Toplines and Tales

46 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN - Captain Ben Coutts

Farmer, Soldier, Manager, Orator and Author, Captain J Ben Coutts certainly was one of a kind. This week we look at the life of the great man and, from the archives, chat about his achievements with his wife, Sally. 
From unfortunate circumstances in the Atlantic, breeding a Smithfield champion,  taming the Aberdeen Angus hierarchy and using whisky as currency in Brazil, Ben's story is one that shows pure class of a man who grasped life by the ears. 

45 - General Chat - Scott Brown

This week I have a great yarn with friend Scott Brown from East Lothian. We discuss his experience a livestock commentator and reflect on this year’s highland showcase. Scott talks about the Capielaw Suffolk flock he shares with his brother Gavin, and the difference between the commercial and pedigree aspects with an interesting analysis on modern scanning traits, and performance vs fertility. We move on to hearing about Scott’s brainchild, a film called ‘We all need a farmer’ and how it is gathering traction promoting men’s health. Followed by an inevitable chat about the subject of rugby.

44 - The Autobiography of an Unfortunate Bull

Written in 1925, The Autobiography of an Unfortunate Bull tells the classic story of a shorthorn calf, born in Scotland and destined for the great Perth bulls sales. Written in the Doric speak of the North East, this story will make you smile, laugh and possibly weep. 
Only a handful of the original books are still in existence, so I have narrated it onto a podcast so it can be kept and enjoyed for eternity. 

43 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN - Tom Burke

Starting out in the 50s, Tom Burke's passion for Angus cattle is legendary.  In 1972 he took over the Angus Hall of Fame sale management company, which he still runs, from where he has officiated over 10,000 cattle sales, all over the globe. We chat about hair growth, and the different cattle from different areas he still regularly visits, as well as his flock of Suffolk sheep and the Hall of Fame museum. 

42 - Modern Livestock Operations - Millbrook Limousins

This week with chat to top Irish Limousin cattle breeder William Smith from Co Meath. Starting out with Hereford and Simmental, William chats about the beginnings of the Millbrook Limousins through to his numerous victories at Balmoral and other shows, as well as the near legendary cow Millbrook Gingerspice and the legacy she is leaving. He goes on to discuss the use of modern genoyping and its future roll in the industry. 

41 - Modern Livestock Operations - Australian stud stock

With his family originally breeding Hereford cattle in Herefordshire, England, Harvey Weyman-Jones, along with his Mum, recalls some of the characters we all knew and loved in those early days, including Bob Powel and others.
Following his brother to Australia in 1990, Harvey worked as an auctioneer and stud stock manager. Now involved with one of the largest sale management companies in Oz, he chats through moves towards online sales, breaking breed records, types of cattle suited to their climate and the hybrids that have stemmed from that, including the rapidly growing Wagyu business.

40 - Legendary cattlemen - Willie Robertson

This week we listen to an interview recorded with legendary Angus cattle breeder, Willie Robertson in 2013. We hear about the early days of Perth bull sales and travelling to Argentina by boat with 30 bulls. Willie speaks of his first trip to Canada and how he ended up importing over 40 Angus in a bid to get the breed in UK back on its feet.  
Not frightened to say it how it is, he talks of show cattle vs breeding cattle, the marbling qualities of Angus x Holstein beef and a prophecy that super markets would take it on, and the famed bull Netherallan Peter Pershore.
Willie sadly passed away in October 2020.

39 - The Young Enthusiasts - Steph Dick

Kayley speaks to one of the UK's top young stock women, Steph Dick.
As a highly talented cattle dresser, Steph has worked with the family's Ronnick Limousin herd, as well as starting her own herds of Limousin and Angus. We hear about her awards for stock judging, as well as a new and already fruitful venture into pedigree sheep.

38 - Modern Livestock operations - Blelack

Delighted and honoured to have Neil Massie as a guest this week.
In the world of cattle the name of Blelack needs no introduction. In over 40 years in the Angus breed Neil, along with a few other select names, worked tirelessly to bring the cattle back from near extinction to what we have as a breed in UK today. We hear about some bulls that shaped the Blelack herd as well as taking through the successes with Charolais cattle, his dabble in sheep and, more latterly the shorthorn breed through his son Graeme.

37 - The Young Enthusiasts - Ali Jackson

This week Kayley Kennedy speaks to well known stockman Ali Jackson.
Not just bringing out cattle for one of the top British Blue breeders in UK, he is an experienced shepherd successfully running a number of breeds. As with our podcast last week, Ali is another Scot who has scooped the interbreed group of threes at the Royal Welsh show, along with hauls of silverware from the Highland and a recent run at the Yorkshire. Now one of the top breeders of Spotted Dutch Texels, we hear about the merits of that breed which is rapidly gaining traction in UK.