Some of the Luing-bred stock on Atholl Estates. “The young bulls were lined up as The Cadzow brothers clearly early Luing sales in Oban was Denis made lengthy notes on each had a passion for progressive electrifying”, added Charlie. “The one”, recalled Charlie. “He would cattle breeding. Speaking at the parties the night before were great then head back out to Luing for a 1967 Cambridge Cattle Breeders’ too!” week to check their dams – their Conference, Denis Cadzow told his Some things have not changed breeding history, udders, feet, audience – “I often think that one over the decades! legs and temperament. Once back of the most satisfactory things in The three Cadzow brothers at Duncrahill, he would line the this life is when you get a group of were opposed to competitive youngsters up again and without calves which have just that much cattle showing, but still needed hesitation, cull those bred from more good in them than either of to promote their new breed to cows which had a fault, regardless the parents individually”. potential customers, so took their of how good the young bull After assessment of dams on Luing Luings to various agricultural looked. and youngsters at Duncrahill, the events throughout Britain. “He would spend hours on this and best yearlings went back to Luing “One year they decided to stage I’m sure he could visualise each as stock bulls, with the very best cow on Luing as he looked at her of the second string being offered a Luing breed demonstration at son at Duncrahill”. for sale. “The atmosphere at those Portree Show, on the Isle of Skye”, recalled Charlie. “So we fi lled the stock lorry with cattle and piled gates for penning on the top, and set off from Duncrahill at seven o’clock in the evening. We caught the Skye ferry at six o’clock the next morning, set up the display on the showground, showed these cattle off to the Skye folk all day, loaded everything back up that night and drove back to Duncrahill. Two nights without sleep, but well worth it – there was lots of interest in the cattle”. Another Luing cattle “missionary” expedition saw Charlie and team set off for Turriff Show in Aberdeenshire, where they learnt that folk in that area have a language all of their own. “One of the fi rst farmers on the stand asked me something which sounded like “an’ fi t wd you do wi’ a’ the heeer?”. Toot the Bell! Charlie Bell and Tooti Cadzow at a previous CD sale. Then another farmer refused to THE LUING JOURNAL – JANUARY 2011 www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk 39 believe that the bullock on the thoughts into deed, within a Atholl Estates. stand still had his calf teeth, so couple of years he had purchased Much to the delight of the McNee a chap known as “Big Tam of 16 Saler cross Luing heifers to family who run the Benhar herd at Dalkeith” jumped into the pen, replace culled Hereford cross Armadale in West Lothian, at the grabbed the bullock and wrenched Friesians. February 2004 Luing Society sale its mouth open – just like the Wild These Luing cross heifers in Castle Douglas, Atholl Estates, West. It was a great day!” performed so well, that by 2004 with Charlie’s fi nger bidding, paid After a decade at Duncrahill, Atholl Estates had a spring calving a (then) new Luing breed record Charlie moved on to fresh herd of 180, mainly Luing blooded bull price of 8,000gns for Benhar pastures, in time taking over cows, including a nucleus herd Diesel, a polled bull. the management of Traquhair in of 52 pure Luing females, crossed The current Atholl Estates BVD and Peebleshire, a three farm enterprise with a Simmental to produce Sim- Johnes Accredited breeding herd totalling 4,500 acres owned by the Luing heifers for replacements of 160 cows, carries a substantial Maxwell-Stuart family. Here the and sale, with the Simmental cross amount of Luing genetics. The cattle were Blue Grey cows crossed steers, sold as stores. Pure Luing land has been farmed organically with Limousin bulls, a Luingless replacements were purchased from since 2001, and between 2007 and spell for Charlie Bell! the Society sales at Castle Douglas. 2010 was a Quality Meat Scotland Illness forced the Maxwell-Stuarts “All the cows were out-wintered Monitor Farm. Surplus breeding to cease farming in 1988, just when on straw, before receiving silage heifers are snapped up by Monitor Atholl Estates in Perthshire - 73,000 and two pounds of cow cobs a day, Farm community group members, magnifi cent, mainly wild and about six weeks before calving”, after seeing just how well the Luing stunningly scenic acres, peaking at explained Charlie. blooded cattle perform in such a 3,700 feet, then the largest area of “The Luing cows have a challenging environment. privately owned land in Europe, tremendous ability to forage away Charlie’s Luing cattle experience needed a working farm manager. into the hills. They’re also cheap and knowledge have been put The 1,200 acres of ploughable, to over-winter, yet thanks to their to good use by the Luing Cattle “good stock land” carried a lowland great milk yield, still produce a Society – he has served three terms fl ock of 500 ewes, with a further quality calf. During my time at as a Council Member. 