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Highland Sheep Farmers Positive

Despite the morning downpour there was an upbeat mood amongst those attending SAC’s Highland Sheep event on Milton of Aberarder at Dores this week.

It was understandable, given the reports of a good trade and strong prices at the seasons first lamb sales, however, whatever the state of the market, profits will always depend on flocks that are healthy and efficient. Welcoming the over 170 who attended, Jonathan Cowens, Head of SAC Consulting, outlined a days programme that addressed lamb survival and health as well as the role of sheep in keeping the uplands productive.

Host for the day were father and son Ken and John Matheson. In addition to 180 suckler cows they run 1,850 Blackface ewes on the 32,000 acre unit with 800 kept pure. The rest are put to Bluefaced Leicester tups to breed highly sought after Highland Mules. The Matheson’s use some sheep as “tick mops” on the heather hills, helping estate mangers in a programme aimed at increasing their bags of grouse.

“Managing Hill & Upland Sheep for Profit” was organised by SAC Livestock Health Schemes Manager Ian Pritchard. The event received funding from the Scottish Government’s Success Through Knowledge campaign and covered a range of topics including lamb survival, foot health, health planning and the economic outlook for sheep.

Among those speaking were the Mathesons, their vet George Rafferty, Perthshire hill farmer Ian Duncan Miller MBE, and representatives of the nutrition industry. SAC staff included John Vipond, Kev Bevan, Tony Waterhouse and Jo Conington, SAC vets Jenny McFarlane, Jo Connington, Jo Gidlow and Heather Stevenson.

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