Championship honours for Blackbrook at National Show
Melbourne Park triumph at Great Yorkshire Show
Welcome to the winter 2024 edition of The Longhorn, the Society’s magazine for members and all those with an interest in the breed, either pedigree or commercial.
As we all prepare ourselves to go into the winter months, we can look back on what has been yet another successful year for the Longhorn breed. Shows have been well supported throughout the summer and while TB zoning had an effect on our National Show, entries and the quality of cattle on show remained at a high standard.
In producing this magazine, the Society has looked at ways of showcasing all the attributes of the breed, from it’s fantastic mothering abilities to its ability to thrive off poorer quality grazing as a secondary business for some farming families.
Herd features this time will provide readers with a behind the scenes look at the Hurst herd in Gloucestershire, a thriving commercially managed herd run alongside a successful hay and straw business, as well as the Bankwood herd in Cumbria, where a young couple are investing in Longhorns in a bid to start their journey with the breed.
The magazine also sees us look back on key events throughout the year such as the summer visit which was a resounding success and the AGM which was hosted by Andrew Goodman and family in Worcestershire.
Plans are afoot for yet another jam-packed diary of events next year and details of some of these can be found throughout the magazine.
The Society’s chairman, Clive Roads, looks back on his first year in the driving seat of the breed and offers some words of wisdom later in the magazine, targeted at some of the newer breeders of Longhorns, as well as a little refresher course in sharpening the minds of established breeders when it comes to marketing Longhorn cattle.
I’d like to thank all members that have worked hard this year to promote Longhorns at shows and events, your passion for this breed never goes unnoticed and I wish everyone a happy and healthy winter and look forward to seeing what the 2025 season brings us all.
Best wishes
Debbie Dann
-Societysecretary
The Longhorn Cattle Society
East Lodge
Stoneleigh Park
Stoneleigh Warwickshire
CV8 2LH
Tel: 0345 017 1027
Mobile: 07884 065 959
Email: secretary@longhorncattlesociety.com
Society secretary: Debbie Dann Society chairman: Clive Roads
The Society cannot accept responsibility for errors or omission arising from publication. Information and photographs contained within advertisements may also not be the views of the Longhorn Cattle Society and, therefore,cannotbeheldresponsibleforanyissuesarisingfromthem.
ADVERTISERS INDEX
06
Society news
A round up of Society news and events over the last few months.
08
AGM Report
Longhorn members gathered in Worcestershire for this year’s AGM, hosted by Andrew Goodman and family.
On farm with Hurst Longhorns
Read how the Longhorn breed fits perfectly with the grazing requirements of Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
17
Society timed on-line sale
Society timed on-line sale sees Gentons herd set a new breed record.
Reaping the rewards
Society chairman Clive Roads takes a look at the finer details of marketing Longhorn cattle.
Society photo competition
See who is striking a pose for this year’s Society photo competition. 20
26
Great Yorkshire Show report
The rain didn’t dampen the Melbourne Park team as they took the spoils at this year’s Great Yorkshire Show.
30
Northern Feature
22
National Show report
The Blackbrook herd once again reigned supreme at this year’s National Show.
Spurred on by their enthusiasm for the breed, Mike and Chantel Noble have reaped the rewards in the show ring and recently expanded their Bankwood Longhorn herd.
34
Summer shows round up
The champions and reserves from this year’s summer show season.
36
Society summer visit
HMP Kirkham played host to a thoroughly enjoyable and informative summer visit.
A note from the Chairman
They say “a calm sea never makes a good sailor!” As far as the Longhorn breed and Society are concerned, fortunately we haven’t run into any storms, but the changing face of British agriculture, politics, environmental issues and world pressures all have a knock-on effect for everyday lives, decisions, and the ultimate effect those decisions make for the Society.
During the year Trustees held five meetings and apart from the day to day running of the Society, other important matters were discussed:
A SWOT analysis – strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats of the breed and Society. While all these points should be constantly analysed, a current study enables Trustees to crystalise thoughts, ambitions and aspirations.
Points to be progressed from that review are:
a) A future young person’s development programme.
b) Promotional material highlighting suitability of Longhorns for Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Schemes.
c) Five ways to improve returns when marketing Longhorns.
d) Genomics and the benefits for future breeding techniques.
Other issues of discussion included the Society’s and RBST Semen Bank and rationalisation thereof, a review of the bull, cow and heifer of the year awards following points raised at the 2023 AGM and the reestablishment of the Mid West Longhorn Breeders Club. Also discussed was the 300th anniversary in 2025 of the birth of Robert Bakewell and the Dishley Society’s plans for a display/show classes featuring Longhorns at a designated show.
The Society’s finances, future analysis, planning and budgets were discussed in depth, as was the consideration of having a prominent stand at Groundswell in 2025 – a futuristic annual farming event held in Hertfordshire featuring progressive Agri-schemes with strong tendencies on re-generative and SFI Schemes, which should, logically open doors for the grazing of Longhorns.
It has been noted in the trustee minutes that letters were sent to two great stalwarts of the breed, firstly Brian Wragg, a former trustee and breeder who resigned during the summer and Peter Guest, also a former trustee and noted breeder in relation to his ongoing illness. We were delighted that Peter was able to join us at the AGM. Both breeders have shown unparalleled commitment to the Society. The Society’s grateful thanks must also go to Rachael Heard and Graham Towers for all their support and efforts during their term as breeders and wish them both well in their future retirement.
Analysis of the Society’s fees and charges has been looked at by comparison to other breed societies, the result being that members have extremely competitive rates and possibly the lowest of any breed society. While this is admirable, the Society cannot and should not subsidise the whole membership in detriment to the overall finances.
Outside of meetings, events and shows have been well supported with promotional activities to the fore front, including Beef Expo held at Kendal which sadly resulted in disappointing attendance across the event. This has naturally triggered thoughts of alternative ventures such as Groundswell.
The summer meeting held at HMP Kirkham was simply a resounding success and a memorable day for all concerned. Meanwhile, The National Show was staged at this year’s Royal Three Counties Show under the experienced eye of judge Dan Bull. The 2025 National Show moves back to Great Yorkshire Show, a four-year testing area. However, there have been thoughts as to whether the Society should consider a one-day show for the National Show.
The Society’s main Show and Sale at Worcester in the spring attracted a good cross section of entries with some excellent cattle taking the limelight and valued accordingly by discerning buyers. The autumn online sale recorded mixed results, but certainly offers an outlet to breeders wishing to sell at that time of year.
Any office holder in any organisation is only as good as the team alongside them and as a Society we must count ourselves extremely fortunate to have a board of Trustees with such in-depth knowledge, not only of the breed, but the ever-changing look of agriculture as developed by government policy.
That vision of course extends to our resilient, hardworking and committed Secretary in Debbie Dann. While several other breed societies are making far reaching and difficult administration decisions, we must count ourselves lucky to have a stable and efficient structure. That structure is totally dependent on your support as members and breeders. Income to run Society affairs really comes down to membership, registration and transfer fees, so without that income stream opportunities to progress, promote and secure the future of the breed gets stifled.
