Family aiming for more

Caroline Stocks meets the Smiths, who have Stirling in their sights

A farming family is hoping to continue their Simmental herd’s history of success at this month’s Stirling Bull Sales.

Morag and Gerald Smith, in partnership with their son Douglas, farm 100 head of pedigree Simmentals alongside 130 commercial cross-bred cattle on their 340 acre farm in Drumsleed, Laurencekirk.

The pedigree herd was started as a hobby by Gerald in 1981 but having quickly achieved show success, the family began to focus on the breed more seriously.

“In 1987 we won the Highland Show’s reserve Simmental female, and after that interest in the herd grew,” he said.

The prizes continued, with the family securing the Simmental best in show at the Highland in 1998, 2007, 2010 and the reserve prize in 2015, and Gerald says the successes have been down to careful selection to produce the best animals.

“It’s a challenge to select the bull to produce the cow we want,” he says. “You always want a better bull than last year. You never get the perfect bull, but you’re always trying to improve.”

When it comes to breeding the best animals, he says character and length are key. I’m looking for length to give the weight. If you get a long body with extra rib you get that extra weight.

“As well as a good-sized animal, we look for a lot of character with the head,” he adds.

“The first thing you see when a cow comes towards you is the head: You want to see a nice big mouth that will eat grass. If it grazes well it will produce more milk and flesh – we are aiming for that dual-purpose cow.”

For Gerald that dual-purpose is what first made the breed appeal to him. It also helps that the Simmental breed’s laid-back character makes them easy for him, Gerald and Morag to manage between them.

“If anything shows any signs of temperament at all then they are culled out,” said Morag.

“As there are only three of us working on the farm, we need a breed that will work with us, not against us.”

Most of the commercial steer calves are sold as store cattle at 10-14 months, while commercial heifers and some pedigree heifers are sold privately for breeding at 12-16 months.

“The pedigree bulls are sold at Stirling Bull Sales and some at Thainstone, though any of the pedigree bulls that are not up to standard are slaughtered between 12 and 16 months,” said Morag.

This year the Smiths are sending 10 bulls to the sales, and Gerald is quietly confident he could have another prizewinning animal among them.

“I have got one special one with excellent length, size and character,” he said. “Then there are another two that have a good back edge.”

Even if their bulls are not placed, Gerald is hopeful strong trade will make the sale a good one for them.

“For steer and breeding cattle there’s definitely market interest at the moment,” he says.

Picture: Kenny Elrick. The Smiths, right, have worked with Simmentals since 1981.