AN ABERDEENSHIRE commercial beef farm will be the venue for the Scottish Beef Association’s biennial national beef event next year.

Taking place on Thursday, May 30, Scotland’s Beef Event 2019 will be hosted at North Bethelnie, Old Meldrum, by Robbie and Barbara Milne, and their son, James.

The all-grass farm extends to 500 acres owned, plus 300 acres grass and 364 acres hill rented seasonally, and supports a suckler herd of 320 Salers and Salers cross cows and flock of 200 breeding ewes. Cows are crossed with Charolais, Salers and Aberdeen-Angus bulls and all calves are either finished on the farm or sold as forward stores, depending on market conditions and available space.

“We run a very commercial operation with a focus on profitability,” said Mr Milne. “We place great emphasis on ease of calving with the aim of achieving a high calving percentage and rearing as many calves as possible.”

SBA chairman, Neil McCorkindale, of Scammadale, Oban, said the Milne’s reputation for efficiency and the production of quality store and finished cattle made North Bethelnie an ideal venue for Scotland’s Beef Event.

“The farm epitomises the North-east’s long-held reputation for the efficient production of high quality beef cattle,” said Mr McCorkindale.

Vice-chairman, David Barron, of Nether Aden, Mintlaw, who will chair the organising committee, said he was delighted the Milne family had agreed to host the event: “North Bethelnie will be a great draw for beef farmers throughout Scotland and further afield,” he said.

Organisation will be in the hands of Natalie Cormack, who has acted as organiser for the last two Scottish beef events, at Mains of Mause, Blairgowrie, in 2015 and Fans, Earlston, in 2017.

Sponsorship and trade enquiries should be directed to Ms Cormack, Scotland’s Beef Event 2019, Dairy Cottage, Tower Road, Ayton, Berwickshire, TD14 5QX.