In 1907, Jasper Stephenson moved to Cayley, Alberta from Northumberland, England where his family had Shorthorn cattle. Jasper started a purebred Shorthorn herd in 1918 called Newbiggon. In 1965 his son Herb started the Frimley herd. Frimley was the name of town in England where Herb met his wife Billie during the 2nd World War. The original foundation cow was Braeside Rosy Dawn. There are descendants of Rosy Dawn in the herd today. Other foundation females were added from Bill Pethybridge (Susan’s), Cecil Staples Diamond herd (May’s, Dottie’s, Belle’s), Winalot (Maid’s and Mae’s) Rothney (Clippers, Beauty’s and Simplicity’s) and Newbiggon (Baroness and Secret’s).
In 1972 Herb’s son in law and daughter Gary and Terry Carter imported Mandalong Super Flag, Mandalong Royal Ferrari, and two Mandalong Roany cows from Australia to add to their Newbiggon herd. (Terry and Gary had taken over the Newbiggon herd name). These bloodlines were concentrated in the herd for several years and still used today. A three year old Mandalong Super Flag cow, Frimley Nyla Clare 14N, is in the herd today.
In 1976 when Cecil Staples dispersed the original Diamond herd that had been located at Bindloss, Alberta Dan Stephenson obtained several females. Dan had been working with Cecil on shares for couple of years prior to the dispersal. The Diamond herd was noted for structural soundness easy fleshing and above average size for the times. There was Thomas breeding through two herd sires Thomas Max 11Z and Thomas Leader 13C. Dan also acquired the Diamond herd name and the Double Diamond brand.
Over the years many bulls from all over North America have been used in the Diamond and Frimley herds. Bulls exerting the most impact on the herd in recent year’s are Deer Trail Private Eye, Cactus Flat Winner 4W, T Bar Mactexas 15Z, Norvyk Macbride 52B, Gafa Macfinest 15F, Gafa Macbest 6G, Bodmin HM Alberta Mark 71A, Diamond Captain Mark 27C, Circle M Ghost Rider 10G, Deer Trail Nitro, Glenford Reward 7Z.
Recently Eionmor Chief 16H, Alta Cedar Oak’s Signature 131K, Diamond John Denver 1J, TNT Legacy 1L, and RB Red Eagle Y2K have seen service in the herd.
Today the current herd bulls are Northern Legend 3N, Saskvalley Primo 40P, Diamond Regal Legend 4R, Diamond Rising Legend 1R, and Diamond Rodeo Legend 15R. Our two new junior herd sires are Muridale Jolt 44S and Alta Cedar Sherman 7S. We also have calves and yearlings on the ground by Eionmor Ideal 61M and Norvyk Alberta Clipper 11J. AI sires and embryo transfer are also used in the herd.
Dan & Jill Stephenson
Jaimie and Jacqueline
Box 165
Okotoks, Alberta, Canada
T1S
1A5
Telephone:(403) 938-4112
Email:
2diamond@telus.net
Billie Stephenson
Frimley Shorthorns