Special celebrations to mark the 150th edition of The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society Herd Book received the Royal seal of approval from His Majesty King Charles III.

The King, who is patron of the Society, attended the unveiling of the 150th Herd Book at Ballindalloch Castle, Banffshire, on Friday, August 14.

Ballindalloch is the third ever recorded herd of Aberdeen-Angus cattle and was a fitting place for the 150th Herd Book, which was first published in 1862, to be unveiled as part of The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society’s ‘150 and Beyond’ celebrations.

And while the event celebrated the rich history of the breed, new figures from AHDB have pointed to the growing commercial relevance of the Aberdeen-Angus brand as it looks to the future.

Robert Gilchrist, Chief Executive of The Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society, says: “The breed has deep connections with the Royal Family, with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother being its patron for a remarkable 65 years.

“To have His Majesty The King at the unveiling of the 150th Herd Book was a special occasion and highlights the lasting legacy and appeal of such an iconic breed.

“However, this summer’s celebrations are not just about looking to the past, they are about building on those strong foundations to ensure that Aberdeen-Angus remains the most recognisable and trusted beef brand among both consumers and farmers.”

Mr Gilchrist points to consumer data from AHDB which puts awareness of Aberdeen-Angus at 85% among those surveyed, with this being the highest level recorded in four years.

He adds: “Aberdeen-Angus is, by some distance, the most recognised named beef breed in Britain and perhaps even the world. This may have been built over 150 Herd Books but it is far from just nostalgia. It shows how the breed and the Aberdeen-Angus brand is constantly evolving to meet the needs of consumers, both at retail and food service level.

“This demand is also backed up in the supply chain where Aberdeen-Angus and Aberdeen-Angus-cross cattle made up 29% of all prime cattle killed in Great Britain in 2025, making it the single most popular breed category in the country.”

With strong supply from both the dairy and suckler beef sectors, Mr Gilchrist says the Society is well placed to ensure processors and retailers can find the consistency, efficiency and credible provenance they demand.

“The ‘150 and Beyond’ programme has been important as we recognise the legacy of our forebears, but it is essential we make the most of the exciting opportunities which exist in the modern landscape,” Mr Gilchrist adds.

“Ensuring we maintain production efficiency and enabling retailers to maintain eating quality for consumers is absolutely key as we move forward.”