The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
North Bethelnie ‘ideal’ host for Beef Event 2019
A leading north-east commercial beef farm has been unveiled as the host for Scotland’s Beef Event 2019.
The biennial national event, organised by the Scottish Beef Association (SBA), takes place on Thursday May 30 2019 at North Bethelnie Farm, Oldmeldrum, Inverurie.
The all-grass farm is run by Robbie and Barbara Milne, along with their son James.
It extends to 500 acres of owned land, plus 300 acres of hillground rented seasonally.
The enterprise comprises 320 Salers and Salers cross cows and a flock of 200 breeding ewes.
Cows are crossed with Charolais, Salers and Aberdeen-Angus bulls and all calves are either finished on the farm or sold as forward stores, depending on market conditions and available space.
Robbie Milne said: “We run a very commercial operation with a focus on profitability.
“We place great emphasis on ease of calving with the aim of achieving a high calving percentage and rearing as many calves as possible.”
SBA chairman Neil McCorkindale, who farms at Scammadale, near Oban, said the Milne family’s reputation for efficiency and the production of quality store and finished cattle made North Bethelnie an ideal venue for Scotland’s Beef Event next year.
He said: “The farm epitomises the north-east’s longheld reputation for the efficient production of high quality beef cattle.”
Vice-chairman David Barron of Nether Aden, Mintlaw, who is chairing the event’s organising committee, said: “North Bethelnie will be a great draw for beef farmers throughout Scotland and further afield.”