THE Scottish Farmer is proud and pleased to announce that we will be the media partners for this year’s Scotsheep event, which is due to take place on Robert and Hazel McNee’s Over Finlarg unit, near Dundee, on June 3.

This is already shaping up to be another fantastic venue for the biennial event which showcases the best of the Scottish sheep industry. It is organised by the Scottish region of the National Sheep Association.

And, look out in next week’s issue for the start of a series by the McNees on how things are shaping up for this important industry event. Next week: The scanning results are in!

This week, it has also been confirmed that the Clydesdale Bank has been named as the major sponsor of Scotsheep 2020. “Clydesdale Bank is delighted to be sponsoring the NSA Scotsheep event at Over Finlarg, which is a great venue and provides a real focus for the sheep sector at this important time of change post-Brexit,” said Brian Richardson, UK head of agriculture for the bank.

Previous NSA Scotsheep events held across Scotland have attracted thousands of livestock producers from all over the UK and this year visitors will have the chance to see first-hand how the McNees have developed both the farm and their business since moving to the 740-acre unit nine years ago.

“Over Finlarg is an ideal unit for hosting such a prestigious event,” said event chairman, Willy Millar, who runs a beef and sheep enterprise at Huntingfaulds, Tealing. “Robert and Hazel McNee are well-known for breeding top-quality livestock and there will be something of interest for everyone on the day.

“Field space for trade stands is currently filling up fast so we would encourage those interested to come forward,” he added.

And, there will be plenty to see on the McNee’s 740 acres as they also graze a neighbouring heather hill and rent 40 acres of seasonal grazing on a nearby farm. Both the sheep flock and suckler herd are now completely closed, with home-bred replacements used for breeding, and only tups and bulls bought in.

The McNees lamb 1100 head each year, comprising 600 hill-type North Country Cheviot ewes, of which 200 are bred pure and the remaining crossed to the Bluefaced Leicester for producing Cheviot Mules.

Some 200 Blackface ewes are crossed with home-bred, crossing-type Bluefaced Leicesters to produce Scotch Mules, which are then tupped by Texels and sold as hoggs with lambs at foot. Cheviot Mules are also sold through the sale ring as gimmers the following year.

Robert and Hazel also run 100 pure Texels and pedigree Bluefaced Leicesters for breeding tups for home use and shearlings for the commercial market.

Male lambs are finished on farm and sold deadweight, while ewe lambs are mainly sold on for breeding where they regularly command premium prices in the sale ring.

The farm also supports a well-known beef enterprise of 180 pedigree cows, including 100 Luings, 60 Limousins, 12 Simmentals and eight Charolais.

Trade stand space can be booked or further information given by the organiser, Euan Emslie, 3 Briar Close, Newport, Brough, East Yorkshire – Tel: 07718 908523 or e-mail: euan@nsascotland.org