Big turn-out for Scotland's Beef Event

Despite the rain, farmers turned out in force to support Scotland’s Beef Event, at Fans Farm, courtesy of the Stewart family, where there was little enthusiasm for the ‘re-newed’ Beef Efficiency Scheme.
While cabinet secretary Fergus Ewing, desperately tried to reassure producers “the government is doing everything to support the industry”, he admitted later on that more than 330 farmers had withdrawn their application due to administration and delays in the delivery of ears tags.
He believed that some 1800 farmers had nevertheless signed up for the scheme, which although is less than 50% of producers in the country, represents more than half the number of cows.
“The government has to admit it is not working and re-invent the whole thing,” said Scottish Beef Cattle Association chairman, Neil McCorkindale, who believes the figure that had withdrawn their application is nearer the thousands rather than hundreds. 
“It has not been enough to tweak the system round the edges, we really have to get round the table and start again,” he said.
Commenting on the reasons why so many had cancelled their application, Mr Ewing said he believed most people did understand the concept.
On a more positive note, Mr Ewing, who officially opening the event, pointed out, that despite ongoing computer glitches and delays in farm payments, up to 10,000 farmers would be receiving Pillar 1 payments in the next few days. He also pointed out the government is “working hard” to complete all payments by the EU’s deadline on June 30.
“We are determined to do everything we can to help Scotch Beef and Lamb achieve greater success. You supply 40% of the total output of farming in Scotland and sustain some 11,000 jobs.
While the Scottish government’s ongoing fiasco regarding delayed payments and the BES caused huge debate, it was nevertheless superceded by the impressive set up at Fans Farm, where Douglas Stewart, not only produces quality finished Aberdeen Angus cattle but also a large arable and potato business – enterprises which all have to pay their way.
With 400 home-bred Aberdeen Angus cows all crossed back to an Angus, heifers are able to calve at two years, with an impressive 74% of the herd calving in the first turn and 20% in the second.
Calving causes few if any problems and that’s selecting bulls with below average calving figures.
“We don’t look for easy calving bulls to ensure the females they produce have a big enough pelvic area for calving. Instead we select bulls on milk figures, growth rates at 600 days, scrotum circumference, eye muscle and accuracy. We look to finish our cattle at a young age but we’re also looking to breed easy keep, easy fleshing cows that are not massive in size,” said Douglas.