An Introduction to Aucheneck Estates

Aucheneck Estates are farming at Aucheneck with the nearby units of Hillhead of Catter, Shandon Drymen, Gallangard and Cairnlea, totalling some 1,915ha which is all rough grazing and permanent grassland.

The main enterprise is suckler cows. The business runs a herd of 600 suckler cows which starts with one farm running pure Shortorn cows put to Shorthorn bulls with heifers kept for replacements. Another farm has pure Shorthorn cattle run with Simental Bulls and heifers kept for other farms. Simental Shorthorn cows are then put to a British blue or Charolais bulls. The calves are sold as stores at about a year old. None of them are finished on the farm.

Approximately every year 1000 ha of silage are made usually from two cuts using the farms own equipment. The spreading system used is mainly slurry based with some FYM which is middened for at least two years before being spread. Digestate is available from a local AD plant but this opportunity is yet to be explored. Recent rush control has taken place using a rotawipe with glyphosate.

Campbell runs the business with stockmen to look after the livestock at each individual unit and carry out the tractor work. Campbell admits his land management skills are not up to standard so is looking forward to improving them by working with the project.