ARRAN dairy farmer Stuart Reid – one of only two milk producers left on the island – has scoffed at suggestions that he is set to quit the sector.

At Carlisle mart on Wednesday of this week, there was a sale billed as the first to disperse his Clauchlands Holstein herd, but Mr Reid told The Scottish Farmer: “It is not a dispersal. We are disposing of 30 of our most recently calved cows and heifers in order to get a bit of extra cash. That is all there is to it.

“We carried out a similar move almost a year ago and people then were putting two to two together saying we were getting out of milk. It is not the case. We are currently milking just under 200 head and have another batch of in-calf heifers coming on stream.

“H and H have billed it as a dispersal but it is not," he reiterated. "All our milk goes to First Milk’s Arran creamery and will continue to do so.”

First Milk milk sourcing director Paul Flanagan commented: “The Reids are a key part of the Arran creamery supply chain and are aware of our three-year plan to develop premium sales for the creamery. This plan has included a dedicated sales individual and a specific marketing individual.

“The milk price for our farmers on Arran has increased significantly over the last six months – it is currently 27ppl – and we continue to be committed to developing profitable sales from Arran. Our farmers on Arran, the creamery team and our sales and marketing team all have a key role to play in this.”