Toplines and Tales

156 - Characters in Livestock - Olivier Rambert

Highly interesting chat with Frenchman Olivier Rambert, the manager of Interlim, the commercial arm of the Limousin cattle society in France, based at the Pole du Lanaud station. Holding 4 bull sales per year they market upwards of 500 bulls selected from the best in the country. With many going for export, the bulls have undergone strict tests, not just for weight and muscle but also genomics and temperament. We also hear the differences in beef consummation between France and its neighbouring countries, particularly around eating older animals  

155 - Characters in Livestock - Robert Groom

Robert Groom is rather unusual guest, being an Englishman in New York! Having dispersed his Angus herd in Scotland he has been breeding top Angus in USA for 25 years and is a regular exhibitor on the American show circuit. A great ambassador for the breed, he also reveals that he is behind the set-up of a nucleus herd of American type Angus back in Scotland.   

154 - Special episode - Live from Young Handlers competition

A quite unusual special short episode live from the Young Handlers section of the Stars of the Future calf show at Stirling. This episode is backed up with photos and short video on our Toplines and Tales Facebook page.

153 - Characters in Livestock - Arwel Owen

Welshman Arwel Owen is not only a top Charolais cattle breeder and judge, but also a man who sees, assesses and buys a lot of bulls through his day job as Beef Supply Chain Manager for Genus, one of the world’s leading semen supply companies. This week we get a fascinating insight into the changing state of the industry both at home and worldwide as beef-from-dairy makes rapid inroads, while Arwel furnishes us with some excellent words of wisdom gained by 40 years in the business.

152 - Characters in Livestock - Jason Wareham

A man who has been on the UK cattle showing scene for a long while, large as life Jason Wareham chats about the family farm shop business, his and his wife Sarah's successful journey with Galloway cattle and their herd of British Blues. Add in some pedigree sheep, an abattoir, a haulage business, as well as a busy judging schedule and you can understand why it took me  while to track Jason down to speak to me on Toplines and Tales!

151 - Characters in Livestock - Jim Stobo

It was my pleasure to sit down with The Late Jim Stobo, OBE, in his home 10 years ago and record some of his wisdom. Sadly no longer with us, Jim was one of the great men in the UK livestock business, holding a number of senior positions throughout the industry. His depth of knowledge both historical and recent on a whole range of subjects, particularly with Angus cattle, was just astounding.

150 - Characters in Livestock - Mathew Goulding

One of the most successful Angus and Hereford breeders in Ireland, Mathew Goulding talks through his journey with both breeds. Mathew attributes his initial success by applying principles in female families that he learned through growing up on a dairy farm. With wise words such as ‘every cow has to be a machine in your factory’ and ‘idle cows are a drain on resources, adding to carbon footprint’, you soon get an understanding why Mathew has become one of the highest regarded cattle breeders in Europe.

149 - Characters in Livestock - David Benson

From a top stockman to one of the most successful breed CEO’s, David Benson has been involved in Charolais cattle, both man and boy. We have a chat about his early years with the breed as well as his reflection on what he and the breed has achieved during his 29 years at the helm of such a great society.   

148 - Market Update - Drew Patrick

Top auctioneer from North East England, Drew Patrick, speaks to me about the essential role of the livestock auction market in UK as well as the state of play with the industry, before delving into some more controversial subjects in current livestock business.

147 - Characters in Livestock - Gavin Douglas

Gavin Douglas was a highly respected sheep breeder in the Scottish Borders who sadly died earlier this year. I chat to his neighbour and friend Derek Redpath about the prowess of Gavin and how his South Country Cheviot flock has been consistently at the top of the breed, as well as his depth of knowledge across the sheep industry.