Loyalty is becoming something of a unique characteristic in business but it a two-way relationship which lorry driver Sandy Paul (68) and his employers Ross Brothers, Strichen, have enjoyed for just shy of 47 years.
Just last week, Sandy handed his HGV keys back to Allan and Gavin Ross, after some 45 years of driving one of two livestock lorries up and down the country for the family business established in 1950.
His agricultural career started straight out if school when he went to work at Milton Farm, Craigellachie. Six years later in 1978, he applied for a job feeding cattle and sheep at Strichen Mains for Allan’s late father, Bert Ross.
A year later, Sandy took to driving the Fraserburgh-based farm business lorry, transporting finished sheep and cattle to various abattoirs while at the same time replenishing stocks by taking store purchases from various markets back home to Strichen Mains.
Renowned at all livestock centres for his friendly face, calm manor and his trademark red and white toorie which he wears even on the hottest of summer days, Sandy’s work has taken him to all corners of Scotland and occasionally across the Border. With the business having expanded to take in ‘thousands’ of acres along with similar numbers of cattle and sheep, he also transports cattle and sheep from farm to farm.
Not for the faint hearted, his job would start at 7.30 every day, with a Wednesday usually being the busiest, clocking up 15hours transporting a lorry load of prime cattle to an abattoir and then down to United Auctions’ store cattle sale at Stirling to bring another load back up the road.
He also transports cattle back and forth from his favourite mart at Thainstone on a regular basis and sheep and cattle from Caithness Livestock Centre, not to mention other markets at Ayr, Castle Douglas, St Boswells and Dingwall.
Needless to say, he has seen some phenomenal changes over the years and not always for the better.
“Everything has got bigger,” he said. “The lorries, machinery and the cattle are all bigger. The cattle are also wilder than what they used to be and there are a lot more continentals compared to native breeds.
“There are also far fewer people working on farms and in the industry. You don’t even see the same numbers of cattle and sheep in the fields you used to,” Sandy added.
Automatic lifting decks
On the plus side, automatic lifting decks in the farm lorry have however made a huge difference to his work load and, saved his knees!
Sandy is hoping to enjoy a well-earned retirement with his wife Barbara in Fraserburgh, where he is going to be helping out with the grand-children and as a season ticket holder for Aberdeen, heading out to a lot more matches.
His retirement does however leave a huge void in the farm business of Ross Bros.
“Sandy is more like one of the family than an employee,” said Gavin Ross. “I was brought up with Sandy and learnt so much from him as a wee boy when I used to go with him in the lorry to all the markets.
“He has safely transported phenomenal numbers of livestock around the country for us and he has hardly ever used a stick to move them. His stockmanship capabilities, care and attention to detail for the good of the animals being transported are a huge credit to him,” said Gavin, who admitted that finding good staff to work is becoming more of a challenge.
“We are so lucky because we have 18 full-time members of staff and they are all fantastic. We’ve got one who has worked for us for 55years; another five who has done more than 20 years and four who have been with us for more than 10 years.
“Our business wouldn’t work without good staff, but we are very fortunate. Each farm has its own grieve and its own team and we only come together during really busy times such as shearing. That was one of Sandy’s favourite times – transporting all the sheep from each farm to a central location to be shorn and back to their home farm.”
Very much a family affair, Gavin’s parents, Allan and Helen, are still hugely involved as is Gavin’s wife, Lindsay who checks all bought in cattle against their passports.
Son Stuart works full time on the farm and daughter Jenna helps out part-time in between her role as Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ office clerk at Thainstone.
Increased costs
Employing so many staff and having to buy in so much store and breeding stock on a regular basis is a huge responsibility especially when costs of production continue to rise.
It is however one which Gavin appears to thrive on, but he is the first to admit the current price paid for finished cattle is not sustainable.
“The past two months of falling prices were completely unforeseen when there is such a shortage in supplies,” said Gavin.
“We need the price to pick up soon when you think store cattle values were at record levels in the spring yet finished values have gone the opposite way.
“Store cattle prices have to be maintained at the level they are to keep the suckler men in business, but at the same time the processors have to pay more for finished cattle to keep them going because there is a huge amount of money tied up in producing finished cattle to their ‘spec.
“We are buying store cattle at high values and they are selling at not much more which is not a big return when you think of the amount of feed they consume to get to that level not to mention all the other costs involved.
