Steven Rolfe
Stevie Rolfe Cattle Services
Lanarkshire
Sponsored by: Kuhn Farm Machinery
Specialising in providing service and products to farms in and around Scotland, Stevie Rolfe’s contracting business started in 2004.
With a focus on a personal and tailored service, the company undertakes a range of cattle husbandry tasks from artificial insemination (AI), freeze branding, pelvic scoring and pregnancy scanning, as well as sourcing and selling semen and associated products and consumables.
With two full-time staff, Stevie says emphasis is placed on maintaining an open dialogue with farmers to understand what they want to achieve with their herds, with a more personal touch than vets can achieve. Ongoing training of staff keeps the level of service customers demand.
Some 28,000 cattle are freeze branded by the company each year, up to 4,000 pelvic measurements carried out, and 40,000 straws of semen distributed. Close relationships with customers has identified the increase in native genetics being introduced into commercial suckler herds, as a result the company has expanded its range of Luing semen offered.
Trust
Stevie is also trusted by several farms, including Scotland’s Rural College, to select bulls for use across their herds, with a focus on quality of genetics and performance. With nearly 30 years of AI experience, synchronising is becoming a greater part of the business
Likewise, demand for pelvic scoring, which is carried out by hand, rather than with callipers, is increasing, especially within commercial beef herds, as farms realise the value of knowing whether or not a heifer is suitable for breeding, and reducing the cost and stress of difficult calvings, especially those that require a caesarean.
The company does little in the way of advertising and the majority of work comes from word of mouth recommendations.
Stevie believes the quality of work carried out, a personal approach and being flexible have and will continue to underpin the company’s success.
On winning, Steven said:
My wife Sarah nominated me for the award and I never thought I would win it, being a small and very specialised business. It helps when you love your job, like I do, and build that relationship with farmers, so trust and quality of work are a given. We want farmers to be profitable and we are providing services to help them better their business in an economical way.”
“The business would not be where it is now without the tireless work of Sarah, who manages all our administration. My two employees, Iain and Cameron, also deserve credit and recognition for driving the business forward and constantly going that extra mile for customer.
What the judges said:
Stevie’s business acumen and knowledge coupled with his proactive attitude to go above and beyond for his customers was praised by all of the judges. His ability to add value to his portfolio of services was impressive and the trust farmers placed in his breeding acumen set him apart from the competition. The business revolves around Stevie’s attention to detail and personal touch with clients.
Steven Rolfe
Stevie Rolfe Cattle Services
Lanarkshire
Sponsored by: Kuhn Farm Machinery
Specialising in providing service and products to farms in and around Scotland, Stevie Rolfe’s contracting business started in 2004.
With a focus on a personal and tailored service, the company undertakes a range of cattle husbandry tasks from artificial insemination (AI), freeze branding, pelvic scoring and pregnancy scanning, as well as sourcing and selling semen and associated products and consumables.
With two full-time staff, Stevie says emphasis is placed on maintaining an open dialogue with farmers to understand what they want to achieve with their herds, with a more personal touch than vets can achieve. Ongoing training of staff keeps the level of service customers demand.
Some 28,000 cattle are freeze branded by the company each year, up to 4,000 pelvic measurements carried out, and 40,000 straws of semen distributed. Close relationships with customers has identified the increase in native genetics being introduced into commercial suckler herds, as a result the company has expanded its range of Luing semen offered.
Trust
Stevie is also trusted by several farms, including Scotland’s Rural College, to select bulls for use across their herds, with a focus on quality of genetics and performance. With nearly 30 years of AI experience, synchronising is becoming a greater part of the business
Likewise, demand for pelvic scoring, which is carried out by hand, rather than with callipers, is increasing, especially within commercial beef herds, as farms realise the value of knowing whether or not a heifer is suitable for breeding, and reducing the cost and stress of difficult calvings, especially those that require a caesarean.
The company does little in the way of advertising and the majority of work comes from word of mouth recommendations.
Stevie believes the quality of work carried out, a personal approach and being flexible have and will continue to underpin the company’s success.
On winning, Steven said:
My wife Sarah nominated me for the award and I never thought I would win it, being a small and very specialised business. It helps when you love your job, like I do, and build that relationship with farmers, so trust and quality of work are a given. We want farmers to be profitable and we are providing services to help them better their business in an economical way.”
“The business would not be where it is now without the tireless work of Sarah, who manages all our administration. My two employees, Iain and Cameron, also deserve credit and recognition for driving the business forward and constantly going that extra mile for customer.
What the judges said:
Stevie’s business acumen and knowledge coupled with his proactive attitude to go above and beyond for his customers was praised by all of the judges. His ability to add value to his portfolio of services was impressive and the trust farmers placed in his breeding acumen set him apart from the competition. The business revolves around Stevie’s attention to detail and personal touch with clients.