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Elgin Flagship’s figures soar in latest proof run
Following the latest proof run of Breedplan figures, we’re delighted that our new Charolais stock sire Elgin Flagship, purchased privately at November’s Stars of the Future Calf Show at Forfar from the Milne family, has gone up in Eye Muscle and also TSI and SRI. His new Eye Muscle figure is +6.0 and he has a TSI of +71 and SRI of +74.
Flagship was purchased to compliment Blelack Colonel daughters in the herd and with his combined correct stature, natural muscling and now fantastic performance figures, we are looking forward to his progeny.
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Charolais bull Elgin Flagship purchased in £15,000 private deal for Strathisla Farms
We’re delighted to announce the arrival of new Charolais stock sire Elgin Flagship, purchased privately for £15,000 from Messrs R A Milne, Elgin, Morayshire, for our 60-cow Cardean herd.
By the 30,000gns Balmyle Bollinger, this September 2010-born bull is out of the Harestone Tyrol daughter Elgin Darling and has a BCCS Terminal Index of +52 and a BCSS Self Replacing Index of +53, coupled with strong 200, 400 and 600-day weights. Flagship was bought at this month’s Stars of the Future Calf Show at Forfar Mart.
We first saw Flagship on farm as a weaned calf and have followed his progress with keen interest since then. He has been purchased to go on daughters of Blelack Colonel, a bull who is working tremendously well in the herd. Flagship’s muscular shape and great carcass attributes will work well on the large, deep framed cattle Colonel has produced in the herd.
Flagship’s pedigree will also compliment the herd. His grand-dam, Strowan Sapphire, is a prolific breeder and regularly produces top quality calves, of which her last, by Bollinger, sold for 8500gns. Flagship will now head to Kelso for semen collection.
Elgin Flagship
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November 2011 - Success for Omorga Samson daughters at Forfar calf show
Strathisla Farms had a successful outing with some of next year’s hopefuls at the recent Stars of the Future calf show held at Forfar mart where Strathisla Candy's Haka, by Omorga Samson, stood second in her class, while Strathisla Chrissie's Geraldine, again by Samson, stood third in the same very strong class. Chrissie's full sisters have all been previously shown with Strathisla Willow's Geraldine standing first at the Royal Highland Show in 2010 and Strathisla Bubble's Geraldine standing second at the Highland 2011. The plan is for both these heifers to go to the Highland next year.
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October 2011 - Strathisla Angelina’s Haka takes female championship at Stirling
Standing top of the female line up at Stirling this month for us was the April 2009-born Strathisla Angelina’s Haka, a daughter of our herd sire Omorga Samson. Haka is out of the Blackford Lionheart Strathisla Haka 42nd, a family renowned in the herd for being consistent breeders of quality females. She has been shown successfully this year and sold for the top female price of 4500gns with a positive calving value, a TSI of +29 and a SRI of +36 to R and C Simmers, Clola, Peterhead.
Our one Simmental bull, Strathisla Bond, a March 2010-born son of Omorga Samson, out of the Blackford Lionheart daughter Strathisla Haka 45th, sold for 3200gns to W T Hendry and Son, Bannockburn, Stirling. Our stockman Colin Fordyce’s bull Blair Bollinger, again by Samson and this time out of the Agardsley Clinton daughter Blair Lucy, sold for 4200gns to John Mitchell and Co, Duns, Berwickshire.
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Strathisla Angelina’s Haka
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October 2011 - Blelack Colonel sons average £6000 in Stirling
The first sons to be offered for sale in Stirling by our senior herd sire and Royal Highland Show reserve male champion Blelack Colonel averaged £6000 in Stirling this month. The first to sell was Cardean Forestgump, an April 2010-born bull out of the POedr Thumper daughter Cardean Acorn who is a daughter of Balmyle Shadow. With a TSI of +35 and a SRI of +34, he sold for 6500gns. Our second was the May 2010-born Cardean Forthefuture who is out of an imported female from Ireland, Anneskeagh Virtue, who is by Erriff Savo. He has a TSI of +51 and a SRI of +44 and sold for 5200gns.
