Brothers unite in revival of Aberdeen-angus herd

First pedigree bull ready for sale 40 years after parents broke up original stock

Good stockmanship comes naturally to the Adam family, who have been farming at Newhouse of Glamis, near Forfar, for almost 100 years.

Bob Adam’s grandfather moved to the 550-acre farm in 1937 and the family’s passion for pedigree cattle started with the formation of an Aberdeen-angus herd, followed by the introduction of Beef Shorthorns in the 1950s.

The Aberdeen-angus herd was dispersed in 1979 to make way for Limousin cattle, and Beef Shorthorns were dispersed in 1969 to make way for Charolais.

Now, 40 years later, Bob and Kay Adam’s sons, Andrew, 21, and James, 19, are preparing to sell the first pedigree bull from a new Aberdeen-angus herd at Newhouse at this weekend’s Stirling Bull Sales.

Kay says the Aberdeen-angus renaissance at Newhouse is entirely driven by her two sons – the fourth generation of the Adam family at the farm – who have funded much of their new enterprise with money earned from their pedigree flock of Bluefaced Leicesters.

Andrew, who works full-time at the family farm, said: “We wanted to do something of our own to bring to the farm and we bought our first Angus in 2016 when we got a yearling heifer from Tonley for 4,000gn.”

Their first purchase – Tonley Emiline – is the dam of the junior bull on offer at United Auctions this weekend. Named Newhouse Endeavour, he is a June-2018 born son of Gretnahouse Blacksmith.

Other foundation females purchased by Andrew and his brother James, who is undertaking an agricultural engineering apprenticeship with AL.

Agri, include Wolflaw Edwina, which traces back to original Newhouse Aberdeen-angus genetics, and a Wedderlie heifer purchased as a 21st birthday present for Andrew.

The brothers also paid 7,000gn for Retties Diana from Perth breeders Richard and Carol Rettie when she stood female champion at Stirling in

October 2016. They also purchased two Blelack cows, which are due to calf in the spring, from the Massie family at Firmarron, Aboyne.

The brothers’ bull joins a line-up of seven other Newhouse bulls being offered for sale at Stirling. These include six Limousins from the family’s 75-cow herd and one Charolais from its 25-cow herd.

The Limousin entry comprises three black bulls and three red bulls. All three black Limousins are sired by Westhall Jammy, which has bred sons to 11,000gn.

The family also keeps a small herd of commercial cattle and flocks of North Country Cheviot and Blackface sheep at Auldallan Farm, near Kirriemuir, which is run with the help of shepherd Richard Mcardle.

Family matters – Jamie, Bob, Kay and Andrew Adam with the family’s bulls for the upcoming Stirling Bull Sales.

The herd of bulls has been built up from a yearling heifer bought in 2016.