It is hoped Valais Blacknose will be a lucrative enterprise for Andrew and Jo Morris of Logie Farm, near Newburgh, which coupled with the family’s new agri-tourism glamping pods – will prove a recipe for success.
Having moved down to the Fife district from Caithness back in December 2018, the Morris family was looking forward to what their home and what the farm had to offer.
“One of the main reasons behind the move was because my grandfather and dad worked so hard over the decades we were able to maximise every opportunity at Olrig Mains. Therefore, when we sold the farm, it was in the best condition we could get it.
“My dad and I couldn’t make it any better – we almost felt stuck in what we were doing, so we looked to explore new challenges and opportunities and Logie Farm appeared to offer just that,” explained Andrew.
“I always wanted to have a go at farming further south. With a generally warmer and less windy climate, modern farm buildings, opportunity to diversify and room for expansion in the future, the move just made sense.”
Andrew alongside Andrew’s father, Iain and Jo now farm some 500 acres at Logie comprising 220 acres of wheat, 50 acres of spring oats, 100 acres of vegetable lets, with the rest as permanent pasture.
Logie Farm is also home to 500 ewes of which 100 are North Country Cheviots and the remainder being commercially-run Texel cross Cheviot sheep, as well as a small herd of eight pedigree Charolais cattle.
They also rent an additional 300 acres of permanent grass from neighbouring farmers, which they utilise for grazing and producing fodder.
Alongside the established main flock Jo has more recently invested in some new woolly ventures – Valais Blacknose.
“Originally, Andrew wasn’t overly happy about their arrival at Logie but he has really warmed to them. Our children were getting to an age that they were looking to be more involved with the sheep, however, the Cheviots were just too strong for them to handle so that is where the Valais Blacknose stepped in,” commented Jo.
“Temperament was the main attraction as they are great for kids to work with. They just look so majestic and enchanting – they suit the hillside. Another plus for us is that they are so friendly with our glamping pod guests, which adds to their experience,” she added.
“After a discussion with Raymond Irvine during a Highland Show kist party, we managed to purchase four wedder lambs from him and that kicked off our little flock. We hope to get numbers up to around 20 breeding ewes but we will wait and see. They are a lot of work as they need clipped twice per year and a little extra TLC on occasion – but as a breed they really are fantastic.”
The Morris’ Valais Blacknose flock now totals some eight sheep following the addition of two ewe lambs from Herefordshire-based breeders, Hayley and Phil Garrod.
“We liked the females from Phil and Hayley as they retained the true Swiss breeding lines that we were looking for, and want to continue to breed with. For us, it’s all about keeping that true Swiss line within our flock” said Andrew.
With quality always in mind, Andrew and Jo are ensuring that any potential additions to the flock meet their strict criteria.
“We are not looking to buy in anymore females and instead work at building up numbers internally. It’s more looking for tups that is the real challenge. We like something that is true to form and good on its feet,” Jo explained.
“One aspect we won’t be looking at is crossing the Valais with another breed. We think it takes away from what the breed is all about, and it’s just not the option for us.”
The Valais Blacknose ewes are run with the tup from the end of August with the first lambs hitting the ground at the beginning of February, whilst the main flock of Cheviots and commercials are tupped from October onwards with lambing kicking off in March. Last year’s flock scanned in at 165%.
Everything is brought indoors for lambing, with the Valais Blacknose brought inside in November and only released back outdoors when the weather picks up. All pregnant ewes are fed a pound of ewe rolls, alongside hay.
Triplets are lifted and either reared as pet lambs or twinned onto single-bearing ewes.
The Morris family has already reaped some rewards from their Valais flock having sold a ram at the online Blacknose Beauty sale two years ago along with other private sales.
“We are not in the breed for the money, but obviously it helps when it comes to funding a flock. We won’t be looking at selling females until we hit a point where we have surplus,” stated Jo.
Outwith the Valais Blacknose flock, early-born lambs are finished straight off grass, whilst the remainder are sold store through the live ring between Caledonian Marts and United Auctions, in Stirling. Last year, Andrew and Jo sold 250 store lambs to average £103 per head, with the 150 early fat lambs balancing out at £125.
“We didn’t sell a lot of our ewe lambs this year as we are retaining all of our own replacement females. When we originally moved, we came down with 200 breeding ewes in total so we had to start buying in – which also brought in health problems as a result,” said Andrew.
For the first time, last year, the family sold their Cheviot rams through Lockerbie, with the two tups cashing in at £550 a head.
“We brought the Cheviot ewes down with us and started running under a new prefix, now known as ‘Logie’. We will always look to retain Cheviots as they are a good versatile ewe that can be put to any terminal sire and produce a tremendous lamb,” Andrew added.
With the return of show season this year, the Morris family alongside their much-loved Swiss sheep will be making their debut at local shows as well as the Royal Highland.
The family is however no stranger to the show ring having picked up a few titles in their time.
“We stood reserve champion at Fife Show with a North Country Cheviot gimmer last month and we have had some show success as a family in years gone bye. In 2010 we won the British Charolais championship and reserve inter-breed honours at the Royal Highland Show with a heifer, Olrig Dubarry,” explained Andrew.
“Dad and I and a group of other breeders would travel to the Royal Highland, Great Yorkshire and Royal Shows exhibiting Cheviots from our own flock while also showcasing the breed, back in the 1960s and it was always my goal to get Cheviots back to the Highland Show under my name. Last year marked our return to the show since 2009 and we are thoroughly looking forward to taking Cheviots, commercials and the Valais Blacknose this year.”
If Jo and Andrew weren’t busy enough, the couple has also invested in two luxury Armadilla pods complete with hot tubs which are situated on the hillside above the farm. Having finally opened in November 2021, following a nine-month delay due to the Covid, their new venture is up and running with plans for further additions.
“The idea of the pods had been in the pipeline before we even moved down to Logie. We worked with agri-advisor Martin Rennie of Galbraiths who has been a huge support from the start and helped us do the forward planning,” said Jo.
“It’s great to finally have the two pods up and running – which have been non-stop since they have opened up. Our Valais Blacknose sheep are also usually kept in the field surrounding the pods and our visitors just love them, so they help bring that extra bit of farm experience straight to the door of the customer.”
Looking to the future, both Jo and Andrew are excited about where the Valais Blacknose breed and their flock is headed.
“The society within the UK is growing from strength to strength and with the breed gaining more recognition, prices have remained strong so we hope this continues.
“It’s great to see more breeders coming to the fore and for the breed to have a class of its own at the Highland Show is confirmation how popular they are. We cannot deny that when the Irvines promoted the breed on This Farming Life, it showcased the Valais and gave them a platform – something we are also keen to replicate,” said Andrew.
Jo concluded: “Ultimately the Cheviots and commercial sheep are our bread and butter but the Valais Blacknose has a good future here at Logie Farm.
“We plan to just work away with the right breeding and build up flock numbers, and see where the breed will take us in the future.”
FARM facts
Farm – Logie Farm located near Newburgh is home to the Morris family, totalling some 500 acres, comprising 220 acres of wheat, 50 acres of spring oats, 100 acres of vegetables and the remainder grass. The family also rent a further 300 acres of extra grassland.
Rented Land- approximately 300 acres of grassland
Sheep – 500 ewes of which 100 are NCC, with eight Valais Blacknose and the rest being commercial ewes.
Lambing – Beginning of February through to March/ April, all indoors.
Shearing – Valais are clipped twice per year at the end of March and then in September. NCC and Commercial ewes are generally clipped in June.
ON THE spot
Best advice you’ve been given? A good friend of ours, Rab Robertson, once told us: "Fortune favours the brave" and we have reminded ourselves of that advice regularly since our adventure south.
Best investment? Moving down to Logie Farm.
Biggest achievement? It has to be our children.
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