‘Northies’ewe breeder leads sheep society

Awell-known breeder from the north has been named president of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society.

Robert MacDonald, who farms at Castle Grant Home Farm, near Grantown, was appointed to the role at the society’s AGM last Saturday.

He will serve a two-year term, replacing Welsh breeder Melfyn Williams.

He has been involved with North Country Cheviot sheep since the early 1980s and is a native to the Isle of Skye, having moved to Strathspey in 1997.

His father and uncle made the switch to the breed due to economic reasons and Robert’s stuck with Northies ever since, bringing the family’s bloodlines with him to Castle Grant to establish his own flock.

“We were getting a better lambing percentage from the Northies and there was a higher value for the draft ewes,” said Mr MacDonald.

“Northie ewes will do two to three more crops of lambs on kinder ground once they have left the hill, producing major economic benefits.

“I was impressed with them from the start – they are a great all-round hill sheep.”

He said his main focus in the role would be to continue to promote the breed to the best of his ability.

“The role of the North Country Cheviot Sheep Society is to ensure the growth in popularity of the breed by highlighting the benefits to as many people as possible,” added Mr MacDonald.

The farm consists of heather and permanent pasture with in-bye arable crops.

It is home to 570 hill-type ewes and a 125-head commercial beef suckler herd.

Robert keeps 250 of the ewes for breeding pure, with the remainder tupped to either a Bluefaced Leicester or Suffolk ram.

His lambs are sold in the store market and around 15 to 20 tups are sold for breeding each year.

In 2012, he produced a breed record at the time for a tup, when Castle Grant Jackpot sold at auction for 17,000gns.

PRESIDENT: Robert MacDonald, from Grantown, was elected last Saturday.