May I conclude by thanking you all as members for your support, the board of Trustees for their sound counsel and knowledge and in particular to thank Pat Stanley who stands down by virtue of finishing her allotted term as trustee for her far reaching and in-depth vision of all Society matters.
Clive Roads presented this report at the 2024 AGM.
Clive Roads -Societychairman
SOCIETY NEWS
Painting of Robert Bakewell by John Boultbee 1788-90, National Portrait Gallery, London.
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Marking the end of his two years as the Society’s President, David Blockley awarded the President’s Award to Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell of the Longbridge herd.
David said that Jane and Trish had made a lasting commitment to the Longhorn breed and had supported the breed and the Society by hosting workshops and events. They had produced cattle for the show ring that had been a credit to them and the breed.
NEW PRESIDENT
David Blockley concluded his two-year term as President at the AGM, and chairman Clive Roads invited Mrs Panny Laing to be President for 2025 and 2026. Panny, who runs the Logie herd of Longhorns in Morayshire, Scotland, said she was delighted to accept the invitation and looked forward to representing the Society during her tenure.
ROBERT BAKEWELL CELEBRATION
2025 is the 300th anniversary of the birth of Robert Bakewell, the leading agriculturalist who improved the Longhorn breed in the 18th Century. To celebrate his birth, the New Dishley Society has selected the Rutland County Show to showcase the breeds he is most associated with. It is hoped that the Society can support the event with a good turnout of Longhorns. More details on the Robert Bakewell celebration can be found on page 33.
Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell with David Blockley and the President’s Award.
Clive Roads, Panny Laing and David Blockley.
SOCIETY MEMBERS RETIRE
Longstanding members of the Society, Rachael Heard and Graham Towers recently dispersed their Treverton herd of Longhorns and Greenley herd of Beef Shorthorns and sold their Northamptonshire farm with a view to downsizing and retirement.
The Treverton herd has been at the forefront of the breed for most of the 20 years they have been members of the Society and Rachael and Graham have supported the Society by regularly coming along to events, workshops, show and sales.
Among their many show and sale successes, their cow Treverton KitKat was breed champion at the National Show (Royal Three Counties) in 2016 and as a senior heifer, Treverton Vision, topped the April 2023 Society Sale at 4000gns. Their junior heifer, Treverton Wisteria, was reserve breed champion at this year’s National Show, once again at the Royal Three Counties Show.
While we will continue to see them both ‘on the circuit’ as Graham is one of our most respected breed panel judges, the Society and its members wish Graham and Rachael a very happy next chapter.
FRIENDS REMEMBERED HAROLD HULLAND
Society members were saddened to learn that Harold Hulland passed away suddenly on 5 May 2024. Harold, along with his wife Elizabeth, have the Whiteyard herd in Dumfries and regularly attended Society events and the AGM.
NEW MEMBERS
The Society would like to welcome the following new members to the Longhorn family:
Rob and Lisa Berry, Cumbria
Cennen Longhorns, Llandeilo
Joe Hamer, Shropshire
Ted Holmes, Norfolk
Fraser Proudfoot, Cornwall
Richard Salter, Isle of Wight
Barnes Thomas, Cornwall
Will Vickery, Dorset
Gerhard Wallis, Dorset
Treverton KitKat
Treverton Vision
WORCESTERSHIRE PLAYS HOST TO SOCIETY AGM
The Society’s AGM weekend was in Worcestershire this year, visiting two farms that have Longhorns as part of mixed farms.
On Saturday 5 October members went to Walsgrove Farm, Great Witley, Worcestershire, owned by the Goodman family. Andrew Goodman welcomed some 70 members to the farm and gave a short history of the 500-acre farm and how the enterprises developed. In 2004 the Goodman family were milking 180 dairy cows and wanted a change of direction into beef as the milking herd was constantly in and out of TB restrictions which made trading complicated.
The first Longhorns arrived in that year and then in 2006 the family ceased milking and Longhorn numbers began to increase with the purchase of 12 heifers from the long-established Stoke herd. Many of the direct descendants of these foundation cows are still in the herd.
For ease of management and with a view towards later commercial sales, all steers and heifers chosen not to breed from are disbudded. Historically cattle were taken through to finishing, but with the store trade so strong bunches of stores are sent to Worcester Livestock Market at 20-24 months of age. The ultimate plan is to sell the beef alongside the poultry as the quality of the end product is exceptional. The marbling and flavour are second to none and that coupled with provenance, creates the unique selling point required for marketing at a premium level, Andrew told members.
All spring calving, the Witley herd calves from February through to May with calves creep fed from the end of September. The kindness of the mid loam soil allows mid-December housing, after the Christmas rush with the poultry has finished. The poultry enterprise was started by Andrew’s mother Judy Goodman when she couldn’t find a goose for Christmas lunch! From small beginnings the ‘Goodmans Geese’ brand grew into the large
operation it is now, with 10,000 geese and turkeys being reared each year.
Members split into two groups with Andrew leading members to see the cattle and Andrew’s brother Mike taking members round the poultry enterprise which he manages. The geese and turkey poults arrive as day-olds in June and occupy the farm buildings and surrounding paddocks until midNovember. Members were fascinated to see how the birds were reared and many of them will have a new-found appreciation of the work, attention to detail and loving care that goes into producing a goose or turkey for the Christmas table.
Back at the farm, the Society had the formal business of the AGM and then a fabulous lunch of Witley Longhorn beef and turkey. The drinks and much of the food had been sourced from a five-mile radius of the farm so the food miles were minimal!
After the AGM some members took the opportunity to have a private tour of the magnificent Great Witley Baroque Church which was a sight to behold.
Paul Westaway was our after-dinner speaker on Saturday night and we were treated to a thoroughly entertaining and thoughtful presentation. The raffle
raised £580 for Breast Cancer Now and then Andrew Goodman kindly donated a goose or a turkey which was auctioned off. It was purchased for £280 by Adrian Bytom, so the total sum going to Breast Cancer Now was £860 before Gift Aid.
Our Sunday visit was to the Withybed herd of Longhorns belonging to Adrian and Alison Bytom their son Oliver at Coopers Hill Farm, Alvechurch, Worcestershire.
The farm runs to a little more than 100 acres of permanent pasture which is grazed by Longhorns on a rotational basis, as well as being made into hay for winter fodder. The farm totalled a little more than 30 acres when purchased by Adrian in the early 1990’s and then additional adjacent land was purchased and with hedges and ponds added to improve the wildlife habitat and help manage water flow during periods of heavy rain. One field is designated a local nature reserve by the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust.
When Adrian first started with the Longhorns he was buying barren cows to run on the nature sites he is contracted to graze and manage for the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and the National
Trust. He subsequently bought the bull Blackdown Otis and started breeding the cattle he needed for these sites. Subsequent bulls have included breeding from the Carreg and Tetford herds. Cattle move onto these sites in the summer and are brought off again in the winter.
