It's summertime! Come along and find out how the Duncan Family are getting on with their re-seeds, lamb weaning and livestock health challenges

Making a success of re-seeds, lamb weaning and livestock health Testing & Treating

Event Programme

3.00pm - Arrival for Teas & coffee

3.15pm - Welcome & Update

3.30pm – Farm Walk with Topic Stations

·Graham Lofthouse & Andrew Best – Re-seeds – What’s the lay of the land?

Following on from the February meeting find out what has been happening on the ground with the re-seeding program.

· What have the challenges been?

· What has been done?

· How to you prepare ground for a re-seed?

· There is so much choice – picking the right grass mixture for your needs.

· How long does grass last? Knowing when to re-seed and reaping the benefits.

· Emily Grant – lamb weaning decisions

Lamb weaning was requested as a subject to cover from our February meeting. Weaning lambs is a key stage in the sheep production year, but shouldn’t be a fixed date. Deciding when to wean can help optimise production not only from the lambs on the ground but also for next year’s lamb crop. Emily will cover:

• The primary considerations of when to wean lambs.

• Pasture quality & quantity

• target weights and ewe BCS

• lamb health & nutritional requirements post weaning.

• Ewe management post weaning.

• Common Challenges & Solutions

Lamb weaning was requested as a subject to cover from our February meeting. Weaning lambs is an important process in sheep production, impacting their growth, health and long-term productivity. Emily will cover:

· The primary considerations of when to wean lambs.

· Preparing for weaning.

· Weaning methods.

· Post weaning lamb care.

· Ewe care after weaning.

· Common Challenges & Solutions

Helen Carty and Philip Skuce – Livestock Health Challenges

As the climate is changing our traditional seasons how do Scottish farmers meet the challenge of parasites and viruses adapting to new weather patterns.

How do you prioritise and manage testing and treating your flock and herds?

6.00pm (approx.)- BBQ

7.00pm - Close

STIRLINGSHIRE MONITOR FARM

Meet the Duncan Family - Lands of Drumhead Farm

Lands of Drumhead and Blairfad total 505ha (1,250ac) and are situated on the boundary of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, near Gartness hamlet in the Endrick valley. They are farmed by the Duncan family, who have a stratified system with the hill farm at Inveruglas producing replacements for the lowland units.

Two of Bruce and Shona’s four children have already returned to the farm from full-time education and are becoming increasingly involved in the running of the farms, with Gregor also returning home after working in New Zealand this winter. Bruce’s parents and father’s cousin also continue to be involved at their respective holdings.

The 30 hill suckler cows and 1,300 Black-faced ewes at Inveruglas have been the basis of the herds and flocks at Lands of Drumhead and Blairfad. In total, the Duncan’s are calving 180-190 cows each year and have a flock of 2,300 sheep.

The ambition of the programme is to instigate positive transformational change in innovative sustainable farming practices on nine farms across Scotland and to use the learnings from these farms for the benefit of farmers across the country.

Good to know

Car parking is very limited - car share if possible

Please wear suitable outdoor clothing and sturdy/waterproof footwear

Biosecurity - clean vehicles, footwear and clothing before attending

Sorry, no children under 16 or dogs are allowed

BOOKING ESSENTIAL