Scotland - Sheep genetics

"Figures don't make the sheep. Everything does."

Back in June2023, I was approached and asked if I would be interested in submitting an application to be part of the new Welsh sheep genetics programme. It was the day before I was due to drive to Scotland for the Royal Highland Show. After a brief conversation questioning the benefits and expectations, I thought sod it, why not? and quickly threw an application together before the fast approaching deadline which was only two days later. 

Genetics and data recording since my return from working in New Zealand in 2015 have always been a key focus area for me, and in a laughable sort of way, a real passion and drive for my own farming journey. Capturing data wherever possible has helped me make decisions about what path I want to take with my flock of Lleyn sheep. Two more trips back to New Zealand in 2019 and 2022 amongst UK knowledge transfer events have continued to re-ignite my enthusiasm for trying to continually improve and push myself more. Therefore, when this opportunity came forward I thought I would be stupid not to take advantage of it and try to learn as much as possible. By July I received the confirmation that my application had been approved and I had been selected as one of the new farms and flocks.

Early December took us on a study tour to Scotland to visit businesses which had been implementing data driven decisions in order to improve the genetic performance of their flocks and businesses for a number of years. I'm sure if you haven't already guessed, I LOVE any opportunity that arises for me to take a farm tour. This trip would provide three tours in total over a very jam packed two days. The 5am start on Monday morning to catch the bus in Builth Wells and the midnight return home on Tuesday night were definitely worth it though.

Farm tour number one took us to the Innovis Southfield farm situated in Hawick, Scottish Borders. A farming landscape I was used to seeing from my time lambing in the Scottish Borders a few years previous. 

Dewi Jones, Innovis' CEO and Hamish MacDonald, the nucleus flock and farm manager gave us the whistle stop tour of the farming system at Southfield Farm, and provided us with the detailed amount of benchmarking information they had gathered for the farm since their arrival three years ago. They explained the processes and costs for carrying out a full farm nutrient management plan in order to get a greater understanding of the soil health status and requirements along with the amount of infrastructure work necessary to set up the certain number of paddocks needed for their rotational grazing system and 1200 head of breeding ewes. They highlighted the introduction of woodland areas to increase their environmental credibility and explained the reason for moving from Wales to Scotland due to the obvious increase in the basic payment scheme. It was clear from the first ten minutes on farm, that they were not scared or embarrassed to share their financial data for their business.

The usual questions about scanning percentages and finishing crops were discussed before we witnessed a trial being carried out in one of the few sheds on farm. The trial was measuring the ruminant efficiency of the selection of 50 lambs within that group. Every kilo the lambs were eating could be measured in order to work out the efficiency of the feed whilst also displaying a representation of the sires used which in turn could feed back data into the breeding system.

Almost everything on the farm was being measured in one way or another and essentially all the data being collected, whether it was from the flock performance or system management side, was being used to continually find ways to try and improve and enhance their sheep operation. This is where Dewi highlighted that "figures don't make the sheep. Everything does".

Monday evening allowed us as a group to discuss the information we had been given over our evening meal before Sion Williams, Bowhill farm manager, which sits under the umbrella of the Buccleuch Estate, gave a brief presentation about the 18,000 acres he manages within the total 210,000 acre estate. Those figures alone were enough to make me realise my small farming system is only a speck of dust compared to the systems being run here in Scotland. Nevertheless, I always try to find the operation changes which can be made and taken away with me within these types of knowledge transfer opportunities. The scale can never be met however, processes and mindsets can almost always be applied.

Yet again, Sion was not afraid to reel off the financial and benchmarking figures for the different farming enterprises within the Bowhill estate. The most shocking fact for me was that the estate has four large mansion houses which each take one million pounds to heat and staff per year! Therefore the commercial arm of the business has an important part to play also.

Similar to Southfield, it was clear that everything where possible was being benchmarked within this farming set up. Technology was also playing a huge part in how the data was being gathered, stored and used within each enterprise. Grass measuring, drones for checking the deer, smart tags, no fence collars as well as EID equipment were just some of the technology being used to record and improve the efficiency of the business. Each member of staff would have the appropriate apps on their phones to help update information when needed and within certain timescales. Sion explained how he is always looking at new ways to improve the business and is aware that skilled labour is getting harder to find and will be challenging for the years ahead therefore, feels that more technology will help the industry moving forward.

