A WEST Dorset farmer is the new president of the Devon Cattle Breeders’ Society.

Mike Yeandle and his wife Liz started their own Tivington herd of Red Ruby Devons in 1999, winning the Junior Male Championship at the Royal Show just seven years later in 2006.

Outgoing president John Lindley said: “The society is fortunate to have in its new president a man who has such vast experience of cattle breeding and judging, both here in the UK and internationally.”

Before Devons, Mike enjoyed a long and successful career as herd manager of several notable Charolais herds, including Lord Whitelaw’s Mountpleasant herd and Sheila McAlpine’s Cullum herd, and most recently, Peter Old’s Moynton herd for whom Mike won the Interbreed Championship in the same year at Devon County, Bath & West and Royal Cornwall.

Mike added a significant amount of silverware to the trophy cabinets of all the herds he has managed, winning at prestigious shows such as the Royal Highland, Royal Show, and Great Yorkshire Show.

One of his career highlights was winning the Burke Trophy with Charolais Lakeland Sagesse, bred from a bull and heifer Mike originally imported from France.

As a schoolboy Mike attended Brymore Agricultural School which nurtured his interest in agricultural and his ability as a sportsman.

Mike even managed to get in a game of rugby during a trip to Morocco promoting British Friesians and Alfa Laval milking machines. His team won and the match in question was nothing less than the North African Rugby Cup Final!

In 2010 Mike was awarded the Bath & West of England Society’s Long Service Award.