Top beef, dairy and sheep farms

The best beef, dairy and sheep farms in Scotland were unveiled at the AgriScot event in Edinburgh yesterday.

First up, the Scottish Dairy Farm of the Year 2017 award was presented to the Hamilton family at Meldrum, Blairdrummond.

The family’s 825-cow Holstein herd is averaging 11,955kg, and cattle have an average first calving age of 23.5 months and a calving index of 379 days.

David Hamilton said: “We have an excellent team and it’s great for them to be rewarded in this way. We had incredibly strong opposition and so a win amongst such good company really helps us to continue striving to improve what we do and keep our focus on the future.”

“It’s great for them to be rewarded in this way”

Next up the Scottish Sheep Farm of the Year Award was presented to Borders farmers Charley and Andrea Walker, of Barnside Farm in Abbey Saint Bathans, near Duns.

The couple run an 840ewe flock of Easycare ewes, put to a New Zealand Texel ram, on their 617-acre unit.

Charley Walker said: “We’re surprised and delighted to have won the award. Running our farm business is very much a team effort involving all the family.”

Lastly, the Scotch Beef Farm of the Year award was presented to the Fleming family, who run Castle Sinniness Farm, near Glenluce in Dumfries and Galloway.

The farm is one of three units, extending to a total of 593 acres, carrying a herd of 220 Aberdeen-Angus and Angus cross suckler cows and followers on a low-input grass and forage-based system.

Robert Fleming said of the award win: “The award is great recognition of what we are doing but there is always scope for further improvements and we’ll continue to focus on increasing our output by making the best use of our forage.”