Mulben Embassy

Mulben Herd History

The modern herd at Mulben has been brought together by Mr. John Macpherson since his entry to the farm in 1888. Prior to that time, he had a very old-established herd at the farm of Achlochrach, which lies at an elevation of 1000 feet above sea-level, and the tenancy of which Mr. Macpherson still retains. A number of well-known families were reared at Achlochrach, and these are still represented in several herds. A good many animals descended from the herd were sold for America, where they figured prominently in the early days of the breed at the State fairs there. Most of the bull calves were steered and fed. The Smithfield champion of 1872 was one of the products of the old Achlochrach herd.

Since going to reside at Mulben, Mr. Macpherson has brought together a new herd, and it is unique in this respect that, on the female side, it is composed entirely of Trojan-Ericas, and Prides of Aberdeen. The Prides were selected from the herds of the late Mr. Skinner, Drumin, and Rev. C. Bolden, Preston Bissett; the Mulben branch of the family — the most highly prized of this great tribe — being reintroduced by purchases from the Ballindalloch and Guisachan herds.

The representatives of the Erica family were also largely drawn from Ballindalloch, while other well-bred specimens were acquired from the herds of Mr. Robertson, Fordie, and Mr. Osenton, Kent. The greatest care has always been exercised in the selection of sires for use in the herd. Amongst those of more recent years may be noted Erica Prince E 14357, bred by Colonel Smith Grant, Auchorachan, and out of the Equestrian cow Erica Champagne 2nd 21833. He won champion honours at the local shows, and was also successfully exhibited at the Highland Society, while he proved an exceptionally good breeding bull. Another show and capital breeding bull was Lord Sirdar of Advie 16822, while he was followed by the Queen Mother bull Juba of Morlich 17986, whose show-yard honours included first as a yearling at the Highland Society’s show. In 1902, he was exported to America, where he had a very remarkable show-yard career, and where he was sold at a public sale at 1500 dollars. Khartoum of Ballindalloch, of the K. Pride family, was second at Highland and Royal shows, and champion at the Royal Northern at Aberdeen. He also proved a very successful breeding bull, liberally imparting to his stock his grand characteristics of flesh and constitution.

He was followed by Imry 24553 and Eclipser of Ballindalloch 26733. Imry, a four-year-old of the Lady Ida family, was bred by Mr. Andrew Mackenzie, Dalmore, and is by the Cullen House Pride Bull Colonel Plumer, while he is nearly related to such famous sires as the 240 guinea Edric, the champion Prospero of Dalmore, Iliad, Cash, etc. Imry was successfully exhibited at the National shows of both Scotland and England. Eclipser of Ballindalloch, who was acquired’ at 170 guineas, is an exceptionally well-bred Trojan-Erica, being by the champion Jilt bull Jeshurun 19257 and out of Ecilia 33756 by Delamere, while besides being first as a yearling at the Morayshire, Spey, Aven, and Fiddichside and Central Banffshire shows, he was also fourth at the Highland Society. A good demand is always experienced for the young bulls, these having passed into the Ballindalloch, Portlethen, Morlich, and other leading herds. Amongst the products of the herd of recent years may be noted Ploughboy 24885 by Erica Prince E, and out of Pride of Pride of Aberdeen 93rd, which, in the possession of Mr. Duff of Hatton, was first at the Royal and Highland shows in 1907, and Carolus of Mulben 18876 by Erica Prince E, out of Camera 2nd of Mulben by Eridale, second as a yearling at the Highland show, 1902, and sold to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon for his herd at Goodwood. In the following year, he was exhibited by the Duke at the Royal Counties show, where he was first and champion, and was sold for exportation. A few of the females have also been shown with success at the Highland, Royal Northern, and other shows. As a rule, however, Mr. Macpherson prefers to keep his female stock in a healthy natural breeding condition, so that the females are not extensively exhibited. Sales have been made from time to time to different American buyers, and contributions made to joint sales. The only home sale held in connection with the herd was in 1908, when thirty- seven head averaged; £34 12s. $d., the top prices being 68 guineas given for a yearling heifer by Mr. Logan, Australia, and 60 guineas given for a cow by Colonel Grant, Auchorachan.

Excerpt from “History of Aberdeen-Angus Cattle” by James MacDonald & James Sinclair, 1910.

History

The greatest foundation sire in New Zealand and Australia ever imported from the breed’s home in Scotland.

Noted for his scale, constitution and smoothness, Mulben Embassy, sold for 82.5 gns in the 1939 Perth Bull Sale in Scotland, with a total cost of 380 pounds to arrive in the Mangatoro Stud in New Zealand owned by Donald Grant who remarked, “He was a wonderful bull and did a world of good for New Zealand and Australia. He gave me good feet and had such a beautiful head and a wonderful skin.”

Mulben Embassy was the prestigious undefeated Grand Bull Champion Bull over all breeds in each of his New Zealand show appearances at Hawke’s Bay in 1941, 1943, 1944 and 1945, while at the same time seeing extensive natural service at Mangatoro where he left hundreds of superior cattle with extra size and scale. At eight years of age, he was sold for a record Australasian price of $3,150 (1,500 gns) to Eaton Webster for his Sarum herd in Australia where he saw another five years of natural service, siring there another 150 sons and another 170 daughters, settling 60 cows in last breeding season at nearly 14 years of age. He died three months short of his 14th birthday, following an injury received in a fight with a young bull.

Ten sons of Mulben Embassy dominated the 1942 New Zealand National Sale at Dannevirke where they averaged 360 gns (more than double the sale average) and included Embassy 11th of Mangatoro who was the 850 gns top-seller and Emassy 9th of Mangatoro who reigned as the Grand Champion Bull. Another son, Embassy 16th of Mangatoro, was the 1943 National Sale Grand Champion. A grandson, Embassy Again of Mangatoro, was the 1944 National Sale Grand Champion and 1,000 gns record-seller. Another grandson, Gandel of Mangatoro, was the 1945 National Sale Grand Champion, while a son, Embassy 41st of Mangatoro was the 1946 National Sale Grand Champion.

Embassy 5th of Mangatoro, the greatest son of Mulben Embassy, was a featured sire in both John Ogilvy’s Ngawaka Herd in New Zealand and in L.T. Sanderson’s Wallah herd in Australia where he sired Walla Ottaw, the 1947 and 1948 Brisbane Royal Grand Champion Bull; and Walla Ottoman, the Supreme Champion of the 1948 Melbourne Royal where the bull’s paternal sisters were the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Females. Emblem of Ngawaka, another son of Embassy 5th of Mangatoro, sired Fairlands Black Opal, the 1949 and 1951 Brisbane Royal Grand Champion Female for D. Dowding of Australia.

Other successful progeny of Mulben Embassy in New Zealand included: the Turhaua herd sire, Embassy 2nd of Mangatoro; the 1944 and 1945 Hawke’s Bay Grand Champion Female, Elsie of Mangatoro; the 1947 Hawke’s Bay Grand Champion Female, Genista 5th of Mangatoro; and the 1948 and 1949 Hawke’s Bay Grand Champion Female, Perdita 2nd of Mangatoro.

During a four-year period in Australia, his progeny won six championships, five reserve championships, five junior championships, 21 first prizes, 20 second and third prizes, three firsts in breeder’s groups, two firsts in sire groups and two firsts in groups of three heifers, at the Brisbane Royal, along with seven firsts in bull grounds in Queensland, for a total of 73 prizes for the Sarum herd.

Obiturary

Thu 20 Dec 1951 – Queensland Country Life (Qld.: 1900 – 1954) Page 11 – Mulben Embassy Dead. Mulben Embassy Dead. MULBEN Embassy died in the Sarum stud on Sunday, December 9, at 14 years of age. He was injured in an encounter with another bull some time ago and did not recover. Thus ended the amazing career of one of the greatest bulls of any breed in any country. He had a tremendous influence on the betterment of his breed in two Dominions. Mulben Embassy was bred by Mr. W. G. Macpherson, of Mains of Mulben, Scotland, in 1937. He was bought at the 1939 Perth (Scot.) sales by Mr. Donald G. Grant, of Mangatoro stud, New Zealand. He amassed a long list of championships at all major New Zealand shows until 1945, when he was bought by Mr W. E. Webster for Sarum stud, Kingaroy, for the then record breed price of 1500 guineas. It proved a sound investment. His sons and daughters have been champions at major shows in both New Zealand and Australia. His sons, Embassy 5th of Mangatoro (imp. N.Z.) and Embassy 23rd of Mangatoro (imp. N.Z.), and his grandsons, Wallah Ottawa, Black Idol of Mangatoro (imp. N.Z.), and Emblem of Ngawaka (imp. N.Z.), have all sired Australian Royal show champions.

Mangatoro Angus – Donald G Grant

Mangatoro Angus Donald G Grant, of Mangatoro Stud, Dannevirke was the man that had the greatest influence on the NZ Aberdeen Angus cattle. The work of Grant over a long period brought dramatic changes to the breed as well as set the standards of the day. Born in Scotland (where his father was an Aberdeen Angus breeder) Donald came to NZ in 1911, at the age of 21. In 1912, he became herdsman at the Gwavas stud in Hawkes Bay and remained there until 1920, when he founded his own stud called Mangatoro. During his eight years at Gwavas he guided the destinies of famous stud with knowledge and understanding and was retained as stud supervisor even after he founded the Mangatoro Stud through until its dispersal in 1943.

