News from 2022

The Society's summer visit this year is to the Bollin Valley Partnership, Macclesfield, Cheshire on Sunday 21 August.

A full day of viewing cattle, displays and demonstrations has been arranged.  All welcome, but please email the secretary to confirm numbers for parking and catering purposes.

Click here for more information about the day and the herd.

The Society is delighted to be working with Harrison & Hetherington and Pedigree Sales to hold an online timed sale on 26-28th September.  We have already held a number of online sales with H&H, and the team at Pedigree Sales have a huge amount of experience hosting online pedigree auctions. The partnership combines the marketing skills of Pedigree Sales, backed up by a trusted auctioneer.

Members are fully in charge of their entries to the sale, which can be uploaded to the Pedigree Sales website by you now.  The team at Pedigree Sales will then ensure your entry links to the Grassroots database for full pedigree details, and you can also upload photographs and videos of your lot, plus photos of the sire and dam should you wish.

The entries will close on 27 August and then the catalogue will go live on 5 September.  This allows three weekends for potential purchasers to make contact with vendors and view the cattle if they wish.

For vendors there's no travelling to a market, overnight accommodation, diesel and associated costs. Cattle in health schemes or health tested are not compromised as they do not have to leave the farm until they are sold.  There is no entry fee or commission fee.  All we ask is that your photographs and videos are to a high standard to show them off at their very best. Investing in a professional photographer could be repaid in the higher sale price you get for your stock.

Purchasers pay the purchase price plus a commission fee.  Payment for the lots purchased is done directly between vendor and purchaser so no waiting for the money to arrive!

The sale is now open for entries - you can make your entries and then go back in to your account to upload your photos if you haven't got them sorted yet.

Click here for the link to the Pedigree Sales website

The next issue of The Longhorn magazine will be published in October and we are now accepting bookings for adverts.

The Magazine is a great way to advertise your stock, and also your beef boxes, farm shop and any diversified enterprises on your farm.  The Longhorn Magazine is published as a print magazine and is also available to read online.

Click here for the booking form.

The list of cattle classified VG & EX has been updated to include cattle classified in July

Click here for the updated list

The dispersal of Mrs Pat Quinn's Harford herd took place at Worcester Market today.  Top call was for cow Harford Selina 2, with her heifer calf at foot selling to Messrs Biddulph for 4400gns.  The same buyer also took home the next best priced lot, senior heifer Harford Utopia for 3100gns.

Congratulations to all purchasers.

Click here for the full report

The Society AGM weekend will be in Devon and Somerset for 2022, visiting the Snowecombe herd of Longhorns near Ivybridge and the Whitefield herd of Devons in Wiveliscombe.  Our hotel will be in Cullompton, very near the M5.

Click here for the booking form

 

The catalogue for the genuine full dispersal of the Harford herd of pedigree Longhorns is now available.

Click here for the catalogue

'Their lovely temperament makes Longhorns a joy to work with, even first calved heifers are placid at calving'

Andrew Goodman of the Witley herd was recently featured in The Longhorn magazine and he thoroughly endorses the temperament and commercial attributes of Longhorns.

Click here to read about the herd.

The Society was saddened to hear of the death of John Warner of the Charnwood herd, Leicestershire on 24 April.  John established the Charnwood herd of Longhorns in 1992 and had great success in the show ring, most notably with the homebred cow Charnwood Carpathia.  John was President of the Society in 2008 and 2009.

John's funeral took place at St Peter's Church, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leicestershire on Thursday 12 May and £873.49 was raised at the collection.  This will be split equally between The Air Ambulance Service and Cancer Research UK.

Phyllis and Robert would like to thank Society members and friends for their generous donations, and also for the many sympathy cards they received which were a great comfort to them both at such a difficult time.

The Society is saddened to share that Angela Blockley of the Southfield herd passed away on Saturday 25 June.

Angela was well known within the Society and the wider agricultural community and a full tribute to her will be posted in due course.

The Society's thoughts and sincere condolences go to David and all her many friends and family members at such a difficult time.

The funeral will be at St Pauls Church, Whitehall Rd, Drighlington, Bradford BD11 1LJ on Friday 8 July at 11am.  See the notice below

 

Jane Mycock of the Sycamore herd was the winner of the 2021 Newcomer's Award for the Paul Luckett Trophy.  Jane was featured in May issue of The Longhorn Magazine.

