Scottish Borders beef producer Rob Forrest admits he is "upbeat" about the future for beef.

"While the impact of imported supplies can never be underestimated I’m confident that beef produced in Scotland will continue to build on its existing reputation among British consumers. And it’s our reputation for quality and consistency which must form the foundation of an export trade for Scottish beef."

Rob Forrest has a 200 cow Simmental x Angus herd in the Scottish Borders

Mr Forrest, whose suckler-bred beef output hinges heavily on the influence of the Simmental, says even more effort should be put into the promotion of Scottish beef and believes full traceability must continue to underpin consumer confidence.

"All producers must ensure that beef bearing the Scottish label is totally traceable and do everything they can to support this market. It’s essential that we retain adequate slaughtering and processing facilities in Scotland to cope with the beef we produce.

"But I’m concerned that the mid-term review could lead to both farmers and processors being squeezed out of the industry. It would be a terrible blow to Scotland if that happened; we have national and international recognition for our beef but we must maintain output to justify the continued success of the brand name," says Mr Forrest.

His 1400-acre farm at Preston, near Duns carries 200 suckler cows - Simmental-cross and Aberdeen Angus-cross - and 100 ewes. The farm has around 800 acres of arable land growing winter wheat, spring and winter barley, milling oats, oilseed rape and peas.

No bought-in concentrates are fed with the exception of minerals. Rations for suckler cows and finishing cattle are based on homegrown barley and peas.

"Using only home-grown feed has been a gradual change for us but it’s part of our desire to become more sustainable as well as providing full traceability of all rationing."

But that’s not been the only change in recent years. The loss of the 1000-ewe breeding flock during the foot and mouth outbreak prompted re-structuring of the business. Only 100 ewes have been replaced. Pre-foot and mouth the majority of calves were sold as stores; now all calves are finished.

"The way the subsidy system is geared and the fact that we have the forage acres would probably have enforced changes without the impact of foot and mouth. In fact I can see us steadily increasing the suckler cows at the expense of arable acres. We have increased the herd by 50 cows over the last 18 months."

The suckler herd’s future breeding policy will concentrate on producing home-bred replacements by a criss-cross programme combining Simmental and Aberdeen Angus.

Mr Forrest has been a long-time supporter of the Simmental and runs the Preston herd. It was among the first Simmental herds to be established in the UK – under the family’s original Stuartslaw prefix - and was founded on seven cows from the initial importation in 1970.

"The Simmental, above all other beef breeds, is facing a great opportunity to make its mark in the British beef industry. It can offer beef producers the high growth rates required in profitable finishing cattle but can also overcome the biggest hurdle facing so many suckler herd owners – to provide a supply of quality replacement females.

"Those who rely on buying-in herd-replacements are finding it increasingly difficult to source heifers of the right calibre, disease free and in sufficient quantity and that’s why more suckler herd owners will have to consider breeding their own. The trade at the February Perth sale where 113 bulls of the 131 sold stayed in Scotland confirms the trend.

"Through Signet’ BLUP recording Simmental breeders have been working hard on maternal trait selection but the breed has lost none of its beefing and growth-rate qualities along the way. You can play the Simmental both ways and win," says Mr Forrest.

There are around 15 pedigree Simmental cows in the Preston herd and although it was a regular consignor of bulls to Perth most sales are now ex-farm.

"There will inevitably be changes in the breed. We need a more practical animal, more compact in size but showing good shape and retaining her maternal traits. Simmental cattle are moving in that direction as the MLC/SAC Suckler Cow Trial shows where pure-bred cows are averaging 670kg – well down from the 900kg we used to see."

Two thirds of Mr Forrest’s commercial suckler herd calves in the spring starting in mid-March with just 40-50 late September-October calving cows. After weaning the housed cows are fed a straw-based diet through the winter plus bruised barley and whole peas – about 2kg a head a day.

"We feel we have more control over the in-calf cows with a spring calving herd and can keep condition off them during the winter."

Around 150 head of spring 2002-born calves have been over-wintered in the converted sheep shed and fed Ag-Bag grass silage – around 1000 tonnes was made last year. The calves are fed ad-lib silage and 1kg of concentrate a day. Finishing costs are based on 15kg silage a day (18p a head) plus 6kg of home-grown barley and peas (41p a head).

"We aim to start drawing steers for slaughter from October through until early spring. The best 50% of the heifer calves will be retained as replacements and the rest finished.

"We’re aiming for a marketable deadweight of 330-340kg for steers and 250-270kg for heifers. We are currently selling the 2001-born spring calves and will follow that with the remainder autumn-born calves. We’d like to be selling prime cattle into a premium market for nine months of the year."

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