Scottish Farmer 21st January by Kate Fisher
For George Milne, pedigree breeding has never been about chasing numbers, fashions or headlines.
Instead it’s about consistency, functionality and cattle that work year in, year out on a grass and a forage-based system.
Based at Kinaldy Farm, just outside St Andrews in Fife, George runs a deliberately compact pedigree Angus herd of around 14 cows plus followers, alongside an extensive pedigree sheep enterprise.
While modest in scale the herd carries more than 60 years of breeding history and a strong reputation for sound, easy-calving cattle bred firmly with the needs of the commercial man in mind.
Herd history
The Kinaldy pedigree Aberdeen Angus herd was founded in 1964 by George’s late father, shortly after he bought the farm.
George said: “The original pedigree herd was started with two cows my father bought which came from a sale at Newhouse of Glamis, near Forfar.
“They were part of the Newhouse Jewel Erica family – and that bloodline still runs through our cows today.”
That Erica line remains one of the two foundation families at Kinaldy, alongside the Princess family, which traces back to Princess Charlotte of Blelack.
“We later bought a heifer that stemmed from that line, and she became the foundation of the Kinaldy Princess family. Those two families are really the backbone of the herd.”
Historically, the pedigree Angus cattle were run alongside a commercial beef herd, producing home-bred bulls for replacement use.
“The pedigree numbers have never grown or shrunk dramatically – they’ve stayed steady,” George said.
Wider farming picture
Alongside the cattle, George runs a significant pedigree sheep enterprise, including 90 park-type Cheviot ewes, 80 hill-type Cheviots and 35 traditional Bluefaced Leicesters.
Lower end Cheviot ewes are crossed with the Bluefaced Leicester to produce Cheviot Mules, with around 50 shearling rams sold from the three breeds each year.
For two decades much of George’s time was spent away from the farm, working with the National Sheep Association (NSA).
“I was involved with NSA until 2019, which took me to meetings in Brussels, London and with the Scottish Government. I was often away three or four days a week.”
While this limited time for showing or marketing pedigree cattle, it sharpened George’s breeding focus.
“During that period, I concentrated on maternal traits. I enjoyed improving the Aberdeen Angus females quietly, rather than chasing sales or show results,” he said.
Why Aberdeen Angus?
George is clear why the breed suits his system.
“I’ve always been a big fan of the Angus. They’re great cows for many reasons – easy calving, easy fleshing and easy to keep. They don’t need a lot of feeding.”
Ease of management was especially important during the years George farmed largely alone.
“Calving ease has always been key. I wanted cows I wouldn’t need to intervene with. I want calves born with no stress, that get up and suckle quickly.”
“There’s nothing better than arriving in the shed and finding a healthy calf that has already suckled,” he adds.
“Hopefully I’m not tempting fate, but I genuinely can’t remember the last time I had to calve a cow – it must be at least 10 years.”
But then, George operates a simple feeding regime – cows don’t receive any concentrates only Crystalx mineral blocks.”
Temperament is another non-negotiable.
“I want a cow I can walk up to in the shed or the court and she’ll just stand. Quiet bulls breed quiet females – I really believe that.”
Structural soundness is equally important. “Feet and legs are hugely important. I like a bull with medium strength bone, good feet and balance.
“Not extreme size – just cattle that are easy to maintain, with good conformation and plenty of feminine Angus character that milk well.”
The Kinaldy herd is closed and is a member of SRUC Premium Cattle Health Scheme, being Johne’s Risk Level 1, BVD accredited, and vaccinated and tested for IBR and Lepto.
Renewed enthusiasm
Although showing took a back seat during George’s NSA years, the past 12 months have seen renewed interest, helped by enthusiastic stockmen.
Winning the breed championship at Fife Show last May with a young bull was a highlight.
And at Stars of the Future, the bull calf Kinaldy Jaguar Eric, stood second in his class while the heifer calf Kinaldy Jewel Erica, was fourth.
“That reignited the spark,” George admits.
“We hope to take both Jaguar Eric and Jewel Erica to some local shows this season.”
The herd also has a strong showring history. In 2006, Kinaldy sold the top-priced heifer at the Perth Bull Sales at 3800gns.
Another standout was Kinaldy Jewel Erica K126, which won her class at the Royal Highland Show in 2012, was selected for the team of four, and went on to be Angus champion at Perth later that year.
Eye before figures
When it comes to selection, George is unapologetically traditional.
“Figures are there as a tool, but I’m more old-fashioned. I rely on what I can see,” he says.
Having completed stockjudging with Young Farmers, he places high value on visual assessment.
“Stockjudging teaches you so much about what you’re looking for,” he says.
“I would never buy a bull purely on figures.”
Key traits include legs, milkiness and breed character. “I like a proper Angus head – traditional shape, not too big, with good hair.”
The herd calves from late March through to mid-May, indoors, with cows and calves turned out as soon as the weather allows.
Heifers are bulled to calve at three years of age.
Heifer calves retained for breeding receive Harbro creep feed from August until housing in October, before moving onto a forage-based system with constant access to minerals.
Haylage is fed ad-lib through the winter, made with contractors and with quality a priority.
Cows graze as one group, while bulls are summered separately to allow them to develop and move freely.
George is keen to avoid overfeeding bulls.
“I’m a great believer in feeding a small amount often. I never put bulls on ad-lib concentrates, other than their first few months on creep.
“From a buyer’s point of view, I want someone to buy a bull and find it keeps thriving – the same fella they saw in the ring.”
Bulls for Stirling
George has two bulls for Stirling, both by Promise Emperor.
Kinaldy Pele, a rising two-year-old, is out of a Kinaldy Princess cow and Kinaldy Jet Eric, a May 2024-born bull that was breed champion at Fife Show last year. His dam is Kinaldy Jewel Erica, and his pedigree includes his great grandsire, Balmachie Ben Vorlich.
“Ben Vorlich had a huge impact on the herd,” George explains. “He was bought privately in 2016 from John Lascelles and left some lovely, breedy females.”
George credits several men with shaping his stockmanship, including the late Jim Donald.
“He had a phenomenal natural eye,” George says. “He could take cattle from an ordinary system and really bring them out. I valued his visits enormously.”
Amongst sheep, the late Tommy Dun was a key mentors, encouraging his involvement with Cheviots and later the NSA.
Commenting on industry policy, George is clear. “I don’t think current policy has done enough to support suckler producers. When prices and costs rose, many took the chance to get out. Government should have secured the suckler herd then.”
“We have a world-renowned Scotch beef brand, yet numbers have shrunk dramatically. Skills and knowledge have been lost, and without a purposeful scheme, I don’t see numbers increasing significantly again.”
Despite this, George remains optimistic.
“Food security is more respected now. Beef and lamb demand is global, and Scotland has an incredible reputation. Aberdeen Angus fits perfectly with what the market wants.”
Looking forward, George plans to keep numbers steady, continue improving the overall quality and re-engage with showing.
“The enthusiasm is back,” he says.
“It’s the excitement of the next calf crop, the buzz of shows, the nerves on sale day – that’s what keeps it interesting.
“Above all, it’s about breeding cattle that quietly do the job the way I want them to,” George said.
