David Henderson is focused on producing those high performance, high quality Charolais cross calves. They’re the type that are already meeting an insatiable demand from finishers operating exemplary systems of the near future post CAP Reform and finishing steers to target weight within 17 months. And with a commendable gross margin within SAC’s top costed herds at £386 per cow, David’s high output low cost system is one for the future.

Furthermore, David bred the 2003 Scottish National Winter Fair supreme champion, Gemma, a 15 month Charolais cross heifer by Carradale Neptune that he sold two months earlier in Caledonian Mart, Stirling for £2,000 to father and son team, Ewan and Donald MacPherson, of Oban and Berwick-on-Tweed respectively.

David farms Auchenrivoch, a 350 acre owner occupier LFA grassland farm at Banton, Kilsyth with a further 150 acres of rented grass. The unit carries an 80 cow suckler herd, all of which is put to the Charolais and a complementary flock of 800 ewes kept primarily for breeding Scotch Mules.

Auchenrivoch bred Charolais cross calves are virtually guaranteed to be within the day’s top 5% of averages in Stirling, at Caledonian Mart’s September sales, and this year was no exception. A total of 52 lots averaging 11 months of age sold to average £546.72. That packet was split between steers sold after first BSP claim at an average 440kgs and heifers leveling at 400kgs. That’s not all. David offered the real cream of the crop, another four Charolais crosses with Christmas fatstock show potential, they each sold at four figures to a top of £2,000 bringing his overall average for the day to £604.10.

Earlier on in the season, those same Auchenrivoch calves swung the judges’ decision and David was presented with the Scottish and Northern Charolais Breeders/Bank of Scotland Suckler Herd of the Year 2003 award. Master judge, Colin Campbell of Thrunton, Alnwick described David’s calves as ‘extremely consistent, they were well fleshed, they were well muscled and they were carrying the meat in the right places. Moreover these quality calves are consistently meeting finishers’ requirements in the marketplace, as well as buyers seeking potential winners to prepare for showing at the coming winter events.’

A sample of some of the prize winning cattle bred by the Hendersons

Proof of the pudding can be found in Auchenrivoch’s customers, the majority of which are repeat buyers. Take for example Alan Turnbull who finishes 500 head a year at Meadowend, Clackmannan, Stirling. "David’s Charolais crosses are the type we like, they’re of consistent quality and they suit our buyers," he explains. "We buy in suckled calves to finish to target weight as quickly as possible – steers at up to 650kgs at 17 months old and heifers at between 500kgs and 550kgs at 15 to 16 months. By finishing steers prior to second BSP claim we’re able to increase our headage throughput by two to three times."

David is even more confident of his suckler enterprise once CAP Reform is introduced in January 2005 giving beef producers that freedom to farm. "The signs are already out in the marketplace that Charolais cross calves will be in even greater demand. Charolais crosses consistently achieve at least an extra 50kg liveweight over other Continental crosses of the same age, a factor which will certainly be taken into account by finishers at the ringside, like Alan, who are seeking to take their beasts through to target weight as quickly as possible, and grade in the specification enabling them to double annual throughput of steers and subsequent margins."

Charolais has been thoroughly tried and tested at Auchenrivoch for more than 25 years. David’s parents, David and Nanette, had witnessed Charolais’ impact at Allanfauld, their next door unit and they decided they too wanted a slice of the action. "We have since tried other Continental sires, however nothing in our experience can rival Charolais’ performance," David explains. "Nothing can touch Charolais crosses and their weight for age combined with quality conformation. They’re as easy to calve as any other breed and they’ve a good working temperament."

It’s now over to David when it comes to choosing a complementary Charolais bull to put over the unit’s low maintenance black cows. "He’s got to have outstanding hind quarters, length, top line and be very clean through the middle. I like to check out his dam’s conformation, and then like everyone I need that bit of luck," he says.

Auchenrivoch’s low cost winter feeding regime makes a significant contribution to the enterprise’s gross margins. "Cows are housed from 1 December and fed a mix of grass silage, straw, draff and minerals which costs £111 per cow over a period of up to seven months. We used to feed a proprietory concentrate, however the cows were never satisfied, so tried swapping with draff and we’ve never looked back - I cannot over emphasise the benefits of draff," he explains.

"Draff is a high energy protein product which satisfies the cows’ appetites and it helps to maintain milk supply and overall condition throughout the housing period so they’re fit but never fat." The Henderson’s have sufficient clamp capacity to buy in draff in spring and take advantage of the low seasonal price – it’s up to 100% cheaper than buying six months later.

When it comes to the calves, supplementary feed costs work out at an average £64.20 a head, a figure David says is a touch too high, however he firmly believes in offering well presented calves through the ring. Autumn born calves are fed restricted creep comprising a coarse mix throughout the winter housing period. After April turn out they thrive on milk and grass until restricted creep is introduced in June through to weaning at point of sale.

David’s interest in producing those classy Charolais cross calves with winning potential goes back to school days when his parents gave him the opportunity to take his own calves and sheep out and experience that show ring buzz.

"We’ve always believed that Charolais had the potential to sire fatstock show ring winners demonstrating those top quality characteristics – well filled hind quarter muscling, clean gut and brisket, good legs and locomotion rounded off with superb style. And during the last decade that’s proved to be the case," he says. "Each year we’ve bred one or two calves that have gone on to be among the tickets at both national and regional events." Breeding those top notch beasts is gaining momentum for David and producing the Scottish National Winter Fair champion in November was not a first time experience. Back in 1999, another Charolais cross heifer, bred at Auchenrivoch – this time the 14 month old Banton Babe secured the same prestigious award.