Mangatoro stud’s history is divided into two parts. The original stud was founded in 1920 and dispersed in 1923, only to be restarted in 1937 and built into the most well-known Aberdeen Angus herd in the Southern Hemisphere. Donald Grant imported more outstanding cattle than any other NZ breeder and his skill resulted in an improvement in the fleshing quality of Aberdeen Angus cattle.

The original Mangatoro herd consisted of 11 imported females and 1 imported bull, Victor of Rarichie. Among the cows were Queenly of Ballintomb and Pride of Dallas who was in calf to Etonian of Bleaton when she left Scotland with the resultant calf Blueblood of Mangatoro, proving himself very successful in the Gwavas herd. Also doing well at Tautane Angus stud after moving on from Gwavas. Pride of Dallas was champion cow at the 1920 Hawkes Bay show. At the 1923 Mangatoro Stud dispersal the cattle were very sought after by other breeders. The main buyers of the Mangatoro importations and their progeny, were A S G Carlyon of Gwavas, H B Williams of Turihaua, Herrick bros of Tautane and John A Macfarlane of Ben Lomond. Pride of Dallas went to Turihaua, Queenly of Ballintomb (dam of the good sire Toreador of Ben Lomond) went to Ben Lomond stud, Erma of Moyness 2nd went to Tautane and did well in Herrick Bros herd.

When Donald Grant re-established Mangatoro stud in 1937 people quickly realised he was a master breeder because of the type of cattle he was producing. Shortly after the stud’s new foundation he imported the most famous Angus bull, to be used in NZ as well as some outstanding cows. Mulben Embassy was the bull and he was imported in 1939. Thus, started a grand new era of Angus breeding in NZ.

In 1938 Donald Grant imported 4 females and these included Perdita of Jardine and Genista of Jardine, both of these cows had very successful progeny. Donald Grant import Blackbird 12th of Dalvey in 1939. These 3 cows were a great combination in conjunction with Mulben Embassy.

Mulben Embassy was a top breeding bull as well as a great show bull, winning the championship at the Hawkes Bay show 4 times (1941, 1943, 1944, 1945). The Hawkes Bay Show was the leading cattle exhibition at the time. There was no Royal Show in the years between 1939 and 1947 so he never had an opportunity of winning a Royal Championship.

Mulben Embassy sons and grandsons were in great demand and topped the National Sale consistently from 1941 – 1947; they dominated this fixture in both show and sale ring for 6 years. Sons and daughters of Mulben Embassy were great show cattle and breeders and left considerable influence on herds throughout the country.

Following in the footsteps of Embassy, Donald Grant imported a succession of top class Angus bulls. The first of these bulls was Emperor Elect of Douneside and he was successful in the few years he was at Mangatoro. Eulijago of Kilham who was an even better bull did a lot to keep Grant ahead of his competitors. He won two Royal Championships and sired numerous top show cattle as well as siring the top priced bull at the National Sale three times. He influenced many leading herds.

Bruce of Greenyards came in 1954 and was also a Royal Champion and sired 4 National Champions. Two of these being the top priced bulls and his sons did well in many herds.

The Perth Sales Supreme Champion, Elegance of Charterhouse, was purchased by Grant in 1958 in Scotland for NZ$13,020. Elegance continued the good breeding programme at Mangatoro. He won the 1959 Royal Championship and sired some great cattle before being sold to the USA. Among his progeny were Elegance 32nd of Mangatoro – 1961 National Sale Champion and top-priced bull of the sale. Elegance 29th of Mangatoro sired Prince Elegance of Mangatoro who was the 1963 National Sale Champion and sold for the record price of $9450.

Donald Grant imported another bull in 1958 called Stype Guardian who sired the 1960 National Champion Stype Guardian of Mangatoro which sold for a top price of $8400.

The Perth Junior Champion in 1961, Eustace of Derculich, was purchased by Grant in Scotland for NZ$25,200. At the time he was the highest priced bull to ever come to NZ. He was the sire of the 1966 NZ National Sale champion and top priced bull which sold for a NZ record price of $14490.

Other outstanding females imported by Grant were Paola of Gaidrew, Betty Black of Gaidrew and Easy of Derculich. Paola of Gaidrew was a Royal Show Champion and twice Champion at the Hawkes Bay Show. Betty Black founded a great family at Mangatoro Stud.

The contribution for NZ Angus and the international reputation of the Mangatoro Herd by Donald Grant was enormous. Cattle from Mangatoro helped to changed most of the leading Angus Stud herds of NZ and his breeding and eye for cattle greatly increased the reputation of NZ Angus which helped drive exporting of cattle to both Australia and the USA. Mangatoro Stud has never been surpassed in its record in the show and sale ring. During Donald Grants lifetime he won the supreme championship on 21 occasions at the NZ National Angus Show and Sale. He also set numerous record pricing as well.