The farm is Pasture for Life certified for both the farm and the butchery and Adrian and Olly finish their Longhorns and sell them through a small ‘pop up’ shop on the farm, marketing them through word of mouth and social media. A new cattle handling system was recently bought with a grant from DEFRA Farm Equipment and Technology Fund.
During the tour members saw the Longhorn cows and calves and the many diversification enterprises the family have developed, the most impressive being the marina for narrow boats that was built on land adjacent to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. After many years of planning and construction the project has now proved highly successful.
The farmyard is home to a number of independent small businesses who rent the converted farm buildings and the Bytom family run a kiln-dried log
business. Adrian also runs a contracting business doing fencing and civil works for the National Trust and other local organisations and Olly runs a glamping/wedding site which has a number of tipis for hire. This is a new venture which makes good use of ‘selling the view’.
After a tour of the farm members were treated to Withybed Longhorn beef for lunch and a fabulous £480 was raised the Primrose Hospice, Bromsgrove.
Society Awards
2024 SOCIETY AWARDS
AMBASSADORS AWARD
The recipient of this year’s Ambassador’s Award is Graham Walker of the Newton herd. Below is the nomination from Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell of the Longbridge herd.
“Having only known Graham personally for a few years, we recognise that he has been a huge promoter and supporter of the Longhorn breed for most of his adult life. He is knowledgeable on Longhorn genetics and bloodlines and always promotes the breed in whatever way he can. A long-time member of the Longhorn Society, and more recently a council member, he fully engages with other Longhorn enthusiasts and offers advice and encouragement to the younger members of the showing world.
Graham has managed our Longhorn herd now for a little more than two years and in that time has transformed our breeding programme, implemented a robust vaccination plan and improved the overall health of the herd. Graham is an inspiring mentor to Alisha Lack, who, under Graham’s guidance is thriving in her role of becoming a capable, young stockwoman.
Graham has shown 100% dedication to our Longhorn herd and proves himself as a skilled stockman, with huge empathy and care for the welfare of the cattle. In conjunction with Alisha, Graham has headed up the showing activities of our herd and has helped us achieve great success in the show ring over the last two years. The show ring is the shop window for both us and the Longhorn breed and Graham ensures that our cattle are always turned out to the highest of standards.
Known to most Society members, Graham has helped organise many Northern Society events over the years and more recently has organised a showing workshop at our farm, in conjunction with Thea Woollatt, which was well attended. He also co-ordinated the Annual AGM held here in Yorkshire in 2023 that attracted members from all over the UK.
Graham also worked hard setting up the Longhorn Society stand at the NBA Beef Expo in Carlisle in April this year, taking a couple of our cross-bred Longhorn steers to showcase the versatility of the Longhorn breed to producers wanting a more commercial finishing opportunity.
He lives and breathes the virtues of the beautiful Longhorn breed and we both feel that Graham wholehearted deserves the Ambassador’s Award to recognise his devotion to the breed.”
Bull of the Year
The Maydencroft Award
1st Southfield Viper D and A Blockley
2nd Blackbrook Ghost Rider J W and P A Stanley
=3rd Aberdeen Xscalaber D Walker
=3rd Gentons Warwick B Facon
Cow of the Year
The Leebarn Award
1st Longbridge Velvet J Grant and T McDonnell
2nd Fullwood Verona S Horrocks
3rd Blackbrook Yelenah J W and P A Stanley
Senior Heifer of the Year
The Lesley Hutton Award
1st Bollin Wylma J Mycock
2nd Longbridge Wendy J Grant and T McDonnell
3rd Gentons Whoopi B Facon
Junior Heifer of the Year
The Tetford Award
1st Litton X-ception J Grant and T McDonnell
2nd Newton Hung Over Annie D Walker
3rd Sycamore Xiomara J Mycock
Best Young Handler
The Frank Sutton Award
1st James Langlands
2nd Evie Mills
Best Newcomer
The Paul Luckett Award
1st Cennen Longhorns
2nd Alfred Woolley
LONGHORNS GRAZING IN HARMONY WITH THE SLIMBRIDGE WETLAND CENTRE
A desire to stay in cattle following the dispersal of the family’s 350-cow dairy herd has seen Ken Moss grow his Gloucestershire-based Hurst herd of Longhorns to 50 cows since its foundation in 2011.
“We bought our first cows from a dispersal sale at Worcester, with further additions coming quickly after that, mainly from Steven Wright’s Brookfield herd in Cambridgeshire,” recalls Ken.
Farming 1000 acres, Ken and his son, Dan, make and sell about 10,000 bales of ryegrass haylage each year, along with 50-60,000 conventional bales of hay and straw in bale packs, with these sold to a variety of markets, including equine establishments, farm shops and farmers across the south of the UK.
“This is the backbone of the business, the cattle are very much a secondary enterprise after that, utilising rougher grazing which isn’t as suitable for haylage production,” he says.
Horn shape is important, with bonnet style horns being the preferred choice for ease of handling.
Managed on a strictly commercial basis, the herd calves in spring, between February and April, with calving taking place inside for most cows. “A few later calving cows will calve outside if they’re not going to calve before the herd is turned out to grass in spring.
“We calve heifers into the herd at three years old, making room by culling anything that doesn’t meet the criteria we’re aiming for,” he adds.
A key part of this selection criteria is horn shape, with bonnet style horns preferred for ease of handling and reduced incidence of fighting in the herd.
“It can seem like a small factor, but it is an important one in making herd management as easy as we can. Similarly, when we split cows for housing in the autumn, we never mix groups again until turn out. This helps maintain settled groups of cows over the winter and in the run-up to calving,” explains Ken.
With a fully commercial basis for herd management, all bull calves are cut, some at turn out in spring and the remainder at housing in autumn. “Again, this eases management worries, meaning all yearling cattle can be run together through the winter and, if required, at grass during their second summer.
“We graze youngstock on better ground around the home farm in their second year, while cows and calves head away to graze permanent pasture around Slimbridge Wetland Centre. These pastures can be grazed from the end of April to early November, with this fitting well around six monthly TB testing requirements,” he adds.
“The ground at Slimbridge can be cut from 1st July onwards, but we have to be careful on that, due to ground nesting birds.”
Breeding wise, the current stock bull for the herd is Otten Shrek, with the previous main herd sire being Dunstall Jaguar. “Both of these have had a positive influence on the herd and their progeny will have an impact for many years to come.”
Hurst Longhorns
Importantly, Ken has been able to engage with local butchers Ruby and White in Bristol to boost demand for the breed.
“We finish our surplus heifers and all steers onfarm, aiming to sell two a week from January to May each year, when they’re averaging 24-30 months old, with about 40 a year sold to this outlet.
The Longhorn makes for an excellent mother, they’re easy calving and good milkers capable of producing excellent quality beef.
“We aim to slaughter them at about 600kg liveweight and anything we haven’t been able to finish by the end of May is sold as stores.”
An essential part of this relationship is the close tie to the butchers, with the summer months seeing a number of chefs supplied by Ruby and White visiting the farm to see the cattle and how they’re reared. “This is a great link up of the supply chain and it’s great to hear from these chefs how highly they rate the Longhorn beef we’re supplying,” adds Ken.