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September 2011 - Balmyle Belinda arrives at Strathisla Farms
Having been rather taken with Balmyle Belinda when we viewed the herd, we are pleased to have purchased her at the recent Balmyle reduction sale in Stirling for 5000gns. This April 2006-born cow comes from the best family line at Balmyle being the Balmyle Plum family which has sold many bulls topping at 7500gns. Balmyle Plumb has been retained as have several of the off spring from Plumb. Belinda's first calf sold to Greig Farms and the second calf, a heifer, sold for 3800gns at the sale. By Maerdy Othello, a proven sire that has worked very well here and with a tremendous heifer calf by Pennal Dazzller at foot, she is in calf to Balmyle Eclipse. Belinda has tremendous milk figures and eye muscle area with good overall figures. No doubt this family unit will fit in well with the Cardean herd and hopefully prove an exciting prospect in the future.
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June 2011 - Blelack Colonel takes reserve male championship at Royal Highland Show
It was a successful outing to this year’s Royal Highland Show particularly for our senior Charolais bull Blelack Colonel who won his class then went on to be placed reserve male champion. Colonel was bought in Stirling February 2009 for 12,000gns and is by Thrunton Socrates out of Blelack Summer. Success at the show continued for him as he was part of the reserve interbreed group and reserve interbreed pairs.
Of the Simmentals at the show, we stood second with Strathisla Bubble’s Geraldine, an April 2010-born daughter of Omorga Samson out of Strathisla Geraldine 10th, while in the two year old heifer class Strathisla Angelina’s Haka, another daughter of Samson, stood third. Earlier in the year, she won her class at Alyth Show and will now be entered for sale in Stirling in October.
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Blelack Colonel
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February 2011 - Cardean Everest sells in Stirling for 5500gns
Our only Charolais entry from the Cardean herd to be offered at Stirling this month, was Cardean Everest, a June 2009-born bull who stood first in his class. By Balmyle Statesman, a Dingle Hofmeister son, he is out of the Killadeas Legend daughter Cardean Amber, who is out of Cardean Sapphire. He sold for 5500gns to A and K Rhind and Son, Kinloss, Morayshire, with a milk figure of +10, TSI of +29 and a SRI of +38.
At the same sale we also sold Strathisla Ace 09, a September 2009-born son of Seepa Tee Jay out of the Corskie Pascal daughter Strathisla Twinkle’s Hannah 2nd. He was knocked down at 2600gns to W and W Dawson and Sons, Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
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December 2010 - Strathisla Farms take centre stage in Asda's Christmas advert
In December this year, the farm was taken over by a film crew and directors as Asda staged the filming for their Christmas "Special beef" range on the farm, which featured the family enjoying a roast beef dinner and the star of the show, our Charolais stock bull Blelack Colonel, who fortunately for the film crew was on the best of behaviour!
The advert was aired over Christmas on prime time slots and saw sales of the special beef range go through the supermarket's stores. For those of you who missed it take a look here.
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November 2010 - Strathisla takes junior Simmental female at Forfar Stars of the Future
The inaugural Forfar Mart’s Stars of the Future Calf Show was a huge success this year, with young Strathisla Simmental females doing particularly well. Our show highlight was taking the junior Simmental female championship with Strathisla Bubbles Gerladine, an April 2010-born heifer by our senior stock bull Omorga Samson out of Strathisla Geraldine 10th. We also took a first prize with Strathisla Bramble’s Twiggy, a March born ET heifer calf by Samson again out of Strathisla Twiggy 2nd.
