Blelack pedigree cattle breeder selling up

A renowned Aberdeenshire upland beef enterprise, which breeds the famous Blelack herds, is for sale as a going concern, including all the farm’s cattle.

Situated near Aboyne, Blelack Farm breeds pedigree Aberdeen Angus, Charollais and Shorthorns and has achieved the highest number of champions at Perth and Stirling Bull sales and won the Aberdeen Angus Champion at the Royal Highland Show three times.

But having reached the top of his game and with neither of his two children wanting to take on the business, farmer Graeme Massie has decided to retire from beef to allow him to pursue a different career.  

About 383 of the farm’s 449 acres are put to arable and temporary grass, with 37 acres of pasture and a sheltered hill, ideal for wintering stock. The predominantly Grade 3 soils have undergone continuous fencing, drainage and reseeding work and the majority of the arable fields have been cropped to cereals in recent years.

An extensive range of farm buildings includes cattle courts, feed stores, a silage clamp and livestock sheds to house 400 cattle.

Simon Brown from CKD Galbraith said: “The farm has been producing top-class pedigree cattle for more than 45 years and the Blelack prefix has become synonymous with quality.”

A farmhouse, three cottages and a flat are also included.

The Massie family hopes to sell the farm privately, but failing that will put it on the open market in the summer and any remaining cattle will go for auction on 21 November at United Auctions. (CKD Galbraith 01786 434 600)