“This helps reinforce our own opinion that Longhorns are the best breed for us. On a farming front they are excellent mothers, medium sized, easily managed cows and are milky and easy calving. On top of that they are excellent forage converters.
HALLILOO LONGHORNS
REAPING THE REWARDS
It is fair to assume that if you are reading this magazine, you have an inbuilt respect, love and enjoyment of the Longhorn breed, whether as an established breeder whose herd is the main enterprise on the farm, a secondary enterprise or simply the pleasure of keeping Longhorns for their attractive appearance.
Whatever the reason, at some stage you will be selling either pedigree or commercial stock. And if like me you feel that those cattle are an extension of your own being, you want them to represent you and your reputation – numbers are immaterial!
Everyone sees cattle with different eyes and aspirations, but most if not all breeders and producers want to make the best of what they are selling.
While the following points are not trying to teach granny how to suck eggs, they are hopefully a few ideas to enable you to crystalise your thoughts on achieving a positive outcome (whatever the trade) and a situation you can be proud of, or at least satisfied with.
1. Planning (pedigree or commercial)
Whether you are considering a dispersal or reduction sale, annual consignment sale, or selling surplus females/males in the commercial market, some forward thinking and planning always pays dividends. This sale is your harvest. Arable farmers plan for harvest, so why shouldn’t livestock farmers do the same?
2. Feeding
Like most native breeds, Longhorns have the inbuilt ability to thrive on a grass-based diet, either grazing or conserved grass. However, they don’t thrive on fresh air! Straight forward grassland management and, perhaps with the new SFI schemes and herbal/legume leys, they offer an even better chance to improve natural grazing. If your grazing is compromised don’t let cattle go backwards; simply buy some fodder. In some cases, an inexpensive cereal based diet to put some condition on the cattle is a worthy consideration, such as potato, vegetable, bakery and other waste products depending on where you are situated in the country and availability.
3. Presentation
Anything that catches the eye is immediately in pole position and selling cattle is no different. You only get one chance so make that chance the very best that you can. Many factors come under this heading – conformation, size/weight for age, fleshing, being halter trained/ wellhandled / clean and presented appropriately (for pedigree sales).
4. Disbudding / Steering / Grouping
This section is more appropriate to marketing surplus females and males in the commercial context. Realistically, not every female or bull is destined for breeding, once you have identified or come to terms with that fact then look forwards, maximising what you have.
We have covered the important feeding aspect, other factors to maximise price/returns come down to a little effort and time balanced against the undoubted rewards.
Disbudding
There are many commercial producers / fatteners that genuinely like and buy Longhorns, but the times I’ve heard them say “those Longhorns are great but why don’t they get those b. horns off’!” You can’t blame them, mixing and yarding cattle with horns is more than a pain. Perhaps they will still buy them, but downgrade the price, something no vendor or auctioneer for that matter wants.
Steering
Unless you have an outstanding bull(s) destined for breeding, seriously consider getting males steered. Part of a day to have the vet to disbud and steer bulls is money well spent, if you don’t wish to do it yourself. There may well be a market for fattening bulls without horns, but to a degree that is limited, whereas everyone can buy steers.
Grouping
If you have several commercial females and steers to sell they will look and sell better in well matched groups. Well matched includes size, weight, conformation, age. Don’t think a poorer one in a bunch will get hidden, it will though de-value the good ones.
5. Registering cattle
The advantages of registering cattle for the pedigree sector are obvious. However, some more commercial minded pedigree breeders may be thinking that as the cattle trade is reasonably buoyant why should you register, what may be, surplus females and males.
The issue of TB is always lurking, even in areas that have not previously been affected. Those reasons are for another debate, but for the sake of a round of drinks why wouldn’t you register to protect your financial returns, not only if you were in the unfortunate position of having a TB breakdown, but perhaps as importantly for the commercial buyers who may not be as lucky as you and for whom a registered animal is much more valuable under those inhibiting circumstances.
To repeat myself I am not trying to teach granny to suck eggs, but merely trying to advise breeders on several ways to achieve enhanced values when selling cattle. It doesn’t have to be onerous, just a little organisation and planning and the great feeling you will get when you have covered all angles to achieve the best return.
Above all and if any doubt take advice, it costs nothing, but the results will be rewarding.
The following images were placed in this year’s Society photo competition which ran via the Society’s Facebook page with the most likes on each post picking up the prizes.
Overall winner, having come through from the humorous category, was this submission from Jane Mycock, featuring husband Stuart and son Monty ready for action at a show.
1st posed bull Tom Mills.
1st posed cow & calf Elise Sutton.
1st small herd Alfred Peter Woolley.
3rd posed cow & calf Emily Nyman.
1st large herd Johnny Williams.
1st posed cow Alisha Lack.
1st special award Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. 1st shows Elise Sutton
3rd posed calf Elise Sutton.
1st posed calf Jane Mycock.
1st commercial the Hulland family.
YELENAH TAKES TOP HONOURS AT NATIONAL SHOW FOR BLACKBROOK
It was yet another successful National Show for the Blackbrook team as they took home the championship honours at this year’s Royal Three Counties Show with their senior cow Blackbrook Yelenah.
Under the watchful eye of judge Dan Bull, he found himself with both his national champion and reserve titles going to females, commenting on their excellent locomotion and ring presence.
After winning the cow class with March-born heifer calf at foot, Blackbrook Icon, the 10-year-old Blackbrook Yelenah went on to secure the female and then overall breed championship for Leicestershire-based John and Pat Stanley. Out of a homebred Blackbrook Moonraker daughter and sired by Blackbrook Uruk-Hai, Yelenah was also part of the pair that represented the breed in the infamous Burke Trophy.
The reserve female and reserve breed championship rosettes went to the senior heifer, Treverton Wisteria from Northamptonshire-based, Rachael Heard. This June2022-born daughter of Riverlands Umbridge is out of a homebred Fishwick Lord of the Rings granddaughter.
The male championship went to the winner of the intermediate bull class, Blackbrook Gunner from John and Pat Stanley. This one is a March-2022 born out of a homebred Blackbrook Zobel daughter and sired by Blackbrook Captain Jack, a son of the notable Southfield Octane.
Securing the reserve male honours and junior championship was the January-2023 born Arlebrook Xander from Cennen Longhorns. He’s by Bollin Tim and out of a homebred Carreg Mogley daughter.
Winning the junior heifer class and taking the reserve junior champion spot was March-2023 born Carreg Xyris from Llandeilo-based, Bernard Llewellyn MBE and family. This one is sired by Mayhill Statute and out of a homebred Fishwick Macavity daughter.
