SHARING OPTIONS:
The Duguids cows which have been fed on straw and urea molases to lose condition over winter before calving this spring. Their diet cost £1.10/day
On a fine spring day, Robert Gilchrist and John Sleigh met with the Duguid family to discuss their preparations for calving and lambing.
With the snow gone from all but the coldest corners of parks, the spring-like weather at the end of February is the boost Arthur, Muriel and Scott need, as they get cows and sheep into condition for a successful spring.
Last autumn, the Duguids’ spring cow herd was scanned and body condition scored before being divided into three management groups. These groups were based on cow condition – fat, thin and moderate.
Owning an expanding beef enterprise that is based on the increased growth rates of the Charolais to sire top quality store calves is paying handsome dividends for father and son duo, Eric and Ellis Mutch from Burnside of Whitefield, Forglen, Banff. Three generations of the Mutch family have farmed at Burnside of Whitefield, which goes back to 1955 when Eric’s late father, also Eric, took on the tenancy. He got the chance to buy the farm in 1972 and grabbed the opportunity with both hands! Two neighbouring farms were added in 1979 and the other in 1987, which are now run by Eric and Ellis, assisted by their wives Karen and Louise respectively. Ellis and Louise have high hopes that their son, Eric – just one-year-old – will be the fourth generation to run the farm in years to come.