Spotlight on Sheep Profitability at Nithsdale Monitor Farm

A close look at the opportunities to improve sheep enterprise profitability will be on the cards at the next meeting of the Nithsdale Monitor Farm at Clonhie on Thursday July 27th.

The meeting, which is free to attend and starts at 1.45pm, will examine the gross margin figures (£/head and £/ha) at Clonhie. These will be compared with the QMS Enterprise Costings figures and targets for the future will also be set.

Iain Macdonald, Senior Economics Analyst with Quality Meat Scotland, will give an overview of the sheep market and the outlook for trade as well as leading a discussion on the future opportunities and challenges for the industry.

And Dewi Jones from Innovis will take a look at where the opportunities for sheep farmers going forward may be. He will consider what composite/New Zealand breeds have to offer in terms of performance compared with traditional breed types, along with the science and selection behind the concept.

Host farmer Andrew Marchant will also give an update on areas including lambs sold, over-seeding, silage and bulling and how the grass is performing on the farm. There will also be an opportunity to view the kale crop and to see the ewes and lambs and cows running with the bull. 

The Nithsdale monitor farm is one of nine monitor farms that have been established around Scotland in a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds. The aim of the programme, which is funded by Scottish Government, is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.

Monitor farm meetings are open and free for all farmers to attend and the Clonhie meeting will round-off at 4.30pm with a BBQ.

To book your place please contact Judith Hutchison, by 12 noon on Tuesday 25th July on 07718 919055 or email judith.agridigm@icloud.com .

For more information about the monitor farm programme click here or visit cereals.ahdb.org.uk.