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Strathisla Bubbles Geraldine
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Strathisla Bramble’s Twiggy
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October 2010 - Cardean Charolais herd introduces new bloodlines
The recent Gelston Castle Farms dispersal at Stirling this month was too good an opportunity to miss in order to acquire some new bloodlines for the Cardean Charolais herd. Our first purchase at 7000gns was Kelton Candie, a March 2007-born daughter of Uggie Upperhand out of the Tillbrook Pluto daughter Kelton Velvet. She has a SRI of +35 and a TI of +33 combined with a positive calving index and sold with her February born bull calf at foot, Kelton Freeman, by Thrunton Aramis. We later managed to secure the March 2009-born heifer Kelton Elegant, a daughter of Thrunton Aramis out of yet another Tillbrook Pluto daughter Kelton Velvet. She was purchased for 4000gns and has a SRI of +39 and a TI of +28. Both females will make great additions to the herd.
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Kelton Candie
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Kelton Elegant
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Also at the Stirling sales, our string of Simmental and Charolais bulls topped at 5000gns for the May 2009-born Simmental bull Strathisla Arkle. By our senior herd sire Omorga Samson, Arkle is out of the Agardsley Clinton daughter Strathisla Jasmine 12th. He sold with a SRI of +35, a TI of +27 and positive calving figures to A Nicolson, Dunplhail, By Forres. Prior to that we sold Swallowhill Augustus, another son of Samson, this time out of the Blackford Lionheart daughter Strathisla Serena’s Geraldine, for 3000gns to G B Gillon and Son, Forfar, Angus. Our one Charolais bull to sell was Cardean Economist, a son of Roundhill Ohoh out of the Oldstone Egbert daughter Cardean Vixen. He was knocked down at 2500gns to B Alexander, Culloden, Inverness.
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June 2010 - Strathisla and Cardean herds on top form at Alyth Show
The first show of the season at Alyth is always an interesting one as the juniors in the team get a practice run for the first time. This year, we had one of our best shows as we took champion spot in the Simmental classes with Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine, a March 2008-born daughter of our senior herd site Omorga Samson out of Strathisla Geraldine 10th. We also took the reserve female and reserve overall championship with Strathisla Angelina’s Haka, another Samson daughter, this time out of Strathisla Haka 42nd.
In the male classes we took the male championship with our yearling bull Swallowhill Augustus, a March 2009-born son of Omorga Samson out of our past show cow Strathisla Serena’s Gerladine.
In the Charolais classes we took the male championship and reserve overall championship with our new stock sire Blelack Colonel, a July 2007-born son of Thrunton Socrates out of Blelack Summer. Our March 2009-born yearling heifer Cardean Eclipse, by Solitude Attaboy also won her class, while our yearling bull Cardean Economist, by Roundhill Ohoh, stood second in his class.
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Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine
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June 2010 - Strathisla Farms take a first place at the Royal Highland Show
A similar show team to Alyth was out in force at this year’s Royal Highland Show which saw incredibly tough competition in both the Simmental and Charolais classes. In the Simmental section, we took a first place with Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine, our March 2008-born daughter of Omorga Samson, while our yearling heifer Strathisla Angelina’s Haka stood third in a very strong yearling heifer class. Our yearling bull, Swallowhill Augustus, again by Samson, stood fourth in his class.
Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine
In the Charolais rings, we stood second with Cardean Economist, our yearling bull by Roundhill Ohoh, while our yearling heifer Cardean Eclipse took a fourth place and our two year old heifer Cardean Desire stood sixth.
Both the yearling Charolais and Simmental bulls will be forward for sale in October at Stirling.
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April 2010 - Calves now on the ground by our new stock bulls
Having purchased the Simmental bull Dressogue Victorious and the Charolais Blelack Colonel as new sock sires, we are incredibly pleased with the calves that are now on the ground by these bulls. All calvings have gone well so both bulls have proved to be easy calving sires across a range of cows and heifers in the herd.
We hope many of these early stars will continue to grow well and form part of the 2011 show team.
