For Graze Debate 2022 we are visiting farmers across Scotland to understand livestock production practises that deliver for the business whilst benefiting the environment.

For this event, we visit David Whiteford at Logan of Maxwelston. David runs 200 spring calving cows and 1250 breeding ewes on 774 ha, of which around 300 ha is tussocky hill ground. The herd breeding is moving from Limousin to Saler genetics while the ewe flock is moving from Scottish Blackface to Lleyn/Aberfield crosses.

Using multispecies swards, David maintains a high producing area of the farm utilised with rotational grazing to maintain high stocking density and good animal performance during the summer. In a bid to rest the best pasture over the winter months, he uses bale grazing, forage crops and hill grazing. With recently purchased NoFence Collars (virtual fencing), he is hoping that the deferred grazing on the hill will meet the winter requirements of 150-170 cows by shifting them regularly.

David is experimenting with different types of clover on the farm (white-, crimson-, persian- and red-clover). These flower at different times of the year to provide protein-rich pollen for bees, whilst reducing nitrogen fertiliser use and improving forage quality. With a young family and financial pressures, they need to farm for profitability but they are very open to pragmatic practises that benefit biodiversity.

Join us to see this all in action and discuss the environmental and productivity implications . SAC Consulