Quality Meat Scotland: Decision Making (Part 1) at the Deeside Monitor Farm

The importance of health and farm business decisions based on good use of data and information are the joint themes at the Deeside MF Meet.

Duncan and Claire Morrison, the Deeside Monitor Farmers, pride themselves in maintaining good health in their livestock herd. The importance of health and farm business decisions based on good use of data and information are the joint themes at the final Deeside Summer Open Meeting, at Meikle Maldron, Torphins, Banchory on Wednesday, 8th July from 12 noon.

Borders farmer Graham Lofthouse, a past AgriScot Scottish Sheep Farmer of the Year, is the keynote speaker on the use of data and information in livestock management.

Graham says, ‘Decision making is about fundamentals; grass management, genetics, soil health and nutrition. Getting the essentials right is the root to high performance in farming.’

Jamie Leslie, a Farmers Weekly Mixed Farmer of the Year, and Duncan are in a Farmax group, where decision making is the core discussion. Networking is vital and Jamie will explain how this helps him and others decide stock levels on his Shetland farm. Forecasting grass covers and supply is important. Jamie says, ‘It’s the grass that tells you when to act.’

He’ll focus on how, as much as what he does. Adaptability is key.

Local vets, Tim Geraghty will discuss Johne’s in cattle with Ewan Jamieson covering sheep summer worming strategies.

Tim is a UK and European veterinary specialist in Cattle Health and Production, farm vet at Dunnydeer Vets, Insch and Glenythan Vets, Methlick and a member of the Scottish Johne’s Disease Working Group.

Ewan is a Vet Surgeon and Director at Meadows Vets, Old Meldrum and New Deer, with a particular interest in prevention of sheep anthelmintic resistance.

The meeting will finish with a Q&A panel session led by Aberdeenshire farmer Alex Stephen.