Selling their prize-winning herd of Aberdeen-Angus cattle has not been an easy decision for the Orr family from Dunfermline, but on Monday at Stirling enthusiasts of the breed will have the chance to purchase some of the best bloodlines in Scotland.
Robin, Nancy and daughter Caroline established the Halbeath herd in 1999 after selling their dairy herd.
Right from the start Robin brought his experience in dairying to the breed, concentrating on embryo transfer from one or two top family lines, and also the ability to finish off grass.
He said: “We have tried to mix a modern type with better than average figures while keeping the Angus style and character combined with ease of calving and with enough milk to push the calves on.”
One of his foundation cows was the New Zealand-bred Kim of Fordafourie, bought for 7,000 gns and shared with William McLaren of Netherton.
Robin reckons this was the first Angus female to be in shared ownership, again something he was used to doing with his prize-winning Holstein herd.
Daughters from Kim have sold to 12,000 gns and many of her progeny are featured in the sale.
Kim was sold at a Netherton reduction a few years ago, making 16,000 gns.
Netherton Pam, still in the herd at 15 years old, was another foundation female producing a reserve champion at the Perth bull sales, Halbeath Panther, which sold for 12,000 gns.
Her granddaughter Halbeath Pam, by stock bull Duncanziemere Edwin, was champion at Stars of the Future calf show last year and is offered for sale.
Robin explained that, having lost some over-wintering sheds, he does not now have the facilities to do the 60-strong herd justice, and while he is sad to be selling up, he is thrilled that Caroline is keeping three cows and starting up her own Keirsbeath herd.
Everything is being offered for sale but three lots are paired with the purchaser having his choice and Caroline taking the remaining lot.
Caroline has been interested from the start. While Robin does the day-to-day feeding and bedding, Caroline turns them out for shows and sales.
She said: “All the cattle are handled every day, but now I have a full-time job I have less time to spend with them.”
An agricultural officer in cross-compliance with Seerad in Edinburgh, her plan is to slowly build her new herd up to no more than 10 cows.
While keeping the good bloodlines established by Robin, Caroline is keen to introduce some new ones and put her own stamp on the Keirsbeath herd.
She said: “I thought a lot of Kim and may look to New Zealand for something a bit different.”
She will, however, continue to advocate her dad’s idea of promoting beef from grass.
Robin also believes a little of the myostatin gene, which produces double muscling, is no bad thing in the breed.
He said: “Any bulls which do not make the grade for breeding are finished at Halbeath, and recently two 15-month-old bulls with this ‘profit gene’ graded U, which is unusual in the breed.”
While sorry to see his Angus herd go, Robin plans to expand his flock of pedigree Texels from 50 up to around 70.
He adopts a similar breeding policy with the sheep, and last year bought a share in the 12,000 gns Teiglum Topper from the Clark family for use on the flock. He has kept back about 30 ewe lambs by Topper which will be introduced into the flock.