Click here to read the article.  If you also fancy dipping your toe into the world of showing then contact the Society for advice and support.

Have you thought about standing for election as a Trustee of the Society?
Council is made up of a diverse range of members working alongside the Chairman to ensure all aspects of running the Breed Society are covered.  It is the opportunity for members to get more involved in the management of their Breed Society and to ensure the Longhorn breed has a secure future.
If you think you can spare a few days a year to contribute to the running of the Society and would like to know more, please speak to Debbie, or one of the current Trustees.  There are nine Trustees and each term last for three years with three trustees rotating each year.
The nomination form is now available and the closing date for nominations is the end of August, so there's a little bit of time to have a think about standing for election. 

Click here for the nomination form.

Buitelaar Group have launched their native bred cull cow scheme, providing an outlet for Farm Assured cull cows.

Click here for more about the scheme and who to contact for more information or to book in cattle.

The Society receives a small gratuity for any Longhorn or Longhorn sired cull cow going through the scheme.

With the increased interest in Longhorn cattle, members are getting more enquiries regarding exporting cattle to the EU and Northerm Ireland. New regulations were implemented on 1 January 2021 so it's not quite so straightforward as it used to be.

Click here for AHPA information on the export of livestock

The Society AGM weekend will be in Devon and Somerset for 2022, visiting the Fowlescombe herd of Longhorns near Ivybridge and the Whitefield herd of Devons in Wiveliscombe.  Our hotel will be in Cullompton, very near the M5.

The booking form will be available during June, but in the meantime put the date in the diary!

 

The show season has started with a bang, with a number of shows all happening in quick succession!

The results for the National Show (Suffolk), Staffordshire County Show, Royal Bath & West Show and Northumberland County Show are all up on the website, go to calendar dates and then select the appropriate month. Further results to follow when received.

 

The Midland Breeders' Group held their AGM and social event at Susan Hallifield's Threshing Barn, Calke, Derbyshire on 29 May.  After the formal business of the AGM, group members had a tour of Susan's herd of Stabiliser cattle.

Click here to read Claire Saxby's report

As part of the beef suckler day at Melton Mowbray Market on 28 May, Mike and Christine Shearstone dispersed their Tanfield herd, and a number of other members entered cattle into the general sale.

Click here for a list of purchasers and prices

 

Blackbrook Zither, a seven year old cow with her March born calf at foot from John & Pat Stanley, was tapped out as Breed Champion at the National Show at Suffolk today.  Judge Linda Burditt found her Reserve Champion from the same stable, choosing two year old bull Blackbrook Endeavour

Despite the rain, members enjoyed a full morning of showing, followed by Longhorn burgers for lunch, kindly provided by Emily McVeigh from the DeKenton herd.

Click here for the full set of breed and interbreed results

Click here for the show album on Flickr

The Society has launched it's new magazine, to be published twice a year.  The April issue features show results, sale reports, on-farm features, member profiles and lots of fabulous pictures of Longhorn cattle.

Click here to read

The Evans family have asked to the Society to inform members that Joy, widow of Phil Evans of the Linton herd, passed away recently

The Society's sincere condolences go to the Evans family

With a change to the normal format, the Midland Group AGM will also be the opportunity to enjoy a social occasion too.
It is to be held on the 29th May at 11am at The Threshing Barn, The Milking Parlour, Southwood House Farm, Calke, LE65 1RG.
Group members are asked to gather and hold the AGM at 11am, and then Sue Hallfield will take members on a tour of her herd of Stabiliser cattle, and the theory behind them.

Liquid refreshments will be available from The Milking Parlour, with the provision of the pizza oven being lit for anyone wishing to have pizza.

The tour of the Stabiliser herd is open to all members, not just those in the Midland group.  Anyone who wishes to attend should let Claire Saxby know by 21st May on clairesaxby775@icloud.com   to allow the host to make arrangements for catering.

The Northern and Midland Longhorn Breeders clubs have joined forces and arranged a showing workshop day for anyone who is interested in show cattle preparation, from washing, drying to clipping and dressing on Sunday 15th May 2022.

All areas of show preparation will be covered by the expert herself Thea Woollatt.

It will be a great opportunity for new and long standing showmen and women to pick up tips and keep up to date with the modern day show preparation, equipment and standards.

