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Coping with the Winter Legacy - SAC Open Day in Stirlingshire Focuses on Upland Livestock Farming

SAC News Release Ref. No: 11N27
Published: 03 Mar 2011

The recent harsh winter has posed a number of challenges to Scottish livestock producers, especially those in the hills and uplands. Livestock has taken longer to be ready for market, with the extra fed getting increasingly expensive. Meanwhile there are fears fewer calves and lambs will be born this spring.

With this in mind staff at SAC’s Farm Business Service Stirling office have arranged an upland beef and sheep open day at 11am on Wednesday the 9th of March. It will consider ways to reduce production costs and maximise performance during these challenging periods.

According to Stephen Whiteford, SAC’s Stirling based Agricultural Consultant livestock farmers more than ever need to look at efficiencies within their businesses.

“It is well documented that market prices for winter feeding have soared. The extreme weather created extra demand, especially for straw and hay. Meanwhile at world level the price of grain and soya has rocketed, making it difficult for farmers to control their costs. But there are things they can look at to minimise bills and improve efficiency of beef and sheep enterprises. We will introduce some of the latest thinking on the management of grassland resources, beef and sheep fertility and livestock fattening systems”

The open day is to be held at Aucheneck Estates near Killearn by kind permission of Mr Campbell Graham. Mr Graham’s family has been at Aucheneck Estate for 60 years with Campbell in charge for the past 34 years. The farming operation runs to some 4,300 acres which is predominantly in grass to carry 500 suckler cows and 550 blackface ewes.

The event begins at 11am with a farm tour of the modern cattle housing system with stop off points along the way to listen to presentations and demonstrations. At approximately 12.45 the meeting will move to the Winnock Hotel in Drymen for lunch, followed by afternoon presentations and finish at 2.30pm.

While SAC will provide much of the expertise available, Willie Thomson, Technical Director with animal feed manufacturer Harbro, is a guest speaker. Backing him up for SAC will be nutritionist Colin Morgan, Beef specialist Jimmy Hyslop and grassland expert Rhidian Jones.

According to Rhidian “It is going to be critical for famers to get the most out of their grassland if they are to cut back on expensive imported feed. In the same way keeping up soil fertility through good management lessens the need for expensive fertiliser. These are techniques our grandfathers had and we may need to re learn them”.

To book a place call the SAC Stirling office on 01786 450964.

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News Release Issued By

Mr Ken Rundle
Senior Communications Officer
SAC (Scottish Agricultural College) Work SAC, King's Buildings, West Mains Road,
Edinburgh
EH9 3JG
TelWork 0131 535 4196

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