Toplines and Tales

80 - Characters in Livestock - Danny Wyllie

One of the most respected stockmen, breeder and judges in UK, Danny Wyllie tells us of his early days as shepherd for Robert Graham at Airthrey Kerse and the buzz around the Rouge de L'Ouest breed. A move south to work with Charolais cattle evolved into a farm tenancy and dabble with his own Charolais before setting up the Tamhorn herd of Belgian Blues for which he and Jane will be mostly recognised. Now with a herd of Shorthorns, Danny is one of the most qualified interbreed judges in the country.   

79 - Characters in Livestock - Dye Clark

Well known character and top sheep breeder, Dye Clark, discusses the 3 Texel flocks he and his brothers run, as well as some experimenting with crossbred ewes currently going on. He lists some of the most influential tups in that breed before moving on to his dabble with Blonde cattle and eventually to the Shorthorn herd he has today. Then we get on to another of Dye’s passions, the sheep shearing competitions and some of his younger antics before he got promoted to commentator.

78 - Characters in Livestock - Alec Ogg

Not just a character in Livestock this week but more of a legend. Alec Ogg was one of the rare breed that progressed from master stockman to master breeder in the Angus cattle world. As well as bringing out bulls for many top herds, he won Perth with his own stock on numerous occasion. However, he will perhaps be mostly remembered for achieving one of the greatest international honours in history, one that doubtfully will ever be repeated, by bringing out the ‘triple crown’ winner on three continents in one year.

77 - Characters in Livestock - Lionel Organ

A highly enjoyable episode chatting to an old friend Lionel Organ who has excelled in everything he bred. For all he will be known as top sheep breeder this interview also gives a fascinating insight into the world of breeding pigs, where Southam would become one of the top herds of Large Whites in Europe. He tells of the challenges that posed and more importantly the lessons we could learn from carcass development. Then followed the sheep when Lionel again reached the pinnacle of two breeds, Charollais and Lleyn, the former being dispersed 12 years ago, yet still the Southam prefix underpins many top flocks today. We hear about the merits of the Lleyn with which he is still very much involved and is both passionate and proud of where the breed is today. 

76 - Characters in Livestock - Jack Dick

Jack Dick of Black Watch Farms really was a huge character in livestock.
From his young days working on a farm to bankrolling himself through college and making and losing millions on the stock market, as a bankrupt man, Jack set about buying Angus cattle by the thousand, including the record priced bull in Perth. During the first half of the 1960s, selling cattle to rich investors, he masterminded one of the biggest ponzie schemes in history.

75 - Characters in Livestock - Liam Muir

This week we chat to well known Orcadian, Liam Muir. From buying upwards of 50 bulls per year to farming and breeding show calves, Liam is a busy and well recognised face across the UK. He discusses the quality of cattle on the Orkney Islands, as well as the challenges that farming that far North can sometimes face, as well as their week of shows in the summer and his very busy schedule as a championship judge.   

74 -Characters in Livestock - Gordon Philip

This week my guest, Gordon Philip from Kansas, is a rare breed who learned his trade in the UK cattle business before plying it in USA. Growing up in Aberdeenshire working with great cattlemen like Alec Ogg and Gordon Blackstock, he brought out a string of prize winners at Perth before heading to America in the later 50s, to set up a new Shorthorn operation for a man who farmed thousands of mink! Moving on to winning seven champions at Chicago, many with offspring of a bull bred at Newhouse by Bob Adam, to drinking with John Wayne and cattle judges on horseback, Gordon, along my with good friend Dr Bob, regales us with tails of success, fun and wisdom.  

73 - Characters in Livestock - The Auctioneers

The UK has one of the strongest auction market presences in the world, which is underpinned by those characters who sell stock from the rostrum. This week, with my two guests, both top auctioneers, Raymond Kennedy and James Little, we pinpoint a few of the great characters that have sold pedigree stock through the ages, as well as hearing about the modern livestock trade in UK.

72 - Characters in Livestock - Willie Thomson

This week Willie Thompson from Turriff,  not only one of the country’s leading nutritionists but a great all round character shares his knowledge and a few cracking stories during his work at the heart of the livestock industry, including ‘win a date with Linda;’ a Charolais heifer from Sandy Innes at Moyness!’ From discovering a carbon reducing product to visiting top breeders around the globe and realising the UK still has a lot to learn, these are some fascinating stories and even a glimpse of the future from a highly interesting man.  

71 - History of Native Breeds - Blue Faced Leicester sheep

Evolving from Robert Bakewell's early efforts, The Blue Faced Leicester sheep is quite unique in that it stamps hybrid vigour on all its progeny. My guests this week are top breeders James Herdman and Derek Hall when we discuss the breed and the marvel of the Mule, possibly the backbone of the sheep business in UK.