"The only way forward nowadays is to produce top quality animals – the type buyers want. And break out of tradition, take a risk and sell when trade is good. We’re aware the money never runs out for quality stock and we target to be among the day’s top 5% of suckled calf average prices. However it’s when and where we market that stock that can make the big difference to the bottom line, so we always keep our eyes open and ears to the ground before we make decisions."

Andrew farms with his wife Kate, and in partnership with his father John, Nether House Farm, a 320ha owner occupied unit at the bottom of Longsleddale valley just north of Kendal. The entire unit is in the Lake District Environmentally Sensitive Area and carries 60 suckler cows producing Charolais cross suckled calves, plus a complementary flock of 820 Swaledale ewes primarily for breeding Mule gimmers. It’s one of those hard hill farms rising to 1,100’ with going on 90" annual rainfall and where in wintering the cows spans from late October through to early May.

Take the Charolais cross suckled calves, they’re sold in spring on to a rising market after first BSP claim on steers and usually to repeat buyers. And Andrew stresses they haven’t been pushed. "They’re over wintered on silage and a quality blend fed at a minimal rate," he says. "In spring 2002 we sold 17, 10.5 month old steers to average £554, while 26, nine month old heifers sold to level at £445. However, trade was so hot we decided to sell some of our steers without a claim and a packet of 12 weighing 300kg at approximately seven months averaged £604. If we’d claimed on those steers, by the time the retention period was up in May we would have missed the peak prices, and they would have cost us a lot more to keep in labour, feed and bedding."

As far as the cattle enterprise is concerned, the Suttons are focused on maximizing the total number of kilos produced from their limited stocking rate each year and in the shortest period of time. And Charolais is helping them to achieve that goal.

"Why? Because there’s more money to be made from Charolais crosses than any other breed of suckled calf," Andrew says. "We have run other Continental crosses along side our Charolais crosses, however, we’ve found when it comes to weight for age, the Charolais cross steers always take the lead by an average extra 50kg at 10.5 months, while the Charolais cross heifers must never be under rated, they’re never far behind. Translate that weight to cash and add the fact Charolais cross calves display tremendous conformation and it’s obvious why the breed remains unbeatable."

It was John Sutton who introduced Charolais to Nether House in the late 1960’s. In fact he pioneered the breed in the region after observing Charolais had the potential to bring massive performance improvement to the beef industry over traditional native Angus and Hereford terminal sires. In the early years the Suttons used sons of Argent, one of the most successful Charolais bulls at the time for commercial production.

Since, the father and son team have become increasingly selective when they search out a new herd sire. They acknowledge the fact nowadays he is amounting to more than half the herd as the Holstein influence becomes more apparent amount the suckler cow population.

"Our priority is to find a bull that will leave those uniform high quality calves sought after by finishers – ones with good back ends, length and that are clean through the belly. Then, we’ll take a look at his figures." The Sutton’s current herd sire is Limestone Polo with a Beef Value of CH41 which puts him in the top 1% for the breed as far as performance is concerned, and it’s a value which is being reflected in his calves’ growth rates, says Andrew.

With only one Charolais stock bull to run with the sucklers, they’re split in to small groups for management purposes and calving is staggered in three distinct blocks commencing March, May and July. "Each group is scheduled to calve within a tight six week period. Any cows which don’t scan in calf are moved on to the next group and by the end of the breeding season, if any aren’t in calf then they’re down the road – we aim for a 100 calving percentage of cows put to the bull - we can’t afford to carry any passengers." In fact the Suttons apply the same policy to the sheep enterprise. Last season 98% of the Swaledale ewes put to the tup scanned in lamb.