The day is to be hosted at the home of the Longbridge herd of Longhorns by kind invitation of Jane Grant.  Jane's address is Longbridge House Farm, Stillington Road, Easingwold, York, North Yorkshire, YO61 3ET.

Arrival from 10am for a 10.30am start and stopping for lunch around 12.30 then finishing off around 4pm.  Lunch is offered at £10 per head payable on the day.

If you are interested in joining us for an educational day out then please get in touch with your numbers to help with catering for lunch by Monday 9th May 2022. 

To book your place please contact either,

Graham Walker (Northern group)  Walkergraham93@gmail.com 

Or

Claire Saxby (Midland group)   clairesaxby775@icloud.com

The Society is greatly saddened to hear of the death of Henry Plumb, Lord Plumb of Coleshill.  Henry had the Maxstoke herd of Longhorns and was often to be seen at the ringside of our sales at Worcester.

Henry was a farmer's son who went on to be President of the NFU in the 1970's and then was European Parliament President in the 1980's.  His spirit and resolve helped shape the agricultural industry and his determination to leave a lasting legacy resulted in the creation of The Henry Plumb Foundation which encourages and mentors the younger generation to engage with the agricultural industry.

The Society's thoughts are with Henry's family at this sad time.

We are delighted to announce for our Society summer visit we have been invited to visit the Bollin Valley Partnership in Macclesfield, Cheshire. 

The Bollin Valley Partnership has been working for 40 years providing a Countryside Management Service within the catchment of the River Bollin.  The River Bollin is 49km in length running from the hills surrounding Macclesfield Forest to where it joins the Manchester Ship Canal at Bollin Point near Lymm in Cheshire. The Partnership manages sites across the valley as well as the Bollin Valley Way which approximately follows the River Bollin from Riverside Park in Macclesfield to the River Mersey near Partington and aims to provide an efficient and cost effective countryside management service for the Bollin Valley, improve the Valley's natural environment and its recreational opportunities.  To achieve these aims they provide a Countryside Ranger service and encourage public use of the valley whilst taking part in conservation and enhancement of the natural environment.  The Longhorn cattle form an integral part of this management.
 
The herd was founded in 1988 and currently stands at around 80 animals.  These animals graze a range of habitats along the course of the River Bollin, from Tegg's Nose 1200ft up in the Peak District above Macclesfield to the flood plain at Riverside Park in Macclesfield itself.  These areas are fully accessible to the public so steers and heifers are grazed in these areas, and then calving cows running with the bulls graze land that is either not open to the public, or the footpaths run adjacent to the fields. 

Manager Tim Harding has kindly invited the Society to visit the herd on Sunday 21 August. All are welcome, just let me know by Friday 12 August so we can plan catering and logistics. Further infomation about about location and timings will be available nearer the time
 

The City of Longhorn Corporation are recruiting a new head stockperson to look after the Longhorn cattle. Based in the ancient Epping Forest, accommodation is provided.

Click here for the link to the advert

Click here to go to the report and prices

Click here to go to the online sale page on the H&H website

The Longhorn Cattle Society is delighted to launch its brand new magazine for members and Longhorn enthusiasts, "The Longhorn".

This glossy and vibrant magazine will come out twice a year in April and October and will be a replacement for the Society's Journal and Newsletter.

Magazine content will include the usual vital Society news, regional news from around the UK, shows and sales reports,  in-depth features on Society members, industry and  technical articles ,

The Society asks members to consider that the April issue is an amalgamation of Newsletter and Journal, so it will be a slightly smaller edition than what is planned for future editions and there will be some repetitive crossover content.

It is hoped members will support this magazine by advertising in it as it presents more opportunities through the year to advertise your stock at key times of the season.  The April edition will be published before the Society's Spring Show & Sale at Worcester on 21 May so is perfect for advertising cattle entered into the Show & Sale.

If members have any queries as to placing adverts or how to go about getting them designed, please contact Debbie in the office.  Copy date for adverts is Friday 18 March, so reserve your page as soon as possible to guarantee a slot.  There are sizes and prices for all budgets, including classified line ads which offer excellent value for money.

Click here for the advert booking form

 

The NBA Beef Expo is back, and will be at Darlington Farmers Mart on Saturday 28 May. The Longhorn Cattle Society will being exhibiting at this event, so please make sure to visit the stand if you are attending.

