Lamb loss project findings to be shared at Laurencekirk event

Sheep farmers will hear the latest findings of a project aimed at reducing lamb losses at an open event near Laurencekirk this month

SAC Consulting, part of SRUC, Scotland Rural College, will share the initial findings of a three-year project on six focus farms in Scotland’s main sheep-producing areas.

The event at Glensaugh Research Farm will feature the experiences of Duncan McEwan of Arnprior, near Stirling, and Andrew Baillie of Carstairs Mains, Carstairs.

They will be joined by Aaron Byrnes who is originally from Australia but is now farming near New Deer in Aberdeenshire; Donald Barrie, farms manager at the James Hutton Institute hill farm at Glensaugh; and Peter Eccles, Lothians Farm manager from Saughland Farm, Pathhead.

Further information will be shared by SRUC’s Kirkton and Auchtertyre Farms, near Crianlarich.

SAC sheep consultant Poppy Frater said the project farmers focus on body condition scoring, abortion control, late pregnancy nutrition, lambing management and lamb loss recording.

“This helps to coordinate an effective whole farm management approach to achieve target scanning percentage and, more importantly, target rearing percentage,” she said.

The event will also feature presentations by nutritionists and vets who will focus on trace element nutrition and related health issues.

The meeting, which will start with lunch, will involve a farm walk to see how Glensaugh manage nutrition, recording and body condition scoring to achieve their targets.

The event is free but anyone planning to attend is asked to register by contacting SAC Consulting on 01835 823322.

The project aims to reduce lamb losses.