Toplines and Tales

23 - The Continentals - The Simmental Breed

This week we look at the origins of the Simmental breed of cattle in UK with Vice President of the breed society, Norman Robson. Starting with the early imports, we discuss a few of the initial prominent herds, some early influential sires, great show cows and the merits of the breed.

22 - The Continentals - The Texel sheep

This week on Toplines and Tales we discuss the early origins of the Texel sheep breed with log-standing breeder, Robert Laird from Cambwell. In a bumper episode we find out about the first imports, tups that shaped the breed, early progeny testing as well as a Scottish casinio owner who drove round France  buying sheep in his gold Rolls-Royce!

21 - The Continentals - The Belgian Blue breed

 This week on Toplines and Tales we talk about the early imports of Belgian Blue cattle into the UK, discussing their origins with Mister Belgian Blue himself, Tom Ashton and his daughter, Helen. We touch on the difficulties in getting them through quarantine, an eclectic mix of early breeders who took them up in England as well as bulls that stamped the breed.

20 - The Continentals - The Limousin Breed

This week on our podcast we discuss the origins of the Limousin breed and the foresight of one man to bring them into the UK and set up a demonstration herd.
Chatting with well known breeder and judge, Richard Bartle, we list a few early breeders and some of the influential bulls that stamped the breed, such as Broadmeadows Cannon. We also mention some of the great Limousin show cows over the breeds 50 year history, as well as modern day genotyping strategies in UK and France.  
Due to some recent events, the part of this podcast discussing the Willoge herd has since been removed.

19 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN Part 10 - Harlan Ritchie and the type change

 
This week on our podcast we look at another great cattleman, not just in the US but across the world for his work and vision around the type change to larger framed cattle, Dr Harlan Ritchie. Well known to Dr Bob Hough, he tells of Harlan's days at Michigan State University and how he set out on a mission to research cattle the world over to find genetics to improve the beef industry.  
Bob and I get stuck into a discussion about EPD (EBV) figures and their misuse, before examining the frame race at its extreme. As Ritchie instigated the slowing down of the frame race, so he turned his attention to composite breeding which again Bob sheds some light on. 

18 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN Part 9 - Glen Klippenstein

This week we discuss another influential breeder from USA Glen Klippenstein from GK Farms. Recognised as one of the most triumphant Hereford cattle herds of the last half century, he also successfully dabbled in other breeds, as well as being a great marketeer, judge and speaker.  

17 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN Part 8 - Wye Plantation

This week we head back to USA to a herd that put the backbone in the rise of larger framed cattle in the Angus breed, the Wye Plantation in Maryland, speaking with former Wye farm manager, Bill Hodge as well as cattle historian Dr Bob Hough.
James B Lingle was a never a man interested in fashion or showing, only output and performance. With a purebred herd numbering over 1000 cows, his dedication to measurements and growth traits were the forerunners of the recording schemes we have today. Producing bulls such as Lodge, Linecacker and Fabron and the name of Wye can still currently be found in many pedigrees the world over. 
 

16 - The Continentals - the Charolais cattle breed

Today we are launching a new series looking at the early imports of breeds from Europe into UK.  
This week we discuss the early Charolais cattle imports  with top cattlemen, Hector Campbell and Sandy Beaton. As well as looking at the origins of the cattle we hear of the resistance among traditionalists of its inclusion into the British register. We discuss some of the fantastic cows that shaped the breed as well as the show ring, and the turning point that encouraged beef producers to switch to new ideas.

15 - The Livestock Media

This week we chat with editor of The Scottish Farmer, Ken Fletcher and former livestock photographer, John Fraser about the livestock media. 
Topics covered include the origins of the Scottish Farmer, early photographs and great wee shows on the west coast of Scotland. We also discuss some stand-out show animals, the photographers role in the business, someone called The Raider and a rather fun weekend in Germany, before we move on to more recent digital media.

14 - LEGENDARY CATTLEMEN Part 7 - Captain de Quincey

This weeks legendary cattlemen series takes us to the river plains of Herefordshire in middle England to discuss the prowess of possibly the greatest Hereford cattle breeder of all time, Captain de Quincey. I am joined by breeder, enthusiast and historian Clive Davies as we walk through how this great man sourced his original herd and made his mark in history.
And like many other great breeders, it wasn't just Hereford cattle that he stuck with, as we hear about the other breeds and species that would have made a very interesting visit to The Vern.