Winner of the '2011 Intermediate Herd Competition' Winner of 'Best Young Bull Registered During 2011' The Piper Herd was founded on 10th September 1986 when three Sussex cows with calves at foot were purchased from the Brundrett Herd for my 21st Birthday. This was a dream come true, as from a young boy, I had dreamt of owning and farming the beautiful Sussex Cattle I had admired regularly at the County Shows and read about in various books. The herd was quickly expanded with limited resources to 10 breeding cows with followers and a breed development bull. However the difficult financial climate of the time (BSE etc.) sadly resulted in the herd being dispersed in the Spring of 1990. 17 years later to the day, I was fortunate enough to realize my dream for a second time when I started a new herd with the purchase of two fabulous in calf cows with calves at foot, Poplars Heedless 33rd & Poplars Darkey 81st, which were acquired from Mrs Laurel Stevens. They became the foundation cows of my herd and their blood lines are in at least 40% of my current breeding stock. In 2006, I acquired Squids Gate Farm and purchased The Beechbrook Herd from a close friend Heather Murat, when she emigrated to France. The two herds had good synergy, being traditional types and having shared the same sires (courtesy of Roger Dunn) for the past 3 years and all running with polled calves at foot. Pictured right, Beechbrook Fairmaid 9th. In addition, I purchased five heifers from Roger Dunn's Goldstone Herd, as these heifers were also sired by the bull we had been using, Katawampus 1st of Goldstone. In 2009, I purchased five pedigree cattle at the Society Autumn Sale and at the same time, decided to join the Biobest, CHeCS & Laser health schemes. Whilst my herd registered completely clear of IBR, BVD, Leptospirosis & Johne's, the new additions to my horror tested positive as carriers of IBR antibodies! Although not actually infected with the disease, they or their parents at some time had encountered it. I was advised that without necessarily showing any symptoms, these cattle could become contagious at any time, so rather than jeopordise the health of the whole herd, these animals were immediately disposed of; along with all of the cattle that had been running closely with them. In addition to causing much anguish, this experience had a considerable financial impact on the business as the cattle were all sold at significant losses! Despite further trials and tribulations including an RTA whereby our truck and livestock trailer were written off and sadly, the bull which we were transporting badly injured on the A2; we have finally managed to turn our fortunes around and are now forging ahead with our breeding plans. The Piper Herd currently holds 'Elite High Health Accreditation' having tested three times clear of BVD, IBR, Johne's and Lepto and also tested free from TB in 2010. During 2010, I purchased Regent 2nd of Goldstone (polled) in partnership with fellow Sussex breeder Mr Martin Wilson (pictured) who owns the Greenway Herd in Aylesford, Maidstone. Martin's herd also carries the Biobest Elite High Health Accreditation and our partnership works very well, meaning that as well as shared values for our respective herds, we are able to share the costs and the work load. The challenges of owning a bull can be daunting for small herd owners but ownership does offer many benefits and based on my experience with AI, I would strongly recommend bull sharing to other small breeders. We have also found that by combining finances, we were able to purchase the very best bull available; for effectively half the price! Martin calves his herd through January & February and I calve during April & May so there is no clash in our requirements for the bull, a point which obviously needs to be firmly agreed before entering into any such agreement. In 2007 I commenced routine weight recording of my cattle and in 2011 joined the Signet Beef Breeder programme. It was most unexpected but very rewarding to see two of my young bulls positioned 5th & 7th overall in the Signet Promising Young Bulls EBV Catagory for Sussex in 2011. Pictured opposite at 367 days and 558 kg's is 7th placed Piper Poll Duke 1st - Sold to L Stevens & Sons. For the future, our plans are to retain the high health status, maintain breeding female numbers at 15 - 20 head plus followers and continue the development of the polled genetics; utilising the data available from the Signet Beefbreeder programme to continue improvements to the performance and conformation of the herd. The challenge will be sourcing High Health Status, Polled bulls with EBV's in the top 1%. Between Martin Wilson and I, we intend introducing a new Polled 'blood line' into the Sussex Herd using a top rated polled Red Angus or Limousine bull. For the time being, our policy is to sell privately but it is hoped that Hobbs Parker (the official Society auctioneers) will shortly be able to fully accomodate High Health Status Cattle whereby we will be able to sell at the Society sponsored events. Finally I should like to thank Heather Murat and Roger Dunn who both provided invaluable support and guidance throughout the early stages of establishing my herd. Without the influence of Goldstone genetics on the herd, we would be no where near as far advanced with the polling and average beef values that we are now recording via Signet.
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