What do giant cows, Bill and Ben The Flowerpot Men, teddy bears and clowns have in common?They’re all previous entrants of the annual Young Farmers’ “bale art” competition, which returned to fields across Scotland this week.
What do giant cows, Bill and Ben The Flowerpot Men, teddy bears and clowns have in common?
They’re all previous entrants of the annual Young Farmers’ “bale art” competition, which returned to fields across Scotland this week.
This year, members of the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) have gone head to head in a challenge set by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) requiring them to create art from bales that celebrate the Scotch Lamb PGI brand.
Importance of the challenge
Fans of the art are encouraged to show their appreciation by donating to a JustGiving page, with all proceeds going to the STV Children’s Appeal, which supports children and young people affected by poverty in Scotland.
TV presenter Lorraine Kelly, who is a trustee and huge supporter of the STV Children’s Appeal, will judge the Young Farmers’ finalist entries in the bale art competition and select the overall winner.
“I had the pleasure of judging this competition last year and was overwhelmed by the creativity and diversity of the bale art structures,” said Ms Kelly. “I can’t wait to see the entries this year!
“I’d like to thank the young farmers who are helping to raise money for the STV Children’s Appeal, an incredibly worthwhile cause which helps children who endure tough times throughout Scotland. Good luck to everyone who is taking part.”
The challenge comes amid QMS’s nine-week campaign to get the country enjoying more Scotch Lamb which, following £200,000 of funding from the Scottish Government, will for the first time include TV advertising alongside radio, print, digital and billboard.
Carol McLaren, marketing and communications director with QMS, said: “This is the second year that the bale art is helping celebrate Scotch Lamb, made all the more poignant by the fact that many of the young farmers taking part come from generations of sheep farmers who have helped the brand earn its worldwide reputation for the highest quality.
“Don’t forget to look out for the blue Scotch Lamb PGI logo that has popped up in fields across Scotland during the competition when purchasing lamb in your local butchers or supermarket.”
David Lawrie, SAYFC national chair said: “It’s been great to work once again with QMS on our iconic bale art, promoting Scotch Lamb and Young Farmers across Scotland.”
To make a donation to the STV Children’s Appeal, please visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/baleart2018.
Reproduction management
to feature at Shetland
Monitor Farm meeting
Ensuring high-fertility levels in suckler cows and selection of breeding rams are two of the subjects which will be covered at the next Shetland Monitor farm meeting at Bigton on Sunday 7 October.
Rod McKenzie from Muirton Farm, Munlochy, on the Black Isle, will lead a discussion on the selection of breeding tups. Rod, a well-known Cheviot breeder who has been involved in promoting performance recording in sheep since 1988, will highlight the value of using estimated breeding values (EBVs) in conjunction with visual and physical assessments when selecting tups.
Rod will also offer some guidance on dressing tups for sale, which will be followed by a hands-on, practical exercise on ram selection featuring Suffolk, Cheviot and Shetland tups.
Host farmers Kirsty and Aimee Budge are keen to increase the productivity of their flock of 280 Shetland cross Cheviot ewes.
“Improving the performance of our sheep flock is one of the main opportunities highlighted by the benchmarking carried out as part of the Monitor Farm process,” said Kirsty.
“Selecting tups with the right characteristics and traits, which will perform well in our flock is obviously key to boosting fertility levels and ultimately lamb numbers and quality.”
Cattle management topics will also be covered at the meeting. Derek Hanton, senior consultant from SAC Consulting, Inverness, will discuss the nutritional requirements of both cows and growing cattle and look at the rationing options to ensure optimum performance over the winter months.
“Achieving target growth rates for calves is key to the profitability of store cattle systems but perhaps even more important is making sure that cows overwinter well and are in the right condition come calving time next spring,” said Mr Hanton.
“Getting the ration right in terms of meeting requirements and cost effectiveness is a key element of maximising the bottom line for sucker systems.”
Kirsty and Aimee Budge will also update the group on developments at Bigton since the last meeting including the barley trial plots and the lessons from the 2018 grazing season.
The Shetland Monitor Farm is one of nine monitor farms that have been established around Scotland in a joint initiative by Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and AHDB Cereals & Oilseeds. The aim of the programme, which is funded by Scottish Government, is to help improve the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Scottish farm businesses.
The meeting on Sunday 7 October, which is free to attend, will begin at Bigton Hall at 11am.
Lunch will be provided, and the meeting will finish at approximately 3pm.
To book your attendance (and lunch) please contact Graham Fraser, SAC Consulting Lerwick on 01595 693520 or email frbslerwick@sac.co.uk
For more information about the monitor farm programme visit www.monitorfarms.co.uk
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