“Something has to change in beef farming, because it is clearly not working when you see the number of suckler herds selling up. We’re having to pay so much more for store cattle now when we have to compete with English finishers because more beef farmers in the south have already sold up.”
Gavin also hit out at the government’s push to reduce emissions in agriculture when it is likely to seriously hamper the ‘Scotch’ label for superior quality.
Quality at 22-28months
“We are constantly reminded to reduce the finishing time of beef cattle, to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but it is 100% beef cattle finished at 22-28 months that produce the taste and the flavour that Scotch Quality Beef cattle are renowned for.
“As farmers we are the only industry that has the end price dictated to us and yet we look to support all markets, abattoirs and local businesses as much as we can. The industry needs everyone – the small, medium and large producers – to ensure the continuation of viable Scotch beef and sheep sectors.”
In contrast, he said it was ‘fantastic’ to see finished sheep prices at such high levels up until this past week, which in turn should ensure a strong demand for breeding sheep and store lambs later in the year.
The firm also run commercial ewes with some 800 Suffolk cross Half-bred ewes crossed to either a Suffolk or Texel to lamb in April producing finished lambs that are mostly all sold off grass, while those lambing in May are sold mostly off stubble turnips.
While Ross Bros’ business is reliant on buying in stock to sell either finished or as breeding gimmers, they do grow as much home-grown feeds as possible to include feed and malting barley, winter wheat, oats and stubble turnips. They also re-seed fields on a regular basis and are sowing increasing amounts of clover in the sward.
Cattle are finished on propcorn-treated home-grown bruised barley and a Harbro Rumitech Beefstock, with round bale silage and straw available ad-lib. Lambs are finished off grass or home-grown stubble turnips.
Cattle regularly weighed
Finishing cattle are also regularly weighed and any that fail to gain at least a kg per day are killed.
Gavin added: “There is a huge variation in weight gains of individual cattle in various lots of the same age and breed. Ideally, we look for forward store cattle to gain 1.7kg per day plus but some will do more than 2kg and the worst can be less than a kg per day.”
However, he also buys a huge range of cattle to meet all abattoir ‘specs.
“Everyone goes to the market to buy the best cattle, but you’re lucky if you can make money from such animals. You have to look at what is available to buy and see if you can make money from them at the price they are being sold at.
“We buy all breeds and types when abattoirs will pay up to 420kg deadweight but most of our cattle produce 330-360kg carcases because that is what the supermarkets and the catering trade require.”
Gavin also enjoys competing in carcase competitions, and hand picks individual animals from various lots purchased as they begin to put on condition.
It’s a policy which is paying dividends too when he has produced prize winning entries at various events over the years to include the supreme honours at Premier Meat Exhibition and the Aberdeen Spring Show.
The business also buys a percentage of Aberdeen Angus stores with the best sold through Stoddarts to provide beef for Michelin-starred Devonshire Restaurant in London.
With so many enterprises on the go at any one time, soaring costs of production and no guaranteed ex-farm price, Gavin is the first to admit the pressure to keep going is phenomenal when there is so little return. However, there is only one way forward.
“Farming is very challenging when we not only have to face rising costs but also increasing problems caused by the weather. Good weather can halve work loads but if the weather turns against you it can seriously impact costs.
“We do 95% of the work on farm ourselves, so we depend on good staff. I’d always looks to support local businesses whether that be machinery, shops, agricultural merchants, feed companies or markets.
“We’ve got to fight to keep our Scotch Beef label and for the premium that it along with Scotch Lamb and pork deserves when it is unique throughout the world,” concluded Gavin.
Farm Facts
Family farm: Ross Bros was established in 1950 by Bert, Leslie and Norman Ross at Strichen Mains, Strichen, Aberdeenshire. The business is now run by Allan and Helen Ross, son Gavin and his wife Lindsay with their family of Stuart and Jenna, also working on the farm.
Employees: 18 full-time members of staff along with several part-time. Many have worked for the family for more than 10 years. Gavin relies on honesty and allows new staff time to find their ‘niche’ after undertaking various training courses.
Business: Revolves around buying in of ‘thousands’ store cattle and sheep to finish on mostly home-grown feeds also breeding sheep to finish off grass. Scotch Half-bred and Scotch Mule ewe lambs are also bought at Caithness and in all markets in the south, respectively to sell as gimmers.
Annual leave: Seen as ‘vitally important’ to switch off from the farm and get away from the business.
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