An easily managed, low input cow that suits the system at Commonside is the name of the game for the Cakebread family’s Luing cattle herd at Hawick. Fiona and Graham Cakebread are the third generation to look after the running of Commonside, along with their three daughters Caitlyn (11) Amy (9) and Lucy (3), with Fiona’s mother, Kirsty, is still involved in the business. The 80 Luing cattle and 1400 Cheviots run over 2500 acres, to a top of 1300ft above sea level.
The hill reaches 1300ft above sea level at Commonside “The Luings suit the ground here as they are ideal to manage our type of hill grazing. She is an extremely hardy, good natured and a milky mother that can rear a strong calf in any weather for a competitive commercial market,” commented Graham. The family also have a full time cattle man, Martin Steel, to help maintain the herd’s high standards.