Aberdeen-Angus cattle allow Surrey breeder to farm in harmony with nature

Aberdeen-Angus cattle allow Surrey breeder to farm in harmony with nature

23.01.2025

Breed stalwart Angus Stovold believes Aberdeen-Angus cattle are the ideal choice for farmers looking to run low-cost, environmentally friendly farming systems.

Angus Stovold, a former Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society president, runs the Rosemead herd of pedigree Aberdeen-Angus cattle at Lydling Farm, near Godalming in Surrey.

The herd was established nearly 90 years ago and after returning home to run the family farm, Mr Stovold set about increasing cattle numbers to produce high-quality Aberdeen-Angus beef for butchers.

“My grandfather started breeding the cattle here in 1936 and he liked them because they did well on this poor sort of West Surrey Greensand land; he wanted a breed that was going to do well on forage and not require a lot of inputs,” says Mr Stovold.

After spending time away from the farm working in the meat sector, Mr Stovold returned home in 1986 to a 60-cow herd.

“At the time, we also had a very large pig farm which was supplying a lot of butchers, and they wanted a quality product,” explains Mr Stovold.

“I thought if we sold a product which was pure Aberdeen-Angus and finished off grass, the butchers would like it – and they did because it was very consistent and easy to work with.”

Shift in farming policy

The Rosemead herd expanded under Mr Stovold’s stewardship and by 2000 the business comprised 230 cows run across 11 units.

However, the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak the following year sparked a change in farming policy and a new focus on producing high-quality, disease-free animals.

Mr Stovold says although the farm was not directly affected by the outbreak, it started his interest in high-health status cattle – something he has prioritised ever since.

“I first joined a Defra-run health scheme, which initially focussed on Leptospirosis, and then we later joined the SAC Premium Cattle Health Scheme which also focused on Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Johne’s, and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD),” he explains.

“Health is hugely important and since being involved in these schemes, we’ve been clear of disease with the exception of having once case of BVD in 2012 which we got rid of quickly.”

As well as closely monitoring for disease, Mr Stovold only vaccinates cattle when necessary and he runs a strict quarantine policy for any bought-in animals, or those returning home from a show.

Current farming system

The herd currently comprises 150 cows which are run across two units, and the farm extends to 700 acres of which 300 acres is arable land.

Having established a very strong customer base, the majority of stock is now sold for breeding, with approximately 10% reared to supply Aberdeen-Angus beef to butchers.

“Post Foot and Mouth, it was a really challenging time for the beef sector and renting the 11 farms wasn’t sustainable,” says Mr Stovold.

“It was costing me money and some of the farms were up to 10 miles away, so we had to have quite a few members of staff.

“We’ve consolidated the business somewhat since its peak in cow numbers; there’s now three of us working on the farm which is more sustainable and profitable.”

He describes his current system as “low-cost, low-input, and environmentally friendly” and firmly believes the Aberdeen-Angus breed is key to achieving this.

The herd comprises both spring- and autumn-calving blocks, and all cattle are outwintered, and run on a paddock grazing system.

“We’ve found that if we reduce the mob size to between 20 and 25 cows, they’re coming off the grass in absolutely tip top shape,” says Mr Stovold.

“Both the cows and calves are just phenomenal, whereas with a larger mob of 40 cows, the quality is not as consistent.”

Going forward, he plans to further reduce the size of his grazing mobs, and he is assessing whether a two-day or three-day grazing system is best suited to his farm.

Sustainable choice

Mr Stovold believes the adaptability of Aberdeen-Angus cattle, and their ability to thrive on less inputs, means they are a sustainable choice – both in terms of their environmental impact and their profitability.

“The breed is the ideal breed for modern beef production,” says Mr Stovold.

“From an animal that’s born in Aberdeen, to one born on the cliffs of Cornwall, they’re so adaptable and they can work for you wherever you are and with whatever system you have.”

He says the fact Aberdeen-Angus can thrive on his very dry farm, which has been badly hit by droughts in recent years, is testament to the hardiness of the breed.

“In a normal year, because we’re on sandy soil, we will be brown on most of the farm in July,” adds Mr Stovold.

“We tend to have to feed forage in July, August, and September, and then the grass comes back allowing us to graze all the way up until Christmas quite happily.”

The Rosemead style

A firm believer in breeding the right type of Aberdeen-Angus for your system, Mr Stovold has focused on producing a medium-sized, deep-bodied cow – something which proves popular with the customers he sells bulls and breeding females to across the country.

He says current stock bulls which are working well in the herd include Cardona Edwin, by Ballindalloch Earl, and Perrywood Mr Regent, by imported AI sire Tuwharetoa Regent.

“My main priorities with breeding are fertility, feet and udders,” explains Mr Stovold.

And when it comes to Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs), he focuses on selecting and producing cattle with lower birth weights and good milk figures.

“I like producing cattle with higher milk figures because you don’t need to feed them grain to get that milk,” says Mr Stovold.

“That’s the thing about the Aberdeen-Angus; you get that off grass.”

This ability of the cattle to thrive well on grass, and not require many inputs, goes hand-in-hand with Mr Stovold’s wider efforts to farm in harmony with nature at Lydling Farm.

The arable rotation includes environmental schemes, and the farm is enrolled in the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) scheme – options undertaken include herbal leys, and winter bird feed.

And against the backdrop of some consumers choosing to reduce their meat consumption due to environmental concerns, Mr Stovold believes Aberdeen-Angus should be the breed of choice for British beef farmers because not only is it a recognised brand, but it can also sustainably produce beef on a low-input, grass-based system.

“A sustainable low cost of production beef system requires a breed like Aberdeen-Angus,” says Mr Stovold.

“My herd costs me very little because they live outside, calve outside, are easy fleshing, milky cows with good feet and udders, and above all they have a good temperament.

“This is achieved by maintaining a disease-free status – which includes being free of worms and ringworm – and a management system which suppresses endemic viruses like Rotavirus, in conjunction with a forage-based system with no costs associated with hard feed.”

He adds: “As an industry, I firmly believe so long as we can produce data to show that Aberdeen-Angus is a sustainable breed, and farm in a way which is responsible and helps the environment, there’s no reason why we can’t continue profitably producing high-quality Aberdeen-Angus beef.”

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