A truly remarkable story of Passion and Love to Pedigree Livestock
Nick and Annalain Barrett were born & raised in West Norfolk. Both had a passion for fur & feather which led to them having a world-renowned reputation for breeding the finest quality Gloster Fancy Canaries. Their Glosters exported to every corner of the world & helped other breeders achieve immediate results. The canaries take up a huge amount of time and Nick & Annalain have always been helped when needed by their daughter Moira.
Nick studied at the Norfolk College of Agriculture, specialising in livestock husbandry and management. From 1959 to 1976 Nick worked with dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep and breeding pigs. For 25 years Nick was Senior Animal Health Inspector for Norfolk County Council until 2001 when retirement enabled him to concentrate on pedigree livestock breeding.
Andrew’s interest in livestock started at a young age and he spent time in the early days working with George Cormack’s Aberdeen Angus herd in Scotland. Whilst there, he showed Angus cattle for HM The Queen Mother. He gained National Diploma in Agriculture at Kirkley Hall College in 1993 and then worked in Australia & New Zealand for 12 months in the wheat belt, while taking in the great sites and cultures these countries had to offer.
Today Andrew is dedicated to the herd management at Glenariff.
Andrew, a well renowned Shorthorn judge, was the youngest person to judge the Perth Bull Sales in 2004. He has also judged many shows including Orkney, the Royal Welsh and the Great Yorkshire Show on two occasions.
Glenariff Pedigree Livestock have seen much success in the showring with Andrew working alongside Lee Oakes. The two of them were formidable when showing our cattle.
The Glenariff herd was founded in 1987 with two maiden heifers from the Fingask herd and two from Major John Gibb’s Glenisla herd sale in Perth. Then came selected females from Chapelton and Uppermill. Numbers built up from a total of eight purchased females with the emphasis on buying families which included Lancaster, Broadhooks, Princess, Flossy, Rothes, Ruby, Katrina and Gina.
The current herd, now total around 100 breeding females, all from those original foundation cows. The original intention was to run half a dozen cows and a bull, however, numbers expanded to the current herd size. Fertility in the herd is high. Heifers are calved at 30 months in August and September and are then brought back in line with the rest of the herd which calves from March onwards.
Glenariff Pedigree Livestock have been privileged to own top quality stock bulls which have included the following:
Chapelton Eagle - The first stock bull by Uppermill Lang was purchased from Chapelton. He left his mark on the herd, siring the 2002 Royal Show female and reserve breed champion Glenariff Lancaster Krystal out of Fingask Lancaster Petula. The heifer Chapelton Princess joined the herd at the same time as Eagle.
Uppermill Lister – Purchased in Perth as an over aged bull for only 1,000gns and worked until 2008 at the age of 17. He was Reserve Champion at the Royal Show. Lister's progeny are an integral part of the herd even today with longevity, great maternal traits, sound feet and a wonderful red colouration.
Chapleton Legend - Not big but a very correct bull and was the sire of Glenariff Washington. Legend was reserve overall champion at Perth and son of Tofts Romany.
Uppermill Beggar - Brought stature to the herd. Beggar won the Royal Welsh Show and the breed championship twice at the Great Yorkshire Show.
Chapelton Tyco - Was purchased privately from Chapelton. His sire was C.F.Varsity (USA) and his dam Blueridge Cheerleader (Canada). Tyco won his class at the Royal Show. He was later found to carry the Tibial Hemimelia gene. Although a major setback, this problem was addressed and everyone moved forward.
Tofts Hector – Purchased from the Tofts herd at the Perth Bull Sales and was a Champion there in 2007.
Chieftain of Upsall – An outstanding red bull by Dunsyre North Star.
Glenisla Drambuie II – Private purchase, assisted by George McCulloch, from the HW herd. Drambuie’s Australian breeding included Broughton Park Thunder and Weebollabolla Theodore. His legacy has left us with outstanding feminine milky females including Glenariff Jacalin-Gina, Smithfield Festival Champion in 2016.
Podehole Foreman – Purchased in Stirling and sired by Trojan of Craigeassie.
Glenisla Ghillie – Again purchased with the help of George McCulloch from the HW herd. Ghillie had exceptional statistics he transformed our breeding programme. His first calf, a white bull Glenariff Marcello, is now one of our current stock bulls. He also sired Glenariff Nearctic who sold at the February 2021 Stirling sale.
Muiresk Northern Dancer – Our most recent purchase at the February 2021 Stirling sale. Sired by Alvie Galaxy, a wonderful roan bull who was Junior Male Champion & Reserve Overall Champion at Stars of the Future in 2019. Glenariff have also enjoyed success with our homebred bulls including:
Washington – A white bull sired by Chapelton Legend out of Glenisla Katrina who was from WF Tornado from North America. Washington was show champion on numerous occasions and sired Brave Bonnar and Cincinnati.
Brave Bonnar – This roan bull had a temperament like no other showing no aggression whatsoever. He enjoyed success, especially at the Royal Norfolk Show in 2010 where he won the Queen’s Prize for the Best Animal in the Beef Section bred and shown by a Norfolk Exhibitor. He was also Supreme Champion at both the Royal Norfolk and East of England Shows that same year.
Cincinnati – A full brother to Brave Bonnar who won the Uppermill Calrossie Perpetual Challenge Cup in 2011.
Macnair – A roan bull by Glenisla Drambuie out of Glenariff Rothes Christa, displaying many of his sire's outstanding traits. He was selected as the foundation bull for Her Majesty the Queen's herd on the Sandrifham Estate, alongside a carefully chosen group of foundation heifers.
Tia has already seen Young Handlers success in the show ring winning at the Royal Norfolk Show and at the Aylsham Show in 2019. Tia, whilst still at school, is confident her future lies within the pedigree livestock sector.
Having started with nothing the Glenariff brand has been built on traditional values of honesty, integrity and capability where the history has bred success long into the future. Without history there would be no future whether it is with the livestock, family or friends.
