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Susan Shone: A Legacy of Practical Progress in Beef Breeding
While digging through the archives recently, we came across a Farmers Weekly article from the summer of 2000 that profiled Susan Shone—a quietly pioneering cattle breeder from Hampshire. Even then, her vision was beginning to shape the future of suckler cow breeding in the UK. Reading that feature now, 25 years on, it's remarkable to see just how much has changed—and how one woman’s commitment to functional, efficient breeding has quietly influenced some of the country’s most important Stabiliser herds.
But Susan’s journey in beef farming started long before she appeared in print, rooted in a clear-eyed focus on practical progress.
Susan Shone
From Jerseys to Composites
Susan took over her family’s Jersey herd in Kent in the early 1980s following the death of her mother. She quickly discovered a deep affinity for farming, and after moving to Bolinge Hill Farm in Hampshire, she began laying the groundwork for her own breeding philosophy.
With input from experts like Ian Ross—then a Signet consultant—Susan started building a composite beef cow that would suit modern commercial systems. She combined the fertility of Sussex, the structure of Simmental, the marbling of Red Angus, and the quiet temperament of South Devon to create suckler cows that were fertile, fleshy, and functional. Her goal was ambitious but clear: efficient cows that worked for both her farm and the wider beef industry.
Susan Shone with her bulling heifers
Enter the Stabiliser
In 1995, a pivotal moment arrived at the British Cattle Breeders' Conference. There, Susan met Richard Fuller, then the farm manager at Givendale and later a founding figure in the Stabiliser Cattle Company. Also attending was Lee Leachman of Leachman Cattle Company in the US, whose genetics would go on to form the backbone of the Stabiliser breed in the UK.
The connections made that day set the stage for Susan’s next chapter. As she learned more about the Stabiliser, she recognised it as the ideal fit for her goals—offering the maternal efficiency, hybrid vigour, and ease of management she had been seeking. Susan was among the first UK breeders to adopt Stabiliser genetics, replacing her Red Angus × South Devon bull with a Stabiliser and beginning the transition that would define her legacy.
Lee Leachman visited her farm the following year, underlining the early significance of her involvement. By 2001, she had purchased her first Stabiliser bull and began grading up her Sussex × Simmental cows. The result was a low-input, high-performing herd that still thrives today.
Now 86 years old, Susan remains actively involved in running her 218-hectare mixed farm. Her 40-cow Stabiliser herd stands as a testament to four decades of purposeful breeding, with a focus on fertility, feed efficiency, and cow longevity.
Cow and Calf sold from Susan Shone to Givendale in 2004
Building a Legacy Across the UK
Susan’s influence has reached far beyond Bolinge Hill. Her females have helped form the foundation of multiple herds—both commercial and Multiplier. Over the years, she has sold breeding stock to herds including Givendale Farms, R & J Farms, Cernioge Bach, Steen, Overcote, and Phillips, helping them to accelerate their own grading-up programs.
One memorable photo features a cow and calf—both originating from Susan’s herd. The cow, sold to Givendale, went on to have 11 calves, while her heifer calf (also pictured) produced 10 of her own, highlighting the generational strength of Susan’s breeding lines.
In the 2000s, Susan also sold numerous breeding bulls across the UK, including some that were trialled at the feed efficiency unit. Though she now castrates all males and finishes them as steers, her focus remains firmly on producing top-quality replacement females.
Richard Fuller recalls purchasing a batch of Simmental/Sussex × Stabiliser in-calf heifers from Susan for the Givendale herd in 2004, stating:
“They proved to be excellent cows, lasting well and producing very good progeny.”
Simmental/Sussex × Stabiliser heifers sold from Susan Shone to Givendale in 2004
A Bull That Made a Difference
One especially significant bull was sold in around 2004 to Alwen and Lowri Williams of Cappele. This pictured yearling Simmental/Sussex × Stabiliser was the first bull Susan sold—and despite his relatively modest frame, he managed to get 97% of his cows in calf. Lowri had been looking to begin grading up her Limousin × Holstein cows, and this young bull proved the perfect starting point. He also spent time at Ifor Owen’s farm, where he left behind a valuable line of progeny.
Simmental/Sussex × Stabiliser bull bred by Susan Shone in 2004
Progressive. Practical. Proven.
Susan’s system at Bolinge Hill remains as disciplined and data-led as ever. She continues to prioritise ease of management, performance, and profitability:
- Heifer growth: 400kg at 14 months (up from 350kg at 16 months).
- Calving: No assisted births recorded halfway through the most recent season.
- Fertility: Over 50% of cows calve within four weeks.
- Finishing: Males are finished indoors post-grazing, ready at around 18 months.
She continues to work closely with trusted advisers, including Richard Fuller—who was involved from the very beginning of the Stabiliser journey in the UK—and Ursula Taylor, who joined the Stabiliser Cattle Company in 2008 and has since played a key role as Sales Manager in supporting the breed’s development and outreach.
From her early work with composite breeding to her current focus on Stabiliser genetics, Susan has built a herd that she can be proud of, one that has played a pivotal role in the success of many other herds across the country.
Susan Shone and Ursula Taylor