2,000 Scottish Blackfaces on the Atholl Estates, there were some “As a breed Council we’ve tried hill ground. extremely wet and snowy winters, to keep everything as simple as Breeding cows were 90 spring yet the out-wintered Luings and possible, and not bogged down and autumn calving, in-wintered, their crosses came through without with too many rules”, commented Hereford cross Friesians, put to a any problems”. Charlie. “The important thing is Charolais bull. Charlie retired from Atholl to keep the Society and the cattle “It immediately seemed obvious, Estates in November 2004, after breeders focussed on the qualities with hardly any land below the 16 fulfi lling years, but before he of the Luing breed – productive, 1,000 feet contour, that the Luing did, he laid the foundations to fertile, easily managed, long living, breed would really suit Atholl his dream of establishing a self- hardy and functional, producing Estates”, said Charlie. Turning contained, pure Luing herd on a great calf weight per cow – the foundation qualities so skilfully laid by the Cadzow brothers!” Laughter frequently rings out at Luing gatherings, and Charlie Bell is often in the midst of the mirth. “We have some tremendous memories and have made some marvellous friends, thanks to Luing cattle”, said Charlie. “In particular it was a special privilege to have worked with Denis Cadzow in the 1960’s, and to have been involved in his vision to develop an easily managed, low cost, functional and productive suckler cow, capable of living and thriving outside year round, in challenging upland environments. The Cadzow brothers work then, is Three breed stalwarts enjoy a tale (l-r Charlie Bell; Ralph Cadzow, spot on for now – the Luing’s time Honorary President and Finlay McGowan, Fieldsman.) has well and truly come!” 40 e: [email protected] t: 01250-873882 THE LUING JOURNAL – JANUARY 2011 mmadale Far Sca m Scammadale Kilninver by Oban Email: [email protected] or visit our website at: http://www.scammadale.co.uk Registered Sim-Luing Calves Born and bred in the hills of Argyll Calves sold in Oban in October Contact Neil or Hazel on 01852 316 282 THE LUING JOURNAL – JANUARY 2011 www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk 41 ATTONBURN THE HOME OF TOP QUALITY BREEDING STOCK Attonburn Lumberjack- one of four strong bulls for sale in CastleFor sale Douglas in 2009:in 2011 Three exceptionalFor sale young in bulls 2010: and ten heifers at CastleFor Douglas sale in 2011:in February. One bullA Selection and four ofheifers bulls at and Dingwall heifers in - May. AttonburnPrior herd inspection accredited welcomed. free of BVD. SEMEN FROMPrior LUING inspection HUNTSMAN welcomed. AVAILABLE SEMENFOR WORLDWIDEFROM LUING HUNTSMAN DISTRIBUTION AVAILABLE FOR WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION WeWe specialise specialise in thein the production production of breeding of high stockquality of Luing the highest and Northquality: Luings, NorthCountry Country Cheviot Cheviots, breeding Suffolks stock. and Texels. CharlesCharles and and MaryMary Symons Symons ATTONBURNATTONBURN Yetholm,Yetholm, Kelso Kelso TD5 8PX TD5 8PX Tel:Tel: 01573 01573 420242 420242 www.attonburn.com www.attonburn.com 42 e: [email protected] t: 01250-873882 THE LUING JOURNAL – JANUARY 2011 AGM, Dinner and Sale THE LUING JOURNAL – JANUARY 2011 www.luingcattlesociety.co.uk 43 The 2010 Premier Bull Sale Drinkstone line up Kentucky Kid Vendor J.A. Park Back by popular demand, herewith the 2010 Premier Bull Sale Height at Shoulders 54.5” line-up. All details given are from the time of sale and bulls are Scrotal Circumference 43.0cm listed in catalogue order. Weight 838kg Price 2,400gns Buyer J. Caygill, Rylstone Attonburn Kalashnikov Attonburn Krakatoa Benhar Kyle Vendor C.J. & J.M. Symons Vendor C.J. & J.M. Symons Vendor Robert McNee Ltd. Height at Shoulders 54.5” Height at Shoulders 56.5” Height at Shoulders 57.0” Scrotal Circumference 39.0cm Scrotal Circumference 41.0cm Scrotal Circumference 43.0cm Weight 750kg Price 2,500gns Weight 828kg Weight 988kg Buyer D Bathgate, Auchenree Price 3,200gns Price 6,000gns Farms Buyer Arkleton Farms Buyer S.Murray, Rockcliffe Luing Kinsman Merkland Kensington Attonburn Kings Ransom Vendor Cadzow Brothers Ltd. Vendor J. Fawcett Height at Shoulders 55.0” Height at Shoulders 54.5” Vendor C.J.