ONE BUTE producer who is set to call it a day on the milking front is Duncan Macalister, who has gradually been reducing cow numbers and will be out of production by August.

Said Duncan: “It's not surprising where we are on Bute with regard to producing milk. A number of us have no one following us on and those that do have sons or daughters, they are doing their own thing away from the farm.

“Some who are giving up milking will turn to beef or sheep, and others will just put their feet up," he predicted. “It’s not all First Milk’s fault that island production is where it is. Yes, the falling milk price brought things to a head for some, but because so many of the next generation don’t seem interested in farming it was going to happen anyway.”