Bull born in 2022
1st Blackbrook Gunner - Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
2nd Gupworthy Wiseman - Mr G and Mrs J Woollatt
3rd Etheridge Wrangler - Mr D Phillips
4th Gentons Warwick - Mr B Facon
Bull born on or after 1st January 2023
1st Arlebrook Xander - Cennen Longhorns
2nd Blackbrook Hunter - Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
3rd Dinedor Xcalibur - Mr E Greenow
4th Rhyfel Xen - Mr T A Williams
5th Rhyfel Xael - Mr T A Williams
Cow, in calf or with a calf at foot
1st Blackbrook Yelenah - Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
2nd Carreg Rhonda - Mr B and Mrs M Llewellyn
3rd Mayhill Fantasy - Mr D Bevan
4th Rhyfel - Uhu Mr TA Williams
Senior heifer
1st Treverton Wisteria - Ms R E Heard
2nd Blackbrook Golden Eye - Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
3rd Gentons Whoopi - Mr B Facon
4th Bollin Wylma - Mrs J Mycock
5th Melbourne Park Kiggle - Mr B and Mrs J Sutton
6th Carreg Waverley - Mr B and Mrs M Llewellyn
7th Etheridge Winterose - Mr D Phillips
8th Etheridge Wahola - Mr D Phillips
Junior heifer
1st Carreg Xyris - Mr B and Mrs M Llewellyn
2nd Holnest Isla - Mr D Phillips
3rd Treverton Xenora - Ms R E Heard
4th Blackbrook Hermione - Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
5th Treverton Xabrina - Ms R E Heard
6th Etheridge Xiana - Mr D Phillips
7th Sycamore Xiomara - Mrs Mycock
8th Carreg Xena - Mr B and Mrs M Llewellyn
Pairs
1st Ms R E Heard
2nd Mr D Phillips
3rd Mr J W and Mrs P A Stanley
4th Mr D Phillips
5th Cennen Longhorns
6th Mr B Facon
7th Mr T A Williams
Group of Three
1st Mr D Phillips
2nd Mr T A Williams
Breed champion (Morgan Trophy)
Blackbrook Yelenah
Reserve breed champion (Elizabeth Henson Trophy)
Treverton Wisteria
Male champion (Tomlinson Trophy)
Blackbrook Gunner
Reserve male champion
Arlebrook Xander
Female champion (Hill Lady Trophy)
Blackbrook Yelenah
Reserve female champion
Treverton Wisteria
Best calf at foot (Southfield Trophy)
Calf of Mayhill Fantasy
Best junior bull (Linton Trophy)
Arlebrook Xander
Best junior heifer (Fishwick Perpetual Shield)
Carreg Xyris
Junior champion (Blackbrook Trophy)
Arlebrook Xander
Group of Three (Colaba Trophy)
Mr D Phillips
Pairs (Doverdale Trophy)
Ms R E Heard
Exhibitor bred pair (Michael Thomson Trophy)
Ms R E Heard
Female and overall national show champion for 2024 went to Blackbrook Yelenah from Leicestershire-based John and Pat
Stanley.
Securing the reserve female and reserve breed champion spot was Treverton Wisteria from Rachael Heard.
Reserve male and overall junior champion, Arlebrook Xander from Cennen Longhorns.
Winner of the intermediate bull class and overall male champion, Blackbrook Gunner from John and Pat Stanley.
First prize junior heifer from Bernard and Margaret Llewellyn with Carreg Xyris
National show champion from Blackbrook and reserve from Treverton with judge Dan Bull.
Male championship presentation with judge Dan Bull
Junior championship presentation with judge Dan Bull
OFFICIAL SOCIETY SALE HEALTH RULES
The Society encourages its members to determine the health status of their cattle when offering cattle for sale, be it via private sales or public auction.
For official Society auction sales, all cattle forward must be TB tested, irrespective of their TB testing interval and the following health rules apply:
Vendors do not have to be in a health scheme. Individual testing of animals is perfectly acceptable, and can easily be done when the cattle are being TB tested.
Vendors not accredited via a health scheme wishing to blood test should do so not more than 60 days prior to the sale.
Vendors who are active members of a CHeCS approved health scheme and holding current health scheme accreditation are exempted from blood testing for the specified diseases. Members must apply to their Health Scheme provider for an animal health declaration card prior to the sale.
Accredited and vaccinated (all cattle except calves at foot).
Vendors privately testing:
Negative blood test or ‘Tag & Test’ for Antigen and then vaccinated prior to sale. Calves at foot should either have a negative blood test for Antigen or been tag and tested negative for Antigen. There is no requirement to vaccinate calves at foot.
IBR:
CHeCS health scheme members
Accredited.
Vendors privately testing:
Negative blood test. When vaccinating a marker vaccine must be used. (Unless routinely vaccinating, vaccinations should be done post negative blood test)
Recommended
Leptospirosis:
CHeCS health scheme members
Accredited.
Vendors privately testing:
Negative blood test.
Neospora
Testing recommended for all females.
Johnes:
CHeCS health scheme members:
There are no further requirements for vendors in risk level R1 or R2. Those that are in risk level R3, R4 or R5 require a negative blood test (all cattle except calves at foot).
Vendors privately testing:
These vendors require a negative blood test (all cattle except calves at foot) or faecal test if blood test timing is not compatible with TB test timing. Johne’s test sensitivities are poor and, therefore, membership of a health scheme is preferred but not mandated.
TB
In all cases vendors must test all animals more than 42 days old on the day of the sale for TB, irrespective of home testing interval.
DOWNPOURS AT GREAT YORKSHIRE DO NOT DAMPEN SPIRITS FOR MELBOURNE PARK
The rain set in at Harrogate for this year’s Great Yorkshire Show and did not let up all day, however this did not deter a quality line up of cattle for this year’s judge, Brian Wagg.
The first class of the day was where Brian eventually found his male champion, the senior bull, Southfield Viper from David and Angela Blockley, Bradford, West Yorkshire. This January 2021-born bull is a son of Southfield Panther who goes back to Blackbrook Philosopher and out of a homebred Eyebrook Richard daughter.
After securing the senior heifer class top spot it was Derbyshirebased Ben and Tori Stanley’s, Melbourne Park Kearstay IV that secured the female and breed championship. Sired by Southfield Nuke, a Blackbrook Philosopher son and out of a homebred Blackbrook Trapper daughter, this heifer also took home the reserve breed championship at this year’s Nottinghamshire County Show.
Red tickets flowed for Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell when their March-born heifer, Litton X-Ception, stood top of the line in the junior heifer class. The rosettes continued as she took the reserve female, reserve breed and junior championship under the watchful eye of Brian Wragg. Sired by Wellhead Quail and out of a homebred Carreg Legend daughter, this young heifer has had a very successful
show career already, including reserve breed champion at Royal Lancashire show.
The reserve male spot came from the second prize senior bull, Herbertsherd Issac from Derbyshire-based Ben and Tori Stanley. April 2020-born and sired by Southfield Raptor he is out of Blackbrook Zabrina, a Blackbrook Uruk-Hai daughter.
Winning the junior bull class and securing the reserve junior title was Aberdeen Xscalaber from Mr D Walker, York, North Yorkshire. This March-born son of Aberdeen Tamnavulin is out of a homebred Fishwick Iconic daughter and had already had a successful showing season including reserve male champion at Northumberland County Show.
