A CLEAN grazing policy on a mixed unit in Angus has removed the need to worm lambs, without affecting production.

Balkemback at Tealing is farmed in partnership by Sandy and Julie Duncan and Sandy’s father, Ian. The 300-hectare farm has been in the family since 1882 and has been organic since 2006. It particularly suits an organic system with its mixture of 100 hectares of LFA rough grazing and 200 hectares of rotational grass and cereals. 

“We found we were applying more and more chemicals on the cereals and not seeing much yield benefit so when a whole farm review threw up the option of organic, we decided to try it,” said Julie. “The system has worked well because we are almost self-sufficient in feed, and we have not had to reduce our stock numbers at all.” 

Stocking consists of 160 Simmental cross Aberdeen-Angus suckler cows and 300 North Country mule ewes put to a Suffolk tup. Production costs in both enterprises are kept to a minimum by making the most of the temporary grass leys, which are a standard grazing mix including white and red clover. Ewes are wintered on the unimproved hill ground and cattle summered on it, easing the pressure on the lowground grass. 

The farm is run by Sandy and Julie with help from Ian, a couple of part time workers, and children Heather (19) and Stuart (17) who give a hand at busy times such as lambing.

Last year, the farm hosted a sheep worm and fluke control workshop which attracted more than 40 local farmers. The event, funded by Quality Meat Scotland, showcased the clean grazing policy of the farm, which has reduced medicine bills, time and labour on the Duncans’ part – as well as lowering stress on the lambs.

The eight-year rotation has had a huge part to play in maintaining efficient production while reducing costs. 

Lamb sales begin from mid-June onwards. Those not sold off their mothers are weaned onto the red clover silage aftermath in mid-August, with all sold by the end of September. The lambs are all marketed through McIntosh Donald and average 38kg deadweight, mostly R3L.

Julie said they consistently received a small organic premium this year. 
The lambs are never wormed and Julie has seen no difference in their performance. She said: “The red clover silage aftermath is the best possible feed for them, and they finish very quickly from August onwards.” 

During the second year, clean grass leys are used from lambing until after tupping, when ewes head back to the hill for the winter. Julie said: “The key to keeping the worm burden down is to ensure sheep are always grazing clean grass.” 

There is a lungworm burden on the hill area, so when the ewes come onto the lowground before lambing they receive a Cydectin LA injection. This is primarily done to clear out any lungworm and to cover the ewes’ periparturient rise – the period around lambing when the ewes’ immunity is low, and they do shed some worm eggs. It also protects against scab at the highest risk time of year. 

Faecal egg counts are taken from the ewes in January to test for fluke but have always proven negative. Julie said: “We work very closely with Thrums, our farm vets, and review our organic flock and herd health plan annually.”

Julie said that they have learned a lot since going organic, but the biggest difference has been the inclusion of red clover in the leys for all the livestock. She said: “It is a fantastic feed for young cattle, and they are finishing one month earlier now than they used to thanks to the quality of our silage – which has been as high as 17ME, and averages around 14 or 15.” 

The ewes receive home-grown oats and organic soya (which is the only bought-in feed) from six weeks before lambing, and if the winter has been particularly harsh, a little silage. After lambing in April, they are turned onto clean, second-year grass. Lambing percentage averages around 180%. 

They buy gimmers from the same reliable source every year, which have been treated for worms and fluke before they arrive. Following delivery to Balkemback, the gimmers are quarantined and faecal egg counts taken to ensure they are not carrying a worm burden before becoming part of the flock.

All the above methods combine to produce healthy, fast-finishing lambs which make the required specification at the abattoir, without having had any type of medicine or treatment, which, as Julie says, is ideal for organic production, but more importantly, better for the animal. 

This system is a perfect fit for the Duncans’ mixed farming unit; however, there are other measures which can be taken in an all-grassland system to help provide clean grazing.