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April 2010 born heifers Strathisla Bopeep’s Haka and Strathisla Beau’s Mira, both by Dressogue Victorious
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Blelack Colonel daughter Cardean Foxglove, born 15th April 2010
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April 2010 - All set for summer shows
This year sees both Charolais and Simmental cattle coming out on the show circuit from Strathisla Farms and will include young males and females from both breeds. Alongside the three heifers pictured we also have an exceptional son of our Simmental stock sire Omorga Samson. This young bull will then be forward for sale at Stirling in October this year.
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Cardean Desire – born 06.10.08 by Solitude Attaboy out of Cardean Ulrika (by Maerdy Othello)
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Cardean Eclipse – born 21.03.09 by Solitude Attaboy out of Cardean Snowdrop (by Maerdy Othello)
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Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine born 29.03.08 by Omorga Samson out of Strathisla Geraldine 10th (by Blackford Lionheart)
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February 2010 – British Blue bull joins Strathisla Farms commercial sire line up
In a change of direction for the commercial herd, Strathisla Farms have purchased a British Blue bull from this month’s Society sale in Carlisle. Bought to run on the 120 head of predominantly Simmental and Charolais cross cows, Woodview Dan will likely produce some great bulls for finishing as well as quality females for sale as replacement females. Bred by Andrew Craig and bought for 4000gns, Dan is by Ballygrange Alex, a popular show winning bull owned by Danny Wyllie and out of the Dafydd D’Ochain sired daughter Woodview Trixie.
Woodview Dan
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October 2009: Stirling team of Simmental and Charolais bulls don’t disappoint.
Strathisla Simmentals and Cardean Charolais were certainly out in force for the first ever October Perth Bull sales to be held at Stirling Agricultural Centre.
After a solid performance in the show ring under Simmental judge Jimmy Wood and Charolais judge Esmar Evans, our highlight in the sale ring was certainly the Simmental bulls.
This sale saw the first sons forward from the joint record priced Omorga Samson and our best was our youngest bull Strathisla Waverly, this June 2008 bull is out of the Blackford Lionheart daughter and constant breeder Strathisla Twiggy 8th. With a self replacing index of +34 and a terminal index of +28, this one heads to Black Hall Farms, Aberdeen for 6500gns.
Our next best was Strathilsa Westminister, an April 2008-born son of Stratisla Mira 51st, who is yet another daughter of Blackford Lionheart, a bull who has bred incredibly good correct, milky females for us. With a self replacing index of +32 and this one sold for 4500gns to Mark Little Farms, Caithness.
Just before that we sold Strathisla Whistler, a bull that caused a fair deal of reaction in the pens due to his excessive depth of back end sold for 5,800gns. Yet another Samson son, this one is out of the Agardsley Clinton daughter Strhisla Jasmine 10th. Again in the top 20% for figures, he sold to Balglass, Lennox Town, Ayrshire
Our last bull was Strathilsa Wanderer, another Samson son out of the Strathisla Julius daughter Strathilsa Twiggy 5th. This one has a milk figure of +9 and is above average for terminal index and self replacing index. He sold for 2200gns to Mr Henderson, Ayrshire.
Including these and the Samson sons sold privately off the farm, we have sold seven sons to average £4700. We have yet another exceedingly good cop of Samson sons and daughters and will have bulls forward for next October. Heifers are now for sale off Samson and pictures will be following shortly.
Of the Charolais bulls forward, our best was the third prize Cardean Disraeli, a son of Gretnahouse Ultimate out of the Moyness salitire daughter Moyness Asset. With a self replacing index of +34 and a positive calving ease of 2.9, this one heads to Mr Patterson, Gauld Farms, Kinross.
Our next highest was our youngest bull the fourth prize Cardean Dealornodeal. This one is one of the first bulls to be offered publically for sale from Cardean off the 32,000gns Solitude Attaboy, a bull owned in a three way partnership with Bill Bruce’s Balmyle herd and Bob and Drew Adams’ Newhouse herd.
Out of the Killadeas Legend daughter Cardean Amber, this one sold for 3200gns to the Aleina herd of E+A Donald and Sons, Turriff, Aberdeenshire.
Our last was another Attaboy son, Cardean Digital. Out of the judicious daughter Anneskeagh Selina, this one sold for 1900gns to Mr Campbell, Stirling
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Strathisla Waverly
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Strathisla Westminster
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Strathisla Whistler
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Cardean Disraeli
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Cardean Dealornodeal
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June 2009: Strathisla Simmentals success at Royal Highland Show
Daughters of our senior stock bull Omorga Samson held their own at The Royal Highland Show in incredibly tough classes. We took a second prize in the first heifer class, with Strathisla Wednesday’s Haka, an April born yearling out of Strathisla Haka 42nd
In the next class we stood third with Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine. Again by Samson, this March yearling is out of Strathisla Geraldine.
Although no red tickets were collected, we were incredibly impressed with the performance of these two heifers and had many positive comments from other pedigree Simmental breeders.
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June 2009 - Farmer of the Year turns Chef for the day
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Following on from BBC1 Masterchef winner Mat Follas’ visit to Strathisla Farms in May, Adrian Ivory was fortunate enough to swap his wellies for the chef jacket, as he joined Mat at his new restaurant in Dorset for opening week.
Adrian spent two days with Mat at The Wild Garlic in Beaminster, near Bridport in the run up to opening night, where he got the chance to share a typical working day with Mat, which included catching up with buyers and suppliers, some foraging for elderflowers and sea kale and what it takes to get a restaurant ready for opening night.
Adrian got the chance to meet Mat’s new fish suppliers, Samways, along with a guided tour (dressed in rather fetching white hats and overalls) round the fish plant, while getting to grips with lobsters, crabs and many types of fish.
The beautiful weather was ideal to also partake in a trip to the beach, where Mat shared his passion for foraging ideas and ways of enhancing flavours of your food with some plants that usually wouldn’t enter your mind to cook with. “Sea kale is a perfect addition to a salad, its leaves are tasty and the buds of the flower really pack a punch to a salad dish,” explained Mat.
One of the many subjects Mat touched on when spending time at Strathisla Farms, was his encouragement of Adrian to pursue a niche market, so a trip to a 80-cow Water Buffalo farm where Mat buys his meat from was an ideal opportunity for Adrian to see firsthand what diversification can do.
Time spent in the restaurant itself, was a little more rushed and it’s easy to see the pressures Mat is under during this week of frantic preparation. “There are huge parallels to be made with chefs and farmers, both of which have massive decisions to make. But the big difference is the speed in which a chef’s decision has to be made and implemented. Mat can make a change to his business that can equally be changed again in a day, week or month’s time – many decisions made in farming have a far longer life span and can be potentially make a decision more risky.”
Overall, the time spent with Mat, both in Scotland and in Dorset has been a valuable experience for Adrian and one that will continue, as Mat has plans to visit Scotland again with his family, and likewise Adrian plans to bring Katie to Mat’s restaurant.
Adrian would like to thank Farmers Weekly for organising such an insightful visit off the back of winning the Farmer of the Year title last year. For more on the visit read Farmer’s Weekly September 4 issue.
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June 2009 - First show outing a great success for Simmental and Charolais team
Our first show outing of the year was a great success this year and bodes well for a good Highland Show – fingers crossed!
We took the reserve overall Simmental championship with Strathisla Willow’s Geraldine, a March 2008 daughter of Omorga Samson out of the Blackford Lionheart daughter Strathisla Geraldine.
We also took the Charolais male championship with the February 2008 born son of Gretnahouse Ultimate, Cardean Disraeli. This one is out of Moyness Asset. Both classes were judged by Andrew Reid.
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June 2009 - Samson sons sell privately to a top of £6000
We’re pleased to announce the sale of four Omorga Samson sons to a top price of £6000. We’re particularly pleased with these sales, as the bulls have all found fantastic homes with commercial breeders from Orkney to Angus.
We have four sons left which will be going to Stirling in October for the main Society sale. These include:
* Strathisla Westminister
* Strathisla Waverley
* Strathisla Wanderer
* Strathisla Whistler
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May 2009 - Masterchef winner turns farmer for the day
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BBC 1 Masterchef winner Mat Follas swapped the professional kitchen and restaurant for the farmyard last week when he visited Strathisla Farms.
The trip was arranged as a result of Adrian winning the Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year award back in November last year. “Having the chance to host a celebrity status chef on your farm is a chance in a lifetime,” said Adrian, who is now planning a return leg of the visit to Mat’s restaurant in Devon.
Sharing detailed conversations on business management, cost analysis and profit and loss accounts, Mat commented as to how impressed he was with Adrian’s business skills. “To operate any business profitably your cost management has to be perfect - that much is clearly evident with Adrian’s enterprise.”
Mat was however surprised to learn from Adrian the amount of farmers that don’t get to grips with their costs and in fact don’t know their costs of production.” I have a job to understand the “lifestyle” choice from farmers rather than a desire to run a profitable business without subsidies. You see it sometimes in the restaurant trade, but those businesses not managing their costs don’t last long.”
After a detailed farm tour round Strathisla, Mat aided Adrian in his quest to prove that bull beef tastes just as good if not better than steer beef by cooking a sample of steaks from his own cattle. A tasting panel made up of friends, family, workforce and Mat were all unanimous in that 21 day matured bull beef from one of Adrian’s young Continental x bulls had far greater taste and tenderness than 21 day steer beef.
“It’s an area that I believe strongly in and have challenged processors and supermarkets over in the past. For my system, finishing young bulls at 13 months old is far more profitable - £200 a head in fact according to the recent batch of animals slaughtered through ABP Perth – than finishing steers at an older age. The fact this came out in a taste test with a chef has pleased me greatly,” added Adrian.
Describing the beef, Mat explained than on visual appearance both the 21 day matured beef had a far greater look, colour and texture, but it was the eating quality that excelled with the bull beef. Cooked simply on a barbeque with salt and pepper, the 21-day matured bull beef tasted far better, was tender and had a nicer texture with a good level of marbling than the other meats. Overall in the taste test, which included a number of Adrian’s friends, family and workforce, beef from a 5-day matured steer scored the lowest.
“I’ve never had an issue with not choosing bull beef over steer or even heifer beef, but I understood there were preconceptions with the quality of bull beef. However, on the day, the 21-day bull beef was a clear winner for me.”
The tables then turned and Mat received a master class from the Strathisla stockmen Colin Fordyce and Alistair Borthwick on how to train pedigree show cattle for the show ring, an image Mr Follas hopes to have up in his new restaurant The Wild Garlic, which opens in the middle of June in Beaminster, Dorset.
Plans are well underway for Adrian to visit Mat and his new restaurant in June during opening week, where it will be Adrian under pressure as he helps prepare a service. He will also be visiting some of mat’s suppliers including a Water Buffalo producer.
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April 2009: Sons of Omorga Samson selling well off farm
Strathisla Farms are pleased to announce the sale of two 12 month old sons of the 22,000gns Omorga Samson. Having bought this bull back in February 2007 in Perth, we have been nothing but pleased with his offspring.
The first of these private sales was Strathisla Wolf, out of Strathisla Haka 22nd with a milk figure of +7. This bull sells to Alistair Hopkinson, Lindertis.
The other, Strathisla Willy Wonka, is out of Strathisla Twiggy 6th, with a milk figure of +9. He heads to Kellyfield, Arbroath with Jim Millar.
We now have an incredibly strong team of five Samson bulls left for sale which are entered for Stirling in October.
Pictures of these bulls will be available during the summer.
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