Close sitemap

Show navigation

Features

Livestock act as hill ground improvers

IT IS a brave man who can admit to being out of his depth in any profession, let alone farming, but that’s exactly how Perthshire farmer, Jim Fairlie, saw his first two years after taking on 2000 ewes and 36 Galloway and Blue-grey suckler cows at Kindrum Park, Logiealmond, Perth.

Simmentals suit simple system

MOST FARMERS are continuously looking for ways to make their system as simple, yet as effective as possible, but when you have a full time job as well as a farm to run, that ease of management is more vital than ever.

Boclair on top for 50 years

THE BREWSTER family of Boclair, Bearsden, have remained to the forefront of the UK dairy industry for more than half a century.

Superior eating Aberdeen-Angus

Aberdeen-Angus beef cattle have always been renowned for their superior eating qualities, but it’s their ease of management, conformation and ability to continually produce good returns on a commercial basis that has always appealed most to the Lucas family from Cheeklaw, Duns.

Luings and Blackies – the perfect match

Few breeds of cattle are able to live and thrive outdoors all year round especially when you consider the horrendous winters experienced recently and the subsequent lack of available forage, but that’s where the Luing comes into a league of its own, reducing not only variable feed costs but also the need for expensive indoor accommodation and big bedding bills.

Gearing up for the Winter Fair

With new classes and free entry, the Royal Highland Winter Fair is gearing up to meet the challenges that face the winter show circuit in a positive and pro-active manner.

Aiming bigger and better

Buying in the best of bloodlines certainly doesn’t guarantee success in pedigree breeding, but building up a strong female flock is an ideal way to start, and gives a solid base on which to work from.

Concentrating on commercial ability

The Brown family’s association with the Border Leicester goes back to the 1920s – but while the breed has experienced a major decline in numbers since then, Pete Brown remains confident that there’s still a place in today’s sheep sector for the right type of Border.

Producing the best for show and plate

Bringing out any animal to show winning potential is never an easy task and maintaining those championship credentials throughout the season can prove even more difficult.

Third generation aims for RHS success

For a young Angus McTaggart, like his father before him, it was always one of his greatest ambitions to win the Blackface section at the Highland Show, and that passion has certainly been passed on to his middle daughter Isla, who hopes to one day emulate the show success of her father and grand-father.

Chairman designate and the 1960 Ingliston show

IT WILL be quite a poignant moment for soon-to-be chairman of the RHASS’s board of directors, Clark Stewart, when he attends his 50th year at Ingliston.

Scotland plays host to the Shorthorn world

SCOTLAND WILL be the centre-piece event for the 2010 Shorthorn World Conference this summer – the first time that the conference has been held in the UK since 1989.

Celebrating 50 years at Ingliston

LAST YEAR provided the RH and AS with one of the its biggest headaches in its history.

Investment pays off at Dendoldrum

IT’s a brave decision to invest heavily in any industry, but it has undoubtedly paid off for the Colquhouns – Blair and Judy and son Gregor and his wife Fay – who are in the process of renewing their old dilapidated dairy buildings at Dendoldrum, Inverbervie.

Calderglen Ayrshires last the distance

THE DECISION to move from East Kilbride to Campbeltown, when their farm was taken by compulsory purchase in 1964, introduced the Barr family to a whole new climate and farming environment, but one factor which has remained constant over the years, is their enthusiasm for the Ayrshire breed.

Youngsters shine at Blyth

Most Scottish dairy farms have struggled to make ends meet in recent years let alone invest in the future, with the result that many talented young individuals have been lured away from the industry by the prospect of big bucks in other businesses.

Making the most of a grass growing area

PRODUCING QUALITY home-grown silage is a top priority for the Drummond family – John and Margaret and sons John, George and Robert – who aim for a low-cost, efficient system across their four neighbouring farms in south Ayrshire.

Top quality silage – in a bale

Producing top quality, palatable and nutritious silage is never easy, especially when farming in Scotland’s unpredictable climate.

Farming then ... and now

Agriculture has faced some draconian transformations in recent years, but go back further, and the industry has been completely metamorphosed, such that it is now virtually impossible for Scotland’s budding young stockmen and women to get a foothold on the livestock ladder and farm in their own right.

Youngster lands dream job with Blues

There are few incentives, if any, for youngsters to pursue a career in any sector of agriculture, but those who do, are driven by dedication, enthusiasm and sheer passion for their chosen profession.