Grassland Development Farm Project

A 676 hectare farm in Upper Nithsdale, farmed by Doug and Lorna Greenshields. The farm carries 190 Stabilser suckler cows producing forward stores and breeding heifers, 700 Blackfaced and 800 Mule ewes with lambs finished and replacements home reared.

 

Land

A total of 676 hectares (1671 acres) of land stretches from South Mains to Nether Glengenny, 4 miles to the South East. It is possible to make silage on 130 ha (325 acres) although only half is cut each year. A further 300 hectares (740 acres) of permanent grazing and 246 ha (615 acres) of rough grazing make up the balance.

Stock

Cattle 

A herd of 190 spring calving suckler cows are kept. These are either Black Angus cross cows or Stabiliser but the whole herd is put to Stabiliser bulls. The aim is to breed heifers for sale and some breeding bulls along with store or finished bullocks.

Sheep

Following a farm review carried out in 2008 the sheep system has been rationalised so that the total flock is reduced to 1500 ewes to the tup. This comprises 700 Blackfaced ewes, lambing outside with half bred pure and half crossed to produce Mules. There will be 600 Mule ewes and 200 hoggs put to Terminal Sire rams and lambing from 20th March. All lambs will be sold finished from July to November.

Grass, forage and winter feeding

Soil testing   

The farm is split into blocks of 150-200 acres for soil testing purposes. One block is tested each year on a 6 year cycle.

Reseeding policy

Around 30 acres are reseeded each year depending on field sizes etc. A mixture containing mainly Intermediate and Late heading Perennial Ryegrass is used along with some Timothy and White Clover.

The current re-seeding method is to spray the field with Roundup 10 days before cutting it for silage. Then, depending on how stony the ground is the field is either ploughed and cultivated or just heavy disced before sowing.

Clean grazing

A clean grazing system was practised in the past. Whilst this is no longer adhered to as rigidly as it was it is still possible to achieve a degree of clean grazing due to the fact that only half the silage ground is cut each year and the relative ease of grazing either cattle or sheep on the permanent grassland.

Rotational grazing

In 2009 a rotational grazing system was introduced at Eliock Grange. This has involved monitoring grass growth and moving cattle on based on a grass budgeting technique. Some subdivision of fields using temporary electric fencing has been carried out along with taking some fields out of the rotation for silage during periods of rapid grass growth.

Winter feeding

Cattle are housed in November, calves are weaned a month later before turnout in late April/early May. Weaned calves are housed on slatted sheds before turnout in late April/early May.

Traditionally all cross ewes would be housed from mid January and 240 cross hoggs and 800 Blackie ewes would also be fed silage outside for several months.

With reduced sheep numbers now all cross ewes and hoggs are now housed and Blackies are spread thinner over a larger area. No silage is fed to ewes outside and concentrate use has been reduced.

Resources

Buildings

There is a large open silage pit at South Main and a smaller covered pit at Eliock Grange. At South Mains there is adequate sheep housing for the crossbred ewes although there are polytunnels at Eliock Grange that are available if required.

The cattle sheds are mainly in the form of slatted floor buildings although the sheep sheds can be used for calving once lambing is completed.

Machinery and equipment

The farm relies on contractors for the following tasks:

• Silage making
• Slurry and muckspreading
• Most re-seeding work
• Lime spreading

Inventory- main items of importance

• 2 x 90HP 4WD tractors with loaders
• 3 x older (>15 yrs) small tractors – one is still used extensively
• 3 x ATV’s
• Ifor Williams livestock trailer
• Stewart trailer with stock box. Essential for transporting stock

Infrastructure

• Fences are generally in good condition
• Water is mainly private supply/burns. Some are liable to run dry in a drought year
• Roads are good- minor public road runs from one end to another so access to all areas is good without traffic problems. Also good internal tracks

Labour

• Doug and Lorna Greenshields carry out most cattle work as well as help with general work
• One full time stockperson – 90% sheep, 10% cattle
• One full time GFW, mostly stock work