The Shadwell herd of Aberdeen-Angus was formed in 1997. It is based on stock purchased in Scotland from the famous Netherton and Blelack herds.   Among the foundation cows were Netherton Kathleen, purchased for 7500gns at the October Perth Sales 1998 and Jayne Erica of Blelack, purchased for 5400gns at the February Perth Sales 1999.

Two of our most influential herd sires were purchased in 2000:  Royal Added Value 19D (IMP) by Royal Stockman 23B out of Royal Rosebud 61A and Justin Eric x47 of Blelack by GV Duke 18C and out of Jury Erica 074 of Blelack.

Both sires achieved huge show ring success for the Shadwell team across east Anglia and the south east, culminating in a Royal Show Interbreed championship in 2004 with Justin Eric X47 of Blelack, the first for some 27 years for the Aberdeen-Angus breed. 

The breeding herd, which now numbers 54 cows, is based at High House Farm, Kettlebaston, Ipswich, Suffolk.  The herd currently runs two stock bulls, the recently purchased Balmachie Brigadier G044, purchased privately for £16,000 from Messrs J F Lascelles and Muirhall Total Deal E009, purchased privately from Bill and Sarah Reid. High House Farm is part of Salsabil Stud which is a division of the highly successful Shadwell Stud of thoroughbred racehorse fame.

It was decided to run an Aberdeen-Angus herd in conjunction with the Shadwell stud as an additional grazing management tool. The females are good mothers, calve easily and are good foragers. They are a hardy breed and out winter well on our free draining grass paddocks.

Aberdeen-Angus bulls are renowned for producing easy fleshing cattle with high meat eating qualities. The sires used in the herd are selected due to their calving ease, fleshing ability, length and power.  We sell bulls to both pedigree and commercial breeders, with our largest commercial buyer, Beckhithe Farms, Reedham, Norfolk, buying a considerable amount of bulls a year from us to produce quality Aberdeen-Angus suckler bred cattle for Waitrose.

Shadwell Estates believe strongly in running a high health status herd and is in the first year of the SAC premium health scheme.   

The herd is free of IBR, BVD and Johne’s Disease and monitors for Leptospirosis. We are also in a four year testing period for bovine TB.

All stock sires are semen tested prior to use and sale bulls are also semen tested for a buyer’s convenience. Stock for sale can also be vaccinated for a buyer’s convenience.

Alongside the pedigree herd of Aberdeen-Angus Shadwell finish up to 100 Aberdeen-Angus cross steers and heifers. Mostly from Longford Castle Farms in Salsibury, Wiltshire, stores are bought in and finished off grass and sold to Marks & Spencer for a premium price.

Some 700 commercial ewes along with 100 pedigree Scottish Blackface and 50 pedigree Jacob ewes also run at Shadwell, managed by a contract shepherd.