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Sourcing an easy managed, easy calving cow that requires minimal inputs is far from straight forward when the industry is awash with various native and continentals, but by focussing on home-bred Sim Luings, the Simmers are confident they have found the answer for their farming enterprise. The family s 5000acres of mixed arable and grassland based at Backmuir Farm, Keith, and Mains of Cairnbrogie, Oldmeldrum, is home to some 600plus suckler cows, but with margins already cut to the bone and limited staff, such females have to be docile and be able to produce sufficient milk to rear a good calf every year.
The hardy characteristics of the Luing female are proving key to the success of Robert McCarlie’s suckler cow herd at Wester Hassockrigg, Harthill. “We have a lot of rough ground and with the high rainfall, it doesn’t make life easy. Being in such an exposed area and a dreich part of the country, it is challenging but the farm can grow good grass in the summer. “This is why we depend on the Luing and Sim-Luing for their hardiness and good temperament– we would struggle to find another maternal breed as good. The Sim-Luing provides the best of both worlds, having the hardiness as well as the power to produce a strong store calf,” added Robert, who has run Luings for over 20 years on the farm in between trialling various other breeds.