Grass fed – no fuss – maximising meat from forage
We aim to farm in natures image.
We select for profitable cattle that help us to acheive this goal.
Fertility
We must breed animals that find the energy cost of reproductive success well within the
boundaries of the available environment.
Seasons change but we must maintain fertility!
That means animals with a low energy requirement for maintenance with plenty left for
reproduction.
Maternal Traits
We do not solely focus on high performance traits such as growth rates as this often comes at the cost of profitability.
We focus on profit per acre, not production.
Your costs come from your cows, thatʼs why we select for fertility and maternal traits.
Growth can come from a terminal line to meet market needs.
Nutrition
Our cows must bring a marketable calf to the business every year on a solely forage-based diet. Our cattle are grazed throughout the year on species-rich grasslands with hay fed outside in the winter. If our cows do not work in this system they leave the herd.
Our bulls are tested as much as our cows. Following weaning, they are turned out to pasture as one bull mob, and it is the post-weaning year that we really test our bulls to see which hold condition off grass and a bit of hay - nothing else.
Functional Efficiency
We focus on profitable traits that will work in your herd.
Maternal
Fertility
Calving ease
Rumen capacity
Forage utilisation
Endocrine function
Thermal equilibrium
High levels of disease and parasite tolerance
Temperament
Disposition
Temperament is performance tested. Strict selection processes prevent the re-breeding of livestock with any aggression or nervousness.
Labour Efficiency
Labour efficient cattle allow us to increase the number of animals run per labour unit in the farm business. We aim for problem-free cattle.
Total Environment
At the moment of conception, the breed characteristics are determined. However, these characteristics can be modified by the interaction with the total environment - including the environment the foetus is exposed to.
You can therefore influence your animals' potential through your choice of genetic investment and the environment you expose your animals to, also known as epigenetics.
Genetics + Environment = Animals Potential
At Phepson, we breed cattle that work for you
KAISER, Senior Herd Sire
Semen straws available for UK and International export.
Your opportunity to buy into our programme
Excellent producer of easy-calving, fertile, moderate females for grass production
Will reduce frame size while still maintaining commercial scale.
Extremely fertile Bull - producing over 1000 straws per jump on collection on several occasions (bulls usually produce 150 - 350 straw per jump)
Line bred 4 times to Champion Bull "Evesund of Dupplin" who was known as the "Great Fixer of Udders"
We find Kaiser will correct poor udder structure in the 1st cross/generation
Huge rumen capacity - weighs 1000kg in working clothes - 53 inches at the hip
Kaiser is the foundation of our maternal bull lines, and is now available to you
Semen straws and genetics available for UK and
International export.
Kaiser
"Kaiser" translates as "King" in German and he is certainly the King of our maternal bull line. Bred by Andy Humphries who spent a lifetime committed to breeding the Native Angus for correct structure and commercially acceptable frame size. Andy used line breeding to clear out any genetic problems and today we benefit from his lifetime of work allowing us to breed Kaiser to his daughters with confidence.
With such a huge growth in grass-fed/regenerative production in the UK there is growing
awareness that as well as the right plant genetics, we also need the right animal genetics. If you want to reduce frame size and produce a really thrifty fertile female to fit these kinds of systems then Kaiser is the bull for you.
"We chose Kaiser to bring down frame size and make a really good grass cow for our transition to a regenerative grazing system. This farm has had fertility issues in the past and we chose Kaiser to help us improve that."
Matt Grifin - Farm Manager, 3000 acre Benson Wemyss Estate near Peebles Scotland.
Contact us
Contact Rob or Lizzie for a straws order form.
Rob - 07973771832
Lizzie - 07799127066
Come and see us at Groundswell!
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