Top of the line, in what was a super line up of cows and calves, was Longbridge Velvet from Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell, North Yorkshire. March 2021-born with her February-born bull calf alongside, Longbridge Yabbadabba-do, she is sired by Au Naturel Jacob and out of a Gorse Uncle Gary daughter. She had previously won the breed championship and reserve native interbreed at Royal Lancashire Show.
Breed champion
Melbourne Park Kearstay IV
Reserve breed champion
Litton X-Ception
Male champion
Southfield Viper
Reserve male champion
Herbertsherd Issac
Female champion
Melbourne Park Kearstay IV
Reserve female champion
Litton X-Ception
Best junior bull
Aberdeen Xscalaber
Best junior heifer
Litton X-Ception
Junior champion
Litton X-Ception
CLASS RESULTS
Senior bull
1st Southfield Viper - Mr D and Mrs A Blockley
2nd Herbertsherd Issac - Mr B and Mrs T Stanley
3rd Blackbrook Ghost Rider - Mr J and Mrs P Stanley
4th Gentons Warwick - Mr B Facon
Junior bull
1st Aberdeen Xscalaber - Mr D Walker
2nd Longbridge Xcitabull - Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
Cow, in calf or with a calf at foot
1st Longbridge Velvet - Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
2nd Newton Forget Me Not - Mr D Walker
3rd Blackbrook Yasmina - Mr J and Mrs P Stanley
4th Melbourne Park Griselda - Mr B and Mrs T Stanley
5th Longbridge U-turn - Miss A Lack
6th Southfield Peach - Mr D and Mrs A Blockley
7th Herbertsherd Honey - Mr B and Mrs T Stanley
8th Fishwick Tamarisk - J Close and Son Ltd
9th Fishwick Superstar - J Close and Son Ltd
Senior heifer
1st Melbourne Park Kearstay IV - Mr B and Mrs T Stanley
2nd Gentons Whoopi - Mr B Facon
3rd Longbridge Wendy - Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
4th Newton Good Girl Gone Bad - Mr D Walker
Junior heifer
1st Litton X-Ception - Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
2nd Melbourne Park Laggan Ulva - Mr B and Mrs T Stanley
3rd Southfield Xara - Mr D and Mrs A Blockley
4th Newton Hung Over Annie - Mr D Walker
5th Southlane Xcel - Mr C Blockley
Group of three
1st Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
2nd Mr D Walker
3rd Mr D and Mrs A Blockley
Pairs
1st Mrs J Grant and Mrs T McDonnell
2nd Mr D Walker
3rd Mr B Facon
4th Mr J and Mrs P Stanley
5th Mr D and Mrs A Blockley
Female and breed champion, Melbourne Park Kearstay IV from Ben and Tori Stanley.
Reserve female, reserve breed and junior champion, Litton X-Ception from Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell.
Senior bull winner and male champion, Southfield Viper from Mr D and Mrs A Blockley.
Junior bull champion, Aberdeen Xscalaber from Mr D Walker.
Winning the cow class was Longbridge Velvet from Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell.
Judge, Brian Wragg (right) along with his champion, Melbourne Park Kearstay IV, with Tori and Ben Stanley and reserve Litton X-Ception from Jane Grant and Trish McDonnell.
MEET YOUR JUDGES FOR THE SPRING SHOW AND SALE AND NATIONAL SHOW
SPRING SHOW AND SALE
The judge for the official Society Spring Show and Sale at Worcester on 19 April 2025 will be Graham Towers.
Graham has been on the Society’s judging panel since 2016 and alongside Rachael Heard is well known for producing champions in both the show and sale ring under their Treverton prefix. The Treverton herd and the Greenley herd of Beef Shorthorns that ran alongside each other, were both dispersed in 2024 when Graham and Rachael decided to scale back and enjoy a little free time.
As well as judging Longhorns, Graham is also on the Beef Shorthorn panel and is an accomplished judge of both pedigree and commercial livestock, having judged at events such as Agri-Expo. He is also in demand as a judge of other breeds, as well as an accomplished interbreed judge.
NATIONAL SHOW
The 2025 National Show will return to Harrogate to the home of the Great Yorkshire Show and taking charge in the centre of the ring will be George Young.
George has a lifetime of experience with livestock having worked for many years for large sheep and beef enterprises, including the Buccleugh Estate. In 1976 he joined the Limestone herd of pedigree Charolais cattle and ran the herd for 30 years until it’s dispersal. For many years George then ran the renowned Fairway herd of Charolais cattle for David Fattorini.
George has been on the Society’s judging panel for many years and is always well respected for his judging decisions. George is well known on the commercial judging circuit and always enjoys judging pedigree cattle, particularly Longhorns.
CHANCE BREEDERS THRIVE WITH SHOW WINNING HERD
Spurred on by their enthusiasm for the breed and the people involved, two young breeders based in the Cumbrian hills have reaped the rewards in the show ring and recently expanded their Bankwood Longhorn herd.
Mike and Chantel Noble first got into the breed by chance as they wanted a native breed to cover their small herd of Dexters and it just so happened that the AI man had some Longhorn semen in his flask. Since that initial introduction, the duo has seen their love for the breed grow and, spurred on by some good results on the show circuit, went on to purchased just shy of a dozen females to essentially double their breeding herd.
Calves by pointer Diamond King have helped us recently expand the herd.
“I always wanted a horned breed of cattle, but we decided we couldn’t go down that route because of their horns, but when Mike took a shine to a friend’s cow we decided to go ahead and purchase our first females four years ago,” explained Chantel. Those foundation females, which can still be seen in their Bankwood herd today, with ages well into double digits, included Graham Walker’s now 14-year-old Newton Xmas Cracker and Newton Whoopee Do, as well as Gale Farm Vacsay from Stephen Horrocks and the bull, Gale Farm Usain, which goes by the nicknames Trevand Wizzick Nola.
Having discovered the breed’s benefits for easy calving and maternal traits while using bulls commercially on their Dexters, it didn’t take long for Mike and Chantel to decide to invest further in the breed when more rentable land became available.
They now rent some 200 acres and recently erected a 60 foot by 40 foot shed on Mike’s family’s farm near Kirkby in Furness in the South Lakes area which has given them a base for calving and the installation of calving cameras has been a big improvement given both of them work full time – Mike as the manager of a HGV workshop and Chantel as a chef.
“We were lucky to be able to buy 11 cows and 10 calves by the Ex93-rated Pointer Diamond King just recently so we’re now running 24 calving cows, four senior heifers which will go to the bull next year, 11 heifer calves and two bulls including our home-bred Bankwood Willie Wonka and Fullwood Usher which we bought privately in January,” said Mike, adding that they currently have eight male calves including six bulls that they will run on to see how they develop before making a decision as to where to market them.
Mike continued: “They’re a hardy breed as most of our ground sits at 1000 feet or more above sea level and they don’t get much pampering. They’re also placid and docile which allows us to walk through the pens without worrying about looking out for any aggressive behaviour, although we do like all our cows to be halter trained which makes them easier to manage at times.
