Paul manages a 65 cow suckler herd running at over 1,000’ on a tenanted high hill unit in Cumbria. The entire herd is put to the Charolais leaving steer calves at an average 420kg in 12 months and same age heifers, an average 380kg. "Our Charolais cross calves have a natural head start over all other Continental crosses – they weigh on average 30kg to 50kg heavier at point of sale in the store ring, and that weight pays. They’ve also got great conformation – just the type finishers are currently seeking," he says. "In fact I reckon if the suckler cow population continues to fall, then Charolais cross calves will be in even greater demand by finishers in the eastern counties."

Paul set out farming livestock in partnership with his parents, David and Marjorie at Cracrop, Brampton, however determined to farm in his own right, two years ago he secured the tenancy of Scalehouses End Farm, Renwick, near Penrith, a 680 acre traditional livestock rearing unit which rises to 2,000’ and carries a complementary flock of 950 ewes primarily for breeding Mule gimmer lambs.

Since, he has focused on producing and marketing top quality added value stock. "We’re dedicated to farming, and we firmly believe that maximizing output from minimum inputs is the future for this unit," he says. "We’re aiming to be among the day’s top 10% of average prices for both suckled calves and lambs, we’re paying attention to detail which we know is critical to that success, and we’re getting there."

Earlier on in 2003, some of the first calves from Scalehouses End sold through the ring in Carlisle with 12 month old steers levelling at £525, and same age heifers averaging just over £440. "Charolais doesn’t just leave us with the odd one or two top flight calves, but a consistent quality crop," he says.

The Stobart’s success doesn’t stop in the ring. Paul who farms with his wife, Libby headed up the small herds section in the Border Charolais Pfizer Suckler Herd of the Year Award 2003. According to judge Donald MacDougall, Wigton and formerly of Linkins: "Paul’s Charolais cross calves were extremely consistent throughout in size and quality, they had good back ends and length, they were clean through the belly and had grown frame to hang muscle on and achieve the highest volume of quality cuts."

Establishing a quality suckler herd from scratch presented the couple with a real challenge. "We were looking for good, solid commercial breeding cows requiring low maintenance, and we were very fortunate to have the opportunity to buy privately two separate herds in which the Holstein influence was minimal. One herd even came complete with a Charolais bull bred at Cracrop by myself and dad," explains Paul.

"Buying in the two herds from known sources of origin also minimized disease risk and they settled in well," he says. "And from our previous experience of working with Charolais as a terminal sire, we were confident to introduce the breed not only to leave a crop of high performance calves, but also ones that are quiet and easy to manage – essential when I’m working single handed."

Cows calve down from March over a tight eight week period and they’re left to get on with calving themselves. Immediately afterwards, they’re turned out with their calves which are managed on milk and rough pasture until weaning at winter housing in late October early November when they’re introduced to silage and restricted creep.

On housing both cow and calves are wormed with the broad-spectrum endectocide, Dectomax Pour-On which offers late season long-acting parasite control against lungworm, stomach and gut worms in a single treatment, and means that his cattle are guaranteed lice free all winter, a practice which Paul says fits in well with his low input management regime "I employ contractors for silage making otherwise this is a one man unit, so I’m always looking for ways to save time and labour, and a pour on wormer is proving to be ideal as well as effective in killing worms and lice," he explains.