The importance of making livestock health and farm business decisions based on good use of data and information are joint themes at the Deeside Monitor Farm final summer open meeting.
Monitor Farmers Duncan and Claire Morrison pride themselves in maintaining good health in their livestock herd at Meikle Maldron, Torphins, Banchory. Visitors at the meeting, which starts at noon on Wednesday 8 July, will hear from Duncan alongside a variety of speakers; booking is now open.
Keynote speaker is Borders farmer Graham Lofthouse, from Bankhouse Farm, Stow, Galashiels, where he has600 UltiMate ewes/ewe lambs and 80 Aberdeen Angus x suckler cows as well as running his consultancy ‘Grazing to Profit’. Both the flock and herd are closed.
He will be discussing the use of data and information in livestock management. He believes decision making is about fundamentals; grass management, genetics, soil health and nutrition. He’ll explain what makes a good decision and what to do with this – and what you learn from bad decisions!
Shetland farmer Jamie Leslie will bring his insights into marketing stock and valuing a herd. A fifth-generation farmer at Scholland Farm at the south end of Shetland, he runs 115 suckler cows, predominantly Angus with a few Baldies included. He tups 700 ewes and hoggs which are made up a mix of Romeny, Lleyn and Texel genetics. Jamie uses a mixture of cropping, rotational and deferred grazing to try to produce good qualityanimals and meat at a reasonable cost. Consulting a network is key and Jamie will explain how this helps him and others decide stock levels on his Shetland farm. Forecasting grass covers and supply is important. Jamie says, ‘It’s the grass that tells you when to act.He’ll focus on how he operates, as much as what he does Adaptability is key.’
Ewan Jamieson, vet director at Meadows Vets, will discuss summer sheep worming strategies at Meikle Maldronand share concerning data he’s collected from local farms; one wormer showing just 12% efficacy. His insights will underscore the growing challenge of wormer resistance and the need for planned and informed worming practice.
Vet Tim Geraghty, UK and European veterinary specialist in cattle health and production, will focus on Johne’s disease. He will discuss how to find a simplified, cost-effective Johne’s disease control plan for your suckler herd, and an update of recent research by the Scottish Johne’s Disease working group on the importance of ‘silent’ shedders, and what to do about them.
The meeting will finish with a Q&A panel session led by Aberdeenshire farmer Alex Stephen.
Monitor Farm regional adviser Peter Beattie says: “With the current Monitor Farm programme due to end in early 2027, this is our final summer open meeting at Meikle Maldron, and it promises to be a fantastic afternoon with really good practical speakers. Attendees will have a chance to focus on making the best decisions for their farming businesses, and I look forward to welcoming everyone to the meeting.”