For many in the cattle world, Willie McLaren, who has died aged 89, was Mr Aberdeen-Angus.
It was a label that recognised his unstinting efforts over many years to promote one of Scotland’s traditional breeds.
His nickname was earned through his successes in show and sale rings where his Netherton cattle picked up red rosettes and top prices, and for his lifelong support of the breed.
Honoured
Recognising his contribution both to the breed and to the wider Scottish livestock industry, he was awarded the Sir William Young award in 2011.
This award, given by the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to livestock breeding in this country.
Beginnings
The Netherton Aberdeen-Angus herd, Blackford, was established by his father and grandfather in 1924, some eight years before Willie was born.
He was born at Netherton and left school at 15 to work a pair of horse, he became a member of Perth Young Farmers and, after a few years, was a founder of Allanwater Young Farmers.
Winner
With a keen eye for livestock, he went on to captain the winning team at the Highland Show International Stockmanship Competition and also trained two winning teams.
It was not until the late 1960s and early 1970s that Willie made his own mark both on the Netherton herd and on the breed which was out of favour on account of the cattle produced at that time being considered too small and dumpy by commercial beef producers.
United States
In 1973, he went to Kansas where he read out a letter on behalf of the Queen Mother at the 100th anniversary of Angus cattle in America.
It was here that he realised the breed in the UK had to change and he became one of the first breeders to bring Angus cattle back to this side of the Atlantic and helped transform the Netherton herd and the overall breed.
The bulls bought at that time included Walnut of Edgeley Acres and Wilbar Eaton, both of them putting more scale and fleshing on the home-bred cattle.
Investment
Another trip across the Atlantic in 1980 saw the purchase of TLA Northern Samurai for $30,000 –a massive investment but one which was repaid with progeny successes at both the Royal and the Highland Shows, thus securing a ready market for his offspring.
But it was a female that Willie bought in that same year that had the biggest influence on the Netherton herd.
Canadian breeders had brought a two-year-old heifer, Cee Bar Favorite over to the UK on a promotional tour.
Champion
When he saw her, Willie was sufficiently shrewd to buy her for 2,000 guineas. She handsomely repaid that investment, winning the Royal Show championship in 1980 and the Highland Show the following year.
These victories added to the Netherton tally of five Royal Highland Show breed championship and six supreme awards at the Royal Show, including once by a daughter of Favorite.
Cee Bar’s biggest contribution to the Netherton herd came from her genes as today, 40 years later, her genes still have a dominant role at Netherton and in the breed.
Records
These investments in top breeding stock provided success in the sale rings with Netherton bred females breaking the 20,000 guinea and then the 30,000 guinea mark to set new records for the female side of the breed.
Not to be outdone on the male side, Netherton Figo brought back memories of the high days in the Aberdeen-Angus breed half a century earlier as well as providing a vindication of Willie’s ability as a top breeder when he was sold in 2005 for 30,000 guineas.
Profile
Recognising his wider influence on the breed, the Angus Hall of Fame in the United States in 2016 listed Willie as one the top 150 Angus breeders in the world in its 192 years. He was one of only two living Scots to gain this honour.
During his successes in show and sale rings, he twice presided over the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society as well as being called to judge at all the major shows in the country.
His honours also include being the breed society’s ambassador at World Angus Forums for more than 50 years.
Mentor
Less immediately tangible but definitely having a longer-term benefit for the breed, Willie encouraged the younger generation to become involved and one of the highlights of his life came when Netherton hosted the farewell visit and dinner as part of the world forum in 2017, which included the finals of the youth competition.
Throughout his successful business life, Willie was accompanied by his wife, Cathy.
Together they celebrated 64 years of marriage and together they raised their family of two sons and two daughters, Margaret, Duncan, Kay and William.
In later years, he and Cathy much enjoyed the company of his grandchildren and a great grandchild.
Community
As someone who spent all his life at Netherton, he was deeply immersed in the local community, none more so than his link with the local church where he served as session clerk for 40 years.
He was a Burns enthusiast and someone deeply interested in local history. He was also a keen member of the Clan MacLaren Society.
Dying just short of his 90th birthday, he was very much admired and respected both in the pedigree cattle world and in his local community as evidenced by the hundreds of comments on social media lamenting his passing.
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