Sion ended his presentation with the phrase "you can make more money if you farm it right". So much data and information was provided in Sion's presentation, and that was without actually seeing the farming set up. That excitement was awaiting us on Tuesday morning. Nevertheless, it was very clear again the importance of measuring, recording, gathering, or whatever word you decide to choose. Selecting the right breeds for your farming landscape along with recording any data which will help showcase the efficiency of the enterprise is key to ensuring the business has a future.

The farm tour on Tuesday morning did not disappoint. Seeing the different enterprises along with hearing more information about their role within the business structure provided great visuals for the information we had received the night before. Hearing how each pen of cattle gets cost individually down to the detail of how many bales of straw get used per pen showcased the accuracy of costing each individual animal on the farm. Seeing the number of staff employed for the farming business alone and listening to the apprenticeship opportunities offered were positive. Hearing the tenancy agreement changes being carried out in recent years, allowing the younger generations to get a foot on the ladder sooner were also interesting to hear from the estates point of view. And finding out the Duke and his family members are still heavily involved in the board of management and face to face discussions gave a personal touch to the company Sion works within. I mean, who wouldn't want to work alongside a Duke in a landscape like the image below?

I left Bowhill estate feeling inspired about the future of farming. Having the right team around you and a strong work ethic can achieve great things as long as you have the data to help you strive forward.

Picture from Bowhill Farm website.

Tuesday afternoon, after a quick nap on the return journey home, took us to our third and final farm tour of the trip. Jim Beary of Levens Farm, which is situated in the Westmorland Dales and not far from my favourite services on the M6. Tebay. We stopped there for lunch. I can confirm, it's still very good!

A 1200 acre hill farm with grazing rights on the fell provided Jim with a contract farming partnership he couldn't refuse. Similar to the previous two visits, Jim provided our group with specific information about the farming set up along with the detailed changes he had made since arriving. The main developments being with the livestock breeds and again a full farm nutrient management plan being undertaken to identify where soil health improvements needed to be made. Jim explained he had been fortunate to access grants which helped strengthen the water system on the farm as well as planting and enhancing hedgerows where needed for better shelter and environmental areas. Jim has had both a biodiversity audit carried out and undertaken two carbon audits in order to benchmark the data moving forward in future payment schemes. Discussions on herbal lays and kale as a finishing crop for the sheep enterprises proved popular on all farms, with Jim highlighting that the herbal lays scheme he joined paid £350/hectare to grow and already is proving to yield more pasture compared to the old farming system which relied heavily on bagged fertiliser.

Jim made it very clear that something radical needed to change within this farming system after his arrival. The business was losing too much money even with the subsidies being received. Alternative management options were a priority in moving the business forward for a more sustainable future. Enterprise stacking, data recording and innovative educational opportunities are now leading this business in a direction that will hopefully make both Jim and our UK farming industry proud. Surprisingly, it was Jim's closing words however which stuck with me the most from this visit.

As a group we had taken on board a lot of technical and practical information from these three farm visits over two jam packed days, and as farmers we are constantly seeing and hearing different methods in which businesses are being run that can sometimes lead to more confusion and stress. Jim highlighted that you "have to do what is right for you. Make your own mind up from the systems you see. Pick and choose and take what will work for you and improve for your own system. Every farm is different. Don't copy exact for exact as it simply will not work".

Being able to attend this study tour and visit these three inspiring farming systems, reassured me that the route I am trying to take with my flock will be of benefit to me moving forward. We are already fortunate as farmers to have the generational knowledge of the landscapes we run; however the data we are able to capture with the modern technology options available is now able to equip us with a greater insight into how our businesses can remain sustainable in the future. None of the farmers were afraid to share the problems and mistakes they have encountered along the way. Not everything is wonderful and successful in this farming industry and it's important that we share the mistakes and problems we face also. Overall, this has definitely been, for me personally, a very inspiring, motivational, optimistic but realistic trip.

The top things I have learnt on this trip are: 

1. Obviously, that data is key to getting a better understanding of your farming efficiency. Gather and use it wherever possible.

2. Enterprise stacking and thinking outside the box may open new doors for your business and its future direction and financial security.

3. Big isn't always better. Pay attention to the small details as they affect a lot more than you realise.

4. You can't park a 52 seater coach wherever you feel like it, however when you have an amazing driver called Niall you'll always get it out of a tricky situation.

5. To always check the bottom oven of the Aga for cats!

A few 'wee' gins may have been consumed for that last one lol.

Until next time

H x