“And as daft as it sounds, it’s the community involved with the Longhorn breed that has kept our interest as everyone has been so welcoming. Breeders will sit and chat away at shows or sales and have even imparted some tips and tricks on bringing out our cattle which we’re really grateful for.”
With ground spread locally around the Kirkby in Furness area, cows run with their respective bulls for the majority of the summer, making the most of the rough grazing on higher ground before they’re brought closer to home in January and February. They then move into the shed as they near their calving date so that Mike and Chantel watch out for them calving via the cameras while at work.
Longhorns are a hardy breed; they don’t get much pampering and they’re very docile.
“This allows us to keep an eye on them and my boss is understanding if I ever need to nip away to check on a cow and calf, but it rarely happens as we never really have an issue at calving, it’s one of the breed’s great traits, and calves are quick to get up and suckle meaning we can turn them out within a few days,” pointed out Mike.
Having braved the show ring in 2023 and diving in the deep end with three days at Royal Lancashire where they admit they learnt some lessons on cattle preparation and handling, even trimming the hairs on the topline was a new one for the husband and wife team, but they took all these on board and came out bigger and better in 2024.
It all paid off at Cartmel Show in August when their home-bred two-year-old heifer named Bankwood Winnie the Cow, or Mushroom at home, was tapped out as champion. She is out of the original Newton Xmas Cracker while her sire is Fishwick Northern Dancer.
“I did smile for an hour or two,” joked Mike. “It was a special reward for the effort we’d put in and so nice to win with something we’d bred ourselves.”
When it comes to picking the show team they each have their own favourites with Chantel liking the darker colours and bonnet horns while for Mike it’s all about the conformation and colour or horn shape doesn’t matter. That being said, when it comes to picking bulls to match their cows they aim to balance out height and muscle.
“Our cows tend to be smaller, but have good shape to them, so we know we need to use a bigger bull to get that height and stretch into their offspring. Our current bull, Fullwood Usher, has that size and scope
to him but he also has a really deep front so should click well with our cows,” explained Mike, adding that while the breed as a whole doesn’t grow as large as the continental breeds they often weigh more than those outside of the breed might think.
Having built the herd up to current numbers, all females have thus far been retained for breeding while castrated males have been sold through the local Broughton market where David Barker is a regular buyer. These aren’t pushed hard with concentrate feeding and regularly sit around the £1000 mark at 16 to 18 months old.
With positive feedback on how they kill out and the eating quality of the breed in general, Mike and Chantel hope to be able to expand their business in the future to offer their own beef boxes. After all, their Longhorns are very nearly a tourist attraction with cars often parked field side taking photos.
While they’re low maintenance, tourists enjoy checking in on them and taking photos.
It’s not just the cows keeping the Nobles busy as a small flock of ewes complement the cattle grazing while Mike also has his own baler and wrapper which has enabled them to prioritise their own fodder while also making a little extra on the side when time allows. Mike’s handy with a welder too as he crafted feed barriers to suit their favourite breed.
“The Longhorns are such an easy breed to work with and really low maintenance,” concluded Chantel. “You can very nearly put them in a field and forget about them but they also have a great ability to eat low quality forage and convert it into a strong, wellfleshed carcass.”
ROBERT BAKEWELL OF DISHLEY GRANGE
(1725-1795)
By Janet Spavold, Secretary, The New Dishley Society
Robert Bakewell was the fourth generation of a family of Leicestershire tenant farmers in Normanton-le-Heath. Originally known as husbandmen, the farmers developed specialist skills in breeding animals and bought grazing land while keeping their rented farms.
They became members of the Loughborough Unitarian Chapel in Warners Lane. While this excluded them from much social life then, the Unitarians had a close network in Leicestershire and the surrounding counties.
Robert’s father, also Robert, moved to Dishley Grange in about 1709, as a tenant of the Phillipps family of Garendon Park, Loughborough. The old house was still partly medieval - the present Dishley Grange is a mid-19th century rebuild. Robert senior sent his son on educational tours both in this country and abroad before he took over the farm from his father in about 1760.
Young Robert set about modernising the farm, putting up buildings for his new farming methods and repurposing old ones such as the medieval Great Barn, where he housed his sheep. He dug a canal system through the farm so he could water the pastures and used it to float turnips down into the farmyard already washed. He grew willows, coppice to provide fences, gates and tools. As there was no local inn, his sister Hannah accommodated their visitors in the farmhouse – anyone from the Culley brothers from Northumberland to European nobility and Russian pupils sent by Catherine the Great. His staff were loyal and long-serving.
Bakewell’s reputation as the foremost agriculturalist of his day derives mainly from his work developing animal breeding. He would not allow any cruelty to his animals, nor the use of whips. He created the New Leicester or Dishley sheep, primarily for meat
to feed the population of the expanding industrial towns. The wool, long with natural lustre, was used by the Leicestershire framework knitters.
The breed is still popular all over the world through its crossbreeds. His cattle were Midland Longhorns, excellent dual-purpose animals with docile temperaments. He refined them for greater production of roasting joints to suit the market. He also improved the local Midlands black cart horse, introducing Flemish blood to produce a fine heavy horse, the forerunner of the modern Shire.
King George III, known as Farmer George because of his interest in agriculture, commanded Bakewell to take one of these horses to St James’s Palace for his inspection. Horses for the army, private carriages and coaches were needed, so he bred and supplied appropriate ones. He developed a breed of Dishley pig which has not survived, nor have his experimental chickens. He fixed the characteristics he sought by “breeding in-and-in” (mating within a family), condemned by the Church as incest.
Before Darwin or Mendel, he understood how species changed. His animals were exported widely and further developed, including Ireland, Northumberland and the Borders. His sheep went to the United States, where George Washington modelled his farm at Mount Vernon on Bakewell’s work and Bakewell supplied equipment for him. Both cattle and sheep also went to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America.
23 May 2025 is the tercentenary of his birth at Dishley Grange. This local man is known and still admired around the world and local events to mark the date are being planned. Robert Bakewell and his animals will be the main theme of Rutland Show on June 1st, 2025. Planned events will include a tercentenary lecture at Loughborough University, given by John Thorley OBE, FRAgS.The New Dishley Society is also publishing a major new book on his life and work.
If any members would like more information on the events or purchase details for the book, please email ndssecretary@gmail.com.
SHOW RESULTS 2024
ASHBOURNE SHOW
Judge: Graham Towers Champion: Wheatlands Wendy, T Mills
ASHOVER SHOW
Judge: Danny Wyllie
Champion: Bollin Wylma, J Mycock Reserve: Wheatlands Ursula, T Mills
BURWARTON SHOW
Judge: Wendy Finucane
Champion: Treverton Xcalibur, R E Heard Reserve: Slough Susie, D Preece
CARTMEL SHOW
Judge: Graham Towers
Champion: Bankwood Winnie the Cow, M and C Noble Reserve: Fullwood Verity, P and C Wild
Champion and reserve native interbreed champion: Longbridge Velvet, J Grant and T McDonnell Reserve: Litton X-Ception, J Grant and T McDonnell
LINCOLNSHIRE COUNTY SHOW
Judge: Sophie Gurton
Champion: Blackbrook Grace, J W and P A Stanley
Reserve: Blackbrook Ghost Rider, J W and P A Stanley
NIDDERDALE SHOW
Judge: Dan Bull
Champion: Southfield Viper, D and A Blockley Reserve: Litton X-Ception, J Grant and T McDonnell
NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY SHOW
Judge: Graham Towers
Champion: Longbridge Velvet, J Grant and T McDonnell Reserve: Longbridge Whistler, J Grant and T McDonnell
The Gillingham and Shaftesbury championship went to Etheridge Quartz Beauty.
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE COUNTY SHOW
Judge: Joshua Brigg
Champion: Blackbrook Yelenah, J W and P A Stanley Reserve: Melbourne Park Kearstay I V, B and T Stanley
ROYAL BATH AND WEST SHOW
Judge: Clive Roads Champion: Gentons Warwick, B Facon Reserve: Gentons Whoopi, B Facon
ROYAL LANCASHIRE SHOW
Judge: Ben Stanley Champion and reserve native interbreed champion: Longbridge Velvet, J Grant and T McDonnell Reserve: Litton X-Ception, J Grant and T McDonnell
ROYAL WELSH SHOW
Judge: Clive Roads Champion: Melbourne Park Kiggle, B and J Sutton Reserve: Gentons Whoopi, B Facon
SHROPSHIRE COUNTY SHOW
Judge: Dave Phillips
Champion: Bollin Wylma, J Mycock Reserve: Slough Xafifa, D Preece
STOKESLEY SHOW
Judge: George Young
Champion: Longbridge Velvet, J Grant and T McDonnell Reserve: Litton X-Ception, J Grant and T McDonnell
WESTMORLAND COUNTY SHOW
Judge: Pat Stanley Champion: Fullwood Verona, Mr S Horrocks Reserve: Gale Farm Great Cumbrae, Mr S Horrocks
Royal Welsh honours went to Melbourne Park Kiggle from Ben Sutton.
BREEDERS HOSTED BY HMP KIRKHAM FOR ANNUAL SUMMER VISIT
It was an honour to be invited by the Governor and staff of HMP Kirkham to visit the Kirklan herd of Longhorns for the Society’s annual summer visit. The day was a joint visit between the Society and the Northern Longhorn Breeders’ Group.
Established in 1991 with purchases of Linton and Longrove breeding, the Kirklan herd was substantially added to in 2007 when the Newbrook herd at HMP Hewell Grange was dispersed. Over the years further breeding has been added to the herd with Southfield, Blackbrook, Fishwick and Oxlane among the wellknown prefixes in the back bone of the herd today.
In 2006 Keith Burrell and Peter Barton arrived at HMP Kirkham with five Longhorns following the closure of the dairy farm at HMP Lancaster Farms. They have built up the herd over the last 25 years and when they arrived most of the land was put over to horticulture with no fencing or infrastructure necessary for livestock.
Since then, Keith and Peter have built utility buildings to house the cattle, put in irrigation, water troughs and
The management team at Kirkham are fully supportive of the farm and livestock enterprise and recognise its value as work experience for prisoners.
fencing and created more than 60 acres of grassland, producing their own silage. The management team at Kirkham are fully supportive of the farm and livestock enterprise and continue to recognise its value as real work experience opportunity for prisoners and a great asset to the prison and prison visitors to see.
Keith and Peter have created a prize-winning herd of Longhorns and the prison has a solid reputation throughout the Society. The herd now totals some 60 head, with three current stock bulls - Aberdeen Quartz and Stoke Mudlark alongside the homebred Kirklan Victory.
For many years the herd was a regular attendee at Society shows, particularly the Royal Show. HMP Kirkham is a Category D (open) prison and prisoners
were able to attend showing duties with the cattle, giving them valuable experiences in readiness for release at the end of their sentences. Sadly, budget constraints have meant that the Kirklan prefix has not been seen in the show ring for a few years now.
The land is managed to benefit wildlife where possible, incorporating uncut field margins and hedging. Some awkward corners have been fenced off and planted with grouped hazel, while wildlife corridors have been incorporated between fields and single trees and hedging have been planted where possible.
There are also three bee hives producing honey which is down to Peter who is the resident bee expert. There is always more to do having a site of more than 200 acres which includes the prison accommodation, staff workspaces, industries, woodland, ponds, arable, greenhouses, polytunnels and gardens. Rare breed Large Black pigs and native Hebridean sheep are also kept complementing the cattle enterprise.
The herd now totals some 60 head, with three current stock bulls - Aberdeen Quartz, Stoke Mudlark and Kirklan Victory.
After a tour of the cattle members were treated to a roast lunch using produce from the prison. Members were extremely well looked after by both staff and prisoners and, due to good behaviour, we were allowed home at the end of a thoroughly enjoyable day!
Name:
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MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
(please use block capitals throughout)
DEFRA Herd Number (6 digit eartag number) UK
I/we wish to register the Herd Name:
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(The herd name is the prefix name given to all pedigree Longhorn calves born on your farm)
✓ I/We wish to become a member/s of the Longhorn Cattle Society in the category
✓ Joining Fee (all categories, once only)
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✓ New members who join after 1st October will be fully paid up until 31st December in the following year.
I enclose a cheque (made payable to the Longhorn Cattle Society) for the relevant membership and joining fee
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Membership information held on the Society database - consent
I/we understand that the information provided is held in the Society database, that it will be used to create the Herdbook, pedigree certificates, show catalogues, sale catalogues and to communicate by post, email and bulk mail. It may also be shared with other Society members or third parties with similar interests. The Society’s privacy policy is available on the website or on request.
I we agree to abide by the Society Rules and Regulations so long as I/we remain a member of the Society
SOCIETY EVENTS 2025
19th April
Society Spring Show and Sale, McCartneys, The Heath Meadow, Worcester, WR4 0SQ
The chance to secure fresh bloodlines for your herd.
Sunday 1 June
Rutland County Show, Rutland
A celebration of the tercentenary of the birth of Robert Bakewell (23 May 1725). All the breeds Bakewell improved will be represented at the show. It’ll be quite the spectacle.
2nd
/ 3rd July
Groundswell, Manor Farm, Lannock, Weston, Hitchin
SG4 7EE
Showcasing how Longhorns can work in harmony with nature and a regenerative farming system.
8th – 11th July
Society National Show
Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8PW
The Society’s flagship showing event, see the best of the best in the showring.
Summer visit
5th July
The Stoke herd, Wiltshire
The chance for members to get together in the summer and visit a fabulous Longhorn herd.
September
Online timed sale
Hosted again by H&H, the highly successful online timed sale will be the opportunity to market and purchase quality cattle from home.
11th – 12th October
AGM weekend - Oxfordshire
The perfect excuse for a weekend away! The chance to relax, meet up with other members, have your say at the AGM and visit some interesting herds. More details to follow.