The event, which is the largest technical beef event in the UK will be a celebration of the British Beef Industry.  Bringing together the very best in British commercial and pedigree cattle, equipment, ground-breaking developments, and show classes for everyone involved in the industry, NBA Beef Expo is a celebration and exploration of everything British Beef has to offer

As well as the event at Darlington Market on Saturday 28 May, there are two farm visits on Friday 27 May.

Click here for information on the farms being visited, and how to book

Click here for the event website. 

'Absolutely delicious....it just tastes of good beef... a stunning piece of meat'  

Marcus Wareing's opinion of the Longhorn beef he tasted at Sam and Claire Barkers Great Berwick herd which convinced him to buy his own Longhorns.  We think he's got great taste, but then we might be a bit biased!

Marcus' Tales from a Kitchen Garden is currently running on BBC2, and last night's episode featuring the fabulous Longhorns is now on BBC iPlayer

Click here to watch the programme on BBC iPlayer

 

Will you be watching Marcus Wareing's Tales From A Kitchen Garden on BBC2 at 6.30pm each night for the next two weeks?  It's a 10 part series and this Thursday's episode features Marcus visiting Longhorn members, trying Longhorn beef and then taking delivery of two steers.

Click here for the programme website.  All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer after broadcast.

The list of cattle type classified VG & EX has been updated.

Click here to read

The current Farm Manager at English Farm Longhorns will be leaving his role as in early April. Consequently they are currently in the process of recruiting, both for a permanent Stock Manager position and for a temporary Stock Manager position. The reason for the two roles is that they envisage the permanent candidate will most likely not be available until mid to late summer after calving / notice period has finished so they are also looking for someone to fulfil the temporary role. Clearly if the individual who completes the temporary role excels then their employment could be made permanent.  A 2 bed house is available with the job/s free of charge.

In the first instance please contact Seb Mepham-Allen, Farm Manager, English Farm, Nuffield, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 5TH Mob: 07939112834

Click here to go to their website

Mrs Pat Quinn wishes to give advance notice that she will be selling her Harford pedigree Longhorn Herd at the end of July this year. At the age of 95 she no longer wishes to be responsible for the wellbeing of the cattle she has had in her care since 1976. However she will still farm at Lower Harford and is in the process of negotiating contract farming with her neighbour.  Clive Roads of McCartneys Worcester has reserved a Sale date of Saturday July 30th 2022.  The cattle, along with the noted Harford flock of Cotswold sheep, will be removed to Worcester Market for convenience.

More details of one of the oldest and successful herds (No.85) today will follow in due course.

 

Mike Winterton of the Wanlip herd, hosts of the Society AGM in 2021, passed away on 21st January.  The Society's sincere condolences go to his family and friends at this difficult time.

The funeral is on Friday 25th February at 2pm at St Mary's Church, Queniborough, LE7 3DZ and then afterwards at Newstead Farm which is a few metres from the Church.  All are welcome to join the family in celebrating Mike's life.

Due to technical issues behind the scenes with our current Facebook page we'll be closing it down soon, but we do have a shiny new page!  Please head over to the new page to keep up with all the Longhorn news.

Click here for the link

The Midland Longhorn Breeders' herd competition 2021 was judged by Ian Snape

Click here for the full results

Walking Past is the First New Online Exhibition from Robin Oliver's Art of Farming work for 2022, showcasing the endeavours of a Hardy Custodian of an Ancient Breed, Registered English Longhorn Cattle.

The Illustrated Exhibition Description is published under the Focus heading of the Robin Oliver Galleries.

The Exhibition opens on the 29th of January 2022 through to the 2nd of April 2022.

Click here to go to the website

Adam Morrigan has set up a bespoke tanning company and has already processed one Longhorn hide for a member.

Click here for more information

 

If you're already a follower of the Toplines and Tales podcast then you'll know that the latest interview is with Longhorn panel judge and cattle historian Clive Davies.  The topic of conversation is Robert Bakewell who was the founding father of the pedigree Longhorn breed through genetic selection and controlled breeding programmes.

The discussion is wide-ranging which is understandable given Robert Bakewell's impressive career improving a breeds across a number of livestock species (and cabbages apparently!) and the focus on the Longhorns starts at around 30 minutes in.

Click here to listen.