Toplines and Tales

In Part 2 of this episode we hear about where the beef goes to and get a good insight into how the US beef industry works. With his NCBA hat on, Craig Uden speaks about how the consumer is getting more educated to where their product comes from and we get into world export markets and a host of other interesting subjects, before moving on to talk about his other business, running 2000 breeding cows grazing on the corn stalks left behind after harvest.

This is Part 1 of a fascinating podcast talking to a man who not only runs one of the biggest feedlots in USA, but is also past president of the National Cattleman's Beef Association, as well as running a pretty large cow outfit on the side, Craig Uden from Nebraska. 

How do you grow a business to that size? He says 'It's like eating an elephant one bite at a time!'

Craig chats about environmental issues and sustainability. We look at logistics and health issues of cattle movement and touch on the tricky subject of growth promoters before revealing the amount of resource it takes to feed 45,000 animals! We also speak about the diverse staff requirements it requires to run an outfit this size.

This week I am chatting this week to father and son duo, Archie and John McGregor. 

We hear about the early days at Allanfauld, establishing the Blackie flock and selling the first five figure tup, through to the 80,000gns sale last year. Then the introduction of the Charolais cattle and the legendary bull Vagabond who has possibly bred more show calves than any other. John gives an in depth précis of their top Limousin herd and also the relatively more recent successes with the Texels. Add in the Luings, Blue Leicesters and a few badger faced sheep, and we get to appreciate of the depth of ability that underpins the Allanfauld prefix.

This episode I am talking to John Scott who runs a quite diverse livestock operation at Fearn in Easter Ross. We chat through his top herd of Shorthorn cattle, as well as the addition of the Luing breed, and a flock of ewes numbering over 3000. We speak about online pedigree sales, which are to the fore at Fearn, as well as the difficulty in getting young staff and attention to wellbeing. John also mentions a runway that he has turned into a feedlot, his Nuffield scholarship and other activities he is involved in. 

This episode is sponsored by Harbro Feeds

This week sees a new series on Toplines and Tales looking at a few modern livestock operations. We kick off by chatting to a man with huge vision, James Alexander, from Northern Ireland.

  Under the brand of JALEX, we hear how he set out on the show circuit with no experience whatsoever, eventually winning all before him. Then, looking at new avenues he sold the entire suckler herd, and ewe flock, heading down a new avenue in supplying replacement females. From buying an entire sale ring, to holding highly successful online sales, James is a man who has constantly taken risks and set new trends within the industry.

This week we wrap up the continentals series chatting to two seasoned Charollais sheep breeders, Jonathan Aitken and Robert Paterson. As usual, we look at some early flocks and imports, as well rams that shaped the breed and, in many case, the interbreeds.

This week we discuss the origins of the Beltex sheep with Belgian scientist Jurgen Depoyt and Scottish breeder, John Barclay, better known as Beachy. Jurgen explains some of the technical side of double muscling, before we look at some of the early flocks and rams that literally shaped the breed.

I have some personal interest in this episode!

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.

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!

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.