WE KEEP hearing that agriculture is on the cusp of huge, revolutionary change – and that things will never quite be the same again. This newspaper is old enough to know that there have been many such pivotal moments in our 128-year-old history. From the discovery that guano was a great fertiliser, to the introduction of the tractor and artificial insemination (AI) of livestock to speed up genetic improvement, it has been an industry that has embraced change. Where we stand now, though, is on the verge of another AI revolution. This time it’s Artificial Intelligence that will drive almost every sector and it’s hard to comprehend that such a broad brush will make such exacting and tiny changes across an entire industry.
After a phenomenal year in the sale rings, Archie MacGregor takes the focus of our attention this week as he shared his reasons for being hooked into the pedigree world. Born and bred at Allanfauld, that’s where it all began for him as it was home to a Blackface flock along with cross-bred suckler cows. In 1970, Allanfauld changed from using Aberdeen-Angus and Hereford bulls on the suckler herd to being some of the first Charolais breeders in the area and then using the bulls on the herd. “Charolais, in my opinion, is the best breed for crossing over any type of beef cattle, for quicker finishing, growth, conformation and fleshing,” said Archie, who runs the farm alongside son, John and shepherd, David Kinloch. They farm 2000 acres and now run 1600 Blackface ewes and around 60 breeding cows of the Charolais, Limousin and Luing breeds.