FASNACLOICH’s Glencreran Estate will host one of two national farm walks being held by the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) in December to highlight the value of outwintering cattle in hill or woodland areas.
Beef producers across Scotland are invited to join in the farm walks on December 4 and 13 on two commercial farms where best practice techniques for outwintering cattle are being evaluated. The project which is run by SAC, is co-funded by QMS and supported by animal feed company Rumenco.
The Glencreran Estate walk is on Thursday December 13 at 1.00pm and is courtesy of farmer, John Livingstone.
The estate totals 5,300 hectares dominated by hill land rising from sea level to 950 m.
Silage is taken from 40 hectares of improved land. Rainfall is 3,000 – 4,000 mm with mild winters but heavy snow can be a hazard on the mountain peaks.
In 2003/2004, the estate cleared its sheep flock of 1,000 ewes, mainly due to the shortage and cost of casual labour for gathering. There are 50 cows and the objective is to increase this number to 60 in the medium term - mainly spring/summer calving. The early born calves (March) are sold off their mothers in November/December with the rest being overwintered and sold in the spring. Two Limousin and one Highland bull are used on predominantly Limousin crosses. The cows are not wintered on the hills but in open woodland where they are fed silage. Cake is then introduced.
Prior to calving the cows are moved onto enclosed areas. Although silage is fed the benefit of this system is that the cattle are outwintered in areas that can take them through the winter, and not taken in to sheds which have a high financial cost.
A current objective is to find ways to cheapen the cow systems.
The other walk is at Auchenbainzie in Dumfriesshire.
