Our Cattle
Our History
The Drumphin Aberdeen Angus herd was started in 2002 by Jo and Osla Guest. From the outset the breeding objective was to have a traditional type of cattle and so a “starter pack” of 14 “half Native” heifers and a bull was sourced from Geordie and Julia Soutar at Dunlouise. The simple thinking was and remains that a cow is a ruminant with a digestive system best suited to efficient use of grass and not grain.
The herd now comprises 190 pedigree Aberdeen Angus breeding cows of which half are at present Natives with the remainder being “Half Natives”.
Native Aberdeen Angus Cattle
Native Aberdeen Angus cattle with no imported bloodlines are the direct genetic descendents of the original nineteenth century Aberdeen Angus breed. The genetics of Native cattle have not been diluted by imported bloodlines introduced in the 1970’s with the objective of making Aberdeen Angus cattle more like the grain finished continental breeds which had become fashionable at that time. The original Aberdeen Angus cattle have deep bodies with a digestive system able to cope with large volumes of forage and convert it into high quality marbled beef. The marbling or intra muscular fat has the added benefit of making the cattle hardy and able to live out in adverse weather conditions. The true Native Angus has a wide short head which as well as being aesthetically pleasing flows through into a wide deep body with a top like a wide thick table.
In the 1990’s there were so few live Native Aberdeen Angus cattle that they were classified as endangered by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust with only a few dedicated breeders keeping small herds.
Geordie Soutar gathered together animals from all the remaining Native cow families into the Dunlouise herd and has reversed the decline of the Natives and promoted their qualities so that numbers are now increasing as the economic benefits and breed character of the true Angus cattle are once again being appreciated.
Natives are now a recognised distinct type of Aberdeen Angus identified as such by the Aberdeen Angus Cattle Society. Native cattle can be selected on the cattle search function on the Society website and are marked as “Native Bred” on the Society pedigree certificates. Native Aberdeen Angus are ideally suited to production of high quality beef. They are also suitable for low input regenerative farming systems and for conservation grazing.
Breeds we use.
At Drumphin, we've consistently favored Native Angus bulls, though we’ve trialed larger modern types. The results—calving difficulties, higher feed needs, harder-to-maintain body condition, and shorter productive lifespans—confirmed our belief in the superior performance of Native Angus. This experience solidified our herd policy: focus on quality Native and half Native cattle. Our herd includes stock from six of the nine Native cow families, including Jipsey, Juana Erica, Cherry Blossom, Kindness Prides, Eulima, and Nell of Aldbar.
Crossing Native Angus with modern Angus has also proven effective, producing “half Native” cattle that combine the thickness and manageability of Natives with the larger size of modern Angus, likely benefiting from hybrid vigor. Native bulls, tightly bred, reliably pass on their traits, improving overall stock quality.
Drumphin’s herd has gained from exceptional Native genetics sourced from Dunlouise, Champagne, Spinningloch, Laverstoke, and Craigowmill herds. With most calving in spring, alongside smaller summer and autumn groups, the herd is managed using six stock bulls to ensure quality and consistency
The management system aims to minimise concentrate feeding. It does not include any creep feeding of calves. Summer and autumn born calves are not weaned until 9-10 months old. Due to the practical limitations of housing space, spring born calves are weaned at 8-7 months old. The spring born calves are fed a small amount of rolled barley (1.5kg/head) in their first winter. The other main use of concentrate is as “bait” so that stock can be easily moved by a single person between fields following a bag to minimise handling stress. .
Dunlouise Enterprise U692.
Dunlouise Clova Brig W747
Dunlouise Mr Brexit V706
Craigowmill Knight X355
Craigowmill Jipsey Pyman W253
Drumphin Kelso X210
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Bulls used at present include:
Dunlouise Enterprise U692. DOB 15.08.2018. Pure Native bull out of Dunlouise Ejeta N508 and by Dunlouise Newtyle S610. An exceptionally powerfull Native bull producing high quality heifers combining thickness with weight.
Dunlouise Mr Brexit V706 DOB 08.03.2019. Pure Native bull out of Dunlouise Miss Bonny R593 and by Dunlouise Newtyle S610. His first crop of calves born autumn 2022 look very promising.
Dunlouise Clova Brig W747 DOB 17.05.2020. Pure Native bull out of Laverstoke Candy Blossom T909 and by Dunlouise Jipsey Triumph T659. His first calves born spring 2023 have great potential.
Dunlouise Proud Glamis V714. DOB 02.05.2019. Out of Dunlouise Proud Grace R595 and by Dunlouise Newtyle S610. A ¾ Native bull with good length producing quality calves.
Craigowmill Kop V228 . DOB 17.04.2019. Out Dunlouise Kora R577 and by Craigowmill Black Mamba S946. A powerful half Native bull producing larger calves but retaining Native character.
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Bulls used in the past include:
Dunlouise Missouri C080. DOB 11.03.2003. Pedigree includes R R Rito 707 and Papa Equator 2928. His dam was Dunlouise Millie Z012. Missouri was an exceptionally powerful thickset bull from whom many of our cows are descended.
Dunlouise County Beau H25. DOB 14.01.2008. A pure Native bull with tremendous thickness out of Dunlouise Cherry Blossom Diana D99 and by Roberto of Newcroft ZAP.W1.22.
Dunlouise Eclipse K357. DOB 02.02.2010. A pure Native bull out of Dunlouise Elissa A022 and by Dunlouise Cortachy Boy D137.
Drumphin Josiah Eric. K190 DOB 03.03.2010. an exceptionally powerful thickset bull out of Lady Croft Jewel Erica A088 and by Dunlouise Missouri.
Ladywell Ermus M173.BOB 21.03.2012. A moderate sized thickset bull out of Ladywell Elaine E071 and by Netherton Figo C244.
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A select number of the best Native calves are kept for bulls.
Bulling heifers both Native and half Native
Steers as forward stores.
Aberdeen Angus Stock for Sale
A select number of the best Native calves are kept for bulls.
Bulling heifers, both Native and half Native Steers as forward stores.
Get in touch.
If you are looking for Native Aberdeen Angus cows reared in the best, sustainable conditions in Scotland then get in touch with us using the below form, or give us a call.