North-east farming couple are Bleu believers
A young farming couple is on a mission to promote Bleu du Maine sheep to fellow producers in the north of Scotland.
sheep
Bluefaced Leicesters the toast of north rams sale
Bluefaced Leicester shearlings from Westhall, Forgandenny, led the way at the annual show and sale of rams at United Auctions’ Huntly centre on Saturday.
Farming union calls red meat crisis meeting
A red meat crisis meeting has been called by NFU Scotland’s (NFUS) north-east office bearers to discuss current “unsustainable” beef prices and the pressures which are also being felt by sheep producers.
Call for better use of CT to breed sheep for more meat
Sheep farmers are being challenged to breed for extra chops by making more use of the information provided by the CT scanning of live lambs.
Texel cross Beltex the toast of show and sale
A cross-bred shearling from David Moir, Home Farm, Cairness, sold for the top price of 2,100gn at Aberdeen and Northern Marts’ (ANM) annual show and sale of pedigree rams at Thainstone.
Beltex rams at up to 3,600gn in steady trade
Beltex rams met a steady trade at the Beltex Scotland show and sale at Lawrie & Symington’s Lanark Mart, with shearling averages up while gimmers were back on the year, but more sold.
Show to feature more than 700 pedigree rams
More than 700 pedigree rams will go under the hammer at a special sale in the north-east next week.
Sheep stranded for 10 days after breaking pelvis during cliff plunge now rescued and on the mend
A fundraiser has been launched for a “very lucky” sheep who was rescued after being stranded on a cliff with a broken pelvis for 10 days.
Sheep grazing again on Hampstead Heath after 70 years
Sheep have been let loose to graze on London’s Hampstead Heath for the first time since the 1950s in a bid to keep vegetation in check in an environmentally-friendly way.
Buyers brush off Brexit at iconic Lairg Lamb Sales
Scotland’s sheep industry brushed aside dire predictions of post-Brexit annihilation yesterday and quietly got on with the business of selling and buying lambs at one of the country’s landmark sales.
Sheep herded along Whitehall by anti-Brexit campaigners
A flock of sheep was herded along Whitehall on Thursday by campaigners who say a no-deal Brexit could force half of UK farms out of business.
Rare pieces of Highland China pottery discovered
A collection of handmade pottery once crafted at one of Scotland's largest china factories, based in the Highlands, will go on sale in Aviemore this weekend.
Family target Mair prizes as Beltex breed proclaimed top of the flocks
A family renowned for producing quality stock in the north-east of Scotland has backed the Beltex breed for many years, reaping the rewards at shows and sales to put the breed on the map.
Aberdeenshire breeder crowned top of flocks at Suffolk show and sale
North-east breeder Jimmy Douglas was top of the flocks at the Carlisle and Northern Counties Society show and sale of Suffolks.
Zwartbles’ top sale goes for 2,200gn
Zwartbles topped at 2,200gn at the breed’s premier show and sale in Carlisle.
Scalpay sheep take to the high seas
Sheep on the tiny island of Scalpay, near Harris were keen to not get their feet wet when making one of their many trips to pastures new this week.
Hunt begins to find best beef and sheep farms in Scotland
The hunt is on to find the best beef and sheep farms in Scotland.
Burke family the toast of Beltex show
The Burke family – Graham and Fiona, and their daughter Rachel – secured the supreme championship at the Scottish National Beltex Show, at Border Union Show.
Prices for new season lambs at a four-year low
Figures have revealed farmers and crofters are receiving the lowest prices in four years for new season lambs, according to Quality Meat Scotland (QMS).
Birness leads Scottish national Suffolk sale at 43,000gn
Aberdeenshire breeders led the charge at the Scottish area show and sale of Suffolks in Stirling yesterday.
Ewe need some help – as sailor rescues sheep stuck on rock
A sheep was rescued from a perilous position on a rock by some passing sailors, after it had become surrounded by water while enjoying some seaweed on a small crag.
‘Brexit will cause significant upheaval for beef and sheep producers’
The worst fears for farmers, caught up in a no-deal Brexit, have been heightened by the release of a new industry report showing that such an outcome would cause significant upheaval for Britain’s beef and sheep producers.
North-east Suffolk breeders prepare for national sale
Suffolk breeders from across the UK and Ireland will descend on United Auctions’ Stirling Agricultural Centre for the breed’s Scottish National show and sale next week.
Defra: No plans for ‘widespread cull of livestock’ if there is no-deal Brexit
Officials have denied drawing up plans for the slaughter of millions of sheep in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Gimmer fetches a sale-topping 6,000 guineas
Pedigree Suffolk females sold to a top of 6,000gn at the Borderway Beauties sale in Carlisle.
Texel gimmer is Royal Highland Show interbreed champion
The sheep interbreed championship at this year's Royal Highland Show was awarded to the Texel gimmer from Brian MacTaggart, of Douganhill Farms, Castle Douglas.
Royal Highland Show rings dominated by female cattle
It was very nearly a clean sweep for the ladies in the cattle rings at yesterday’s Royal Highland Show with 12 out of 13 championships taken by cows or heifers.
Warden required to maintain Orkney sheep dyke
Orkney’s most northerly island community is seeking applicants to look after a historic stone dyke that plays a vital part in the management of a unique local breed of ancient seaweed-eating sheep.
EBV for number of days to slaughter announced
A new estimated breeding value (EBV) for days to slaughter has been developed for the sheep sector.
Two people charged following alleged sheep worrying incident that caused death of three animals
Three sheep were killed after an alleged incident of sheep-worrying at a farm in the Dunphail area of Forres.
Man and woman charged over alleged incident which left three sheep dead
A 32-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman have been charged following an alleged sheep worrying incident involving a dog at a farm in Moray.
Meet Effie: The two-month-old Highland lamb who thinks she’s a dog
Effie the lamb thinks she’s a dog – and she is inseparable from her two best canine friends.