Scots farmers underline potential of precision breeding techniques
FOLLOWING the announcement in the Queen’s Speech in Parliament that the UK Government is to support agricultural and scientific innovation, including legislation to unlock potential of new farming technologies such as gene editing, NFU Scotland has welcomed the proposed Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill.
NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy said: “Scottish farmers and crofters, backed by some world leading research facilities here in Scotland, have always shown themselves to be early adopters of new farming technologies. NFU Scotland believes precision breeding techniques such as gene editing have considerable potential to deliver benefits for food, agriculture and climate change to build on the significant amount of work that farmers and crofters are already undertaking to establish more sustainable and resilient farming systems.
“New technologies, including the likes of gene editing can help positively address some of the big challenges Scottish agriculture faces, including how we respond to the climate emergency and address biodiversity loss. We firmly believe that precision breeding techniques as a route to crop and livestock improvement could allow us to grow crops which are more resilient to increased pest and disease pressure brought about by our changing climate and more extreme weather events. It would also allow us to use new breeding techniques to breed more productive, efficient animals that need less inputs to protect their welfare. This could be crucial in enabling our farmers to become truly sustainable.”
Market round-up MESSRS Craig Wilson sold 504 prime and cast sheep at Newton Stewart yesterday. A heavy show of new season lambs sold to a top of £144 for a pair of Suffolks and to 300p/ kg for another Suffolk to average £138 overall.
The 314 hoggets still sold well to average 255p (-5p). Top prices were £149 and 302p/kg for different pens of Beltex. In the cast ring leaner export ewes would be dearer with other classes remaining similar. Top price was £208 for Beltex tups, with Beltex ewes to £174. Mules sold to £127 and Blackfaces peaked at £121.
C&D Auction Marts held its sale of primestock in Dumfries yesterday where prime cattle sold to 294p/kg for a Limousin cross heifer, with Angus heifers to 252p.
Dairy type OTMS sold to £1,656 or 185p for a Holstein Friesian, while beef types peaked at £1,576 for a Simmental and 230p for a Shorthorn.
There were also 404 prime and cast sheep sold through Dumfries. A very mixed, end of season, show of hoggs peaked at £127 for Suffolks, with Texels not far behind at £123. Cheviots sold to £121 and Blackfaces to £118. The 165 cast sheep peaked at £224 for a Texel tup, while cast ewes sold to £186 for Blue Texels with Blackfaces to £117.