously sold bulls to Cogent UK and Doeva (Ireland) AI studs.

• Offers semen direct from homebred bulls.

• Calving heifers at three-years-old.

• Heavy clay land.

• Adhere to organic principles, although they are no longer certified.