Toplines and Tales

Podcast about all things to do with livestock, past and present, including interviews, discussions and general chitchat.

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Episodes

118 - Characters in Livestock - Geordie Soutar

Geordie Soutar and his family have made it a passion to preserve the Native lines of Angus cattle that could trace origins back to the original herd books. Looking back at a type of cattle that would finish off grass they soon found their genetics were sought after world-wide. With bulls like Dunlouise Jipsey Earl, the Native Angus is now represented in many countries and Geordie has suitably been rewarded for his work with an OBE.

Feb 24, 2023•46 min•Ep. 119

117 - Wellbeing special - Farmstrong

An episode everyone should listen to, we chat to New Zealand dairy farmer Marc Gascoigne about the mental health struggles he suffered some years ago and how the Farmstrong organization helped him through. Now one of their ambassadors, he reveals how Farmstong started in New Zealand 8 years ago, covering the whole topic of wellbeing in the agricultural community. With the company currently running a series of talks throughout Scotland, we are also joined Farmstrong Scotland’s chairman, John Scot...

Feb 17, 2023•53 min•Ep. 118

116 - Characters in Livestock - Garrett Behan

Top Irish Simmental breeder Garrett Behan is an extremely hard man to get past, both at sales and shows. With the Clonagh and Jennalyn herds both churning out top stock that are highly in demand, he talks us through his journey from just one cow to selling the current record priced Simmental bull. Also winner of the coveted Miss World with Clonagh Darling Eyes, Garrett now holds an annual online sale, due shortly.

Feb 10, 2023•50 min•Ep. 117

115 - Special episode - Tales from the lambing shed

Another special episode this week hears me host an online webinar to 200 guests, direct from the lambing sheds of two of Scotland's leading sheep breeders, Robert Laird from Cambwell and Finlay MacIntyre from Dunalistair Estate. In conjunction with Harbro we chat through the challenges of lambing, with these two knowledgeable guys offering a whole host of free advice to sheep breeders of all levels..

Feb 03, 2023•57 min•Ep. 116

114 - Perth Bull Sales Special

Yet another first at Toplines and Tales as we go visual for the first time. This weeks podcast charts the history of the iconic Perth Bull Sales in conjunction with a simultaneous YouTube video portraying hundreds of photos of the subjects mentioned. Please visit Youtube and look for Toplines and Tales, episode 114. Or follow this link. https://youtu.be/W58DZ42mWbQ Please also click the button to subscribe to our channel.

Jan 27, 2023•25 min•Ep. 115

113 - Characters in Livestock - Cammy Wilson

A great fun chat with Cammy Wilson from the phenomenally successful YouTube Channel, The sheep Game. His passion for the industry shines through from the outset as we discuss some personal stuff and move on to what we can all do for farmer’s mental health. The time flies by as a host of subjects of all things sheep come and go as we get an insight into what makes one man evolve into a household word in our industry in such a short space of time.

Jan 22, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 114

112 - Modern Livestock Operations - Graham Gilmore, Tattykeel

Just how do you go about designing and creating a new top-quality breed of sheep to suit the modern world? Our guest Graham Gilmore of the Tattykeel stud in Australia has done just that, breaking just about every record in the book in the process including making 240,000 dollars for one ram. With statements like ‘people are hungry, not cold’ the Tattykeel Australian White not only sheds its wool, thrives in all climates, but produces some of the finest restaurant-quality meat in the world due to...

Jan 13, 2023•58 min•Ep. 113

111 - Characters in Livestock - Pete Dowlman

We pay homage to a well known character and cattleman I had massive respect for, sadly recently deceased, Peter (Piccolo) Dowlman. Although a humble man, his ability with animals and people made him a great friend and mentor to many over his long lifespan, particularly among Hereford and Angus breeds. His son Paul and I chat about his achievements as well as some of the craic that was had in his presence.

Jan 06, 2023•28 min•Ep. 112

110 - Characters in Livestock - Major David Walter

Not just for the Charolais purists, we end the year with probably my most enjoyable interview to date with one of life’s really great characters, (Major) David Walter. Although his family has been at Balthayock for a few hundred years, we hear about his fascinating younger days in the forces and the city, including playing polo with our current King. Although his very first cow got torpedoed by some Italians, David speaks of an early passion for the Charolais breed and buying a bull at auction f...

Dec 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 111

109 - Christmas Special

This week along with a few mates, Scott, Derek and Andrew, all of whom are fellow commentators at the Royal Highland Show, we roll out the Christmas drink and have a laugh, as well as some serious chat. We start by mentioning a few great folks that the industry has lost over the past year. When we get to big Doddie it opens up a discussion about the fact that many great rugby players were and are farmers. A random chat about using crossbred rams leaves us divided although the concept Scott raise...

Dec 23, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 110

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