The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Insight into making start in deer sector
livestock: Couple hope open day will provide inspiration for other farmers
The British Deer Farms and Parks Association is hosting an open day this weekend to provide aspirational farmers with a comprehensive picture of the sector.
New entrant farmers Jamie and Natalie Hammond open the gates of Cassafuir Farm, at Blairhoyle, Port of Menteith, on Saturday.
The couple, who work full-time away from the farm, launched the fledgling agricultural business around 18 months ago after moving to the farm in 2014.
“We’ve farmed the 160 acres at Cassafuir for the last three years, utilising it for grass lets,” said Jamie, who has gained wider experience of the venison sector as a Deer Management Officer for Scottish National Heritage.
“Our first deer did not arrive at the farm until August last year, so the enterprise has certainly been a long time in the planning.”
The couple have a herd of 60 hinds and two stags, but plan to steadily increase their numbers over the coming years to approximately 150 head.
“As new entrants and young farmers we were eligible for rural payment start-up and grant funding, which has certainly helped with the considerable investment required in terms of readying the farm and its infrastructure for the livestock,” Jamie added.
This includes the installation of around 8,000 metres of high fencing, which is now almost three-quarters complete, as well as a new shed and handling systems, stock and machinery.
“We also had to put in a huge amount of groundwork to improve the pasture, so had further investments in lime, fertiliser and general ground maintenance.
“It’s been a long process, but one that we hope will prove rewarding.”
While Jamie’s role at SNH had a large influence on the couple’s move into the venison sector, Natalie – who works as a director of a landscape gardening company – also had a strong interest in utsing their farmland constructively.
“There’s also currently a great demand for venison, so we certainly saw clear scope for a business modelled around the breeding and finishing of deer for the meat and game market,” Jamie added.
The couple rented farmland before the opportunity to buy Cassafuir arose.
“We hope the open day will provide some good inspiration for farmers that are keen to learn more about the deer sector,” said Jamie.
“Those that attend will get the opportunity to see everything we’ve had to put in place, but they’ll also get advice from some key players in the industry, which proved vital for us as we made the steps to move our business idea forward.”