Forget this year’s bitterly cold, wet spring and horrendous lambings, farmers can look forward to the future and where better to start than NSA Scotsheep, being hosted by leading commercial producers, Robert and Caroline Dalrymple at Kings Arms, Ballantrae, on Wednesday, May 30.
Former Scottish Farmer Livestock Farmers of the Year in the sheep section 25 years ago, the Dalrymples and their long-term farm manager, Andrew Maclean, have always strived to be at the top of their game by improving efficiency levels, keeping costs under control and maximising returns from the market by producing a quality product – regardless of what the weather throws at them.
Admittedly, their 350-acre unit at Kings Arms which rises steeply from the coastline, does benefit from the warming influence of the Gulf Stream. However, with the vast majority of the farm located further up the hill, to include to the family’s similar sized unit at Crailoch and a further 250 rented acres, it is also often at the brunt of some biting cold winds and constant, often horizontal rain. 
This past year has been worse than most too, with the farm’s 1000 Texel cross Mules and 400 bought in Scotch Mules, 185 Limousin cross cows and 15 pure-bred Charolais, still recovering from last year’s wet summer and autumn which not only affected grass and forage quality but also the overall health and condition of the stock.

The Scottish Farmer:

Robert and Caroline Dalrymple

“Last year, we had 50% more rainfall than normal, taking us up to 60”, which add in the Beast from the East and the late spring, and we’ve had a really long, expensive winter,” said Robert, who pointed out that a new sheep unit and increased accommodation overall has helped save the day.
“We were one of the first in Scotland to put up a shed for lambing, in 1984, and it’s this shed along with another that saved our grass and lambing this year as we were able to bring our ewes in earlier for feeding, and we could keep them and their lambs in for longer when the weather was so bad.”
Backing up these statements, Andrew said: “We started lambing on February 24, and by March 3, we had lambed 400 but we only had 12 outside because of the horrendous weather. 
“Normally, we would only keep ewes and their lambs in for 24-48hours but the new shed allowed us to keep them in for longer. 
“We also had to bring the cows in earlier last year – in September, and the earliest ever – to save the grass and our ewes were in mid December instead of at the end of the month, so, it has been a long, expensive winter,” said Andrew.
The increased rainfall also meant the ewes received two extra fluke drenches – pre tupping and at housing. Lameness was more of a problem throughout too.
While the extra cost of a new shed can never be paid off, it is hoped the additional feeding and med costs will be, as scanned lambing percentages for both the Texel cross Mule and Scotch Mule ewe flocks were much on a par with previous years at 200+%. Such figures are achieved on a regular basis as the ewes lose so much condition when they are weaned and put to the hill. They then come into clean, young grass fields for flushing, raising nutritional levels, which with the addition of teaser tups, has proved a winning recipe for early and good conception rates. 

The Scottish Farmer:

February and March-born Suffolk cross lambs

This year’s lambs were that bit stronger before they were put out to grass, so it is hoped the business will be able to sell it’s usual 185-190% lamb crop.
Despite the fact the ewes were housed for longer and fed a total mixed ration twice a day, jaagsiekte or ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) cases were no worse, with the numbers that had to be culled from this debilitating lung disease, falling from 70+ when it was first diagnosed some five or six years ago, to 10-12.
“As soon as we hear any sheep, to include lambs and ewe hoggs with that heavy, croaky breathing we just cull them. They only appear to spread the disease if you keep them longer,” said Andrew.
Lambing as early as they do, the first of the Suffolk cross lambs from the Texel cross ewe flock, to include ram lambs from the group which are kept entire, are creep fed for the early lamb market mid May with the first of this year’s crop already cashed. This includes a batch of 20+ lambs which will be carved up and used as part of the catering at ScotSheep on May 30. 
Feeding these lambs to finish them earlier ensures more grass availability for the Texel cross lambs from the Scotch Mule ewe flock, of which 80% are sold by the end of July and purely off grass. All are cashed through Farmstock Scotland to Woodhead Bros, Turriff, for the Morrisons supermarket group.
All lambs receive minimum drugs too with most receiving the usual clostridial vaccine and drenching for worms only done when faecal egg counts have reached optimum levels.
Performance recorded, last year’s lamb crop again boasted some pretty impressive results, with 88% hitting E and U grades of which 55% were 2 and 3Ls. The average weight was 20.5kg.
“We have been recording our livestock for years and it has really helped us improve our stock,” said Robert. “How can you improve if you don’t know have a base to compare from?” 
All the male lambs and a large percentage of the female lambs are sold finished, with the top end of Texel cross ewe lambs retained as replacements. The biggest of these are tupped and lambed over a single turn to a Beltex ram, to ensure lambing finishes at the same time as the ewes. Most stock rams are bought at the Kelso Ram Sales.

The Scottish Farmer:

Farm manager, Andrew Maclean

While the early, creep-fed lambs often command the highest prices, Robert and Caroline believe it’s the grass-fed or milk-fed lamb that tastes superior and should attract more of a premium.
“Scottish milk-fed lamb is a phenomenal product and one that should be promoted more,” said Robert. “Supermarkets should be made aware of just how natural and local a product Scottish lamb is when more people are looking to shop and buy locally and being grass-fed it’s also extremely healthy and high in the Omega 3 fatty acids.”
Caroline added: “Milk-fed, grass-fed lamb is a completely different product to lamb imported from New Zealand or lamb sold off concentrates at the end of the year. It’s a pale, tender, delicious product and it should attract a premium compared to lamb sold later in the year,” she said.
“We have a fantastic product in grass-fed Scotch lamb, we just need to get the younger generation to taste it. So many young people have never tasted lamb because their parents don’t like it having been brought up with the smell of mutton.
“We have to concentrate on promoting the quality of Scotch lamb if we are ever to compete with with the lamb that is imported from New Zealand,” added Caroline.
Higher ex-farm prices are so badly needed too, as despite selling the vast majority of their lamb in spec and in the top two classification grades, there is precious little left in the kitty at the end of the day after the increased feed costs, additional labour at lambing, regular re-seeding and vet and med bills are taken into account.
In fact, while prime lambs and store cattle from Kings Arms regularly attract some of the top prices in the market place, the business is not only dependant on the Basic Farm Payment, but also an income from the couple’s half dozen holiday cottages.

But, despite the challenges that lie ahead in the year to come and post Brexit, there is one thing that is guaranteed – those attending Scotsheep at Kings Arms on Wednesday 30, are in for a right good day out. Whether it is catching up with friends old and new; comparing the trials and tribulations of this year’s lambing or finding out the latest technical developments, you will go home inspired, motivated, and raring to go again ...