A small fold of black Highland cattle enjoying the sunset over Loch Awe, near Dalmally. They are part of the much larger Cladich fold of Highlanders belonging to Jon and Queenie Strickland, and are running with Balach Dubh of Craigowmill, an aged bull bou UK GOVERNMENT officials need to wake up to the severity of the threat posed by African swine fever and enforce stricter biosecurity measures. This message came at the start of October, from pig farmer and chair of NFU Scotland’s pigs committee, Jamie Wyllie, who has criticised the powers that be for failing to prepare the country for a disease which could ‘devastate its pig population’ and threaten food security. He told The SF that other pig-producing countries were taking much more stringent measures to protect their herds from ASF, which leads to 100% pig mortality. “During a recent trip to Canada, every poster on the way down to collect my luggage warned of ASF and we had to sign declaration cards on entry with questi
This six-month-old Texel ram belonging to the Boden family entered the history books, selling for the world leading price of 350,000gns. Sportsmans Double Diamond was sold to three breeders after an action-packed sale at Lanark Mart (Pic: Catherine Macgre DEMAND FOR premium cuts of meat surged as diners took advantage of the UK Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme to indulge in high-end steaks. More than 64million meals were enjoyed UK-wide under the initiative – which saw diners claim a 50% discount on food and drinks on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, during August, up to a maximum of £10 off per person. The scheme was enthusiastically welcomed by the hospitality industry and across Scotland butchers saw a huge demand for beef to accommodate the rise in high-end steak orders from chefs.
GALLOWAY’S FINEST Chris Ryman and Helen Ryman, herd manager for Mochrum Estate, near Newton Stewart, with RHASS honorary president, Fiona Armstrong and a brace of Belties that are set to be the stars of next year’s Royal Highland Show promotio JULY FIGURES were published showing that rural crime had significantly decreased in Scotland over the past three months, assisted by Covid-19 restrictions, an uptake in the use of trackers on plant and farm machinery and some timely action by Police. The Police Scotland National Rural Crime Unit reported a 39% reduction in rural thefts this April, May and June, compared to the same quarter last year. Also, for the first quarter of 2020, there was a 114% increase in the amount of farm and plant machinery recovered – with 130 vehicles worth more than £400,000 returned to owners. During the summer of 2019 there was a huge drive by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime to meet rural dwellers at agricultural shows and community e
The Royal Highland Show will go ahead next year after organisers launched an appeal to ensure the event's survival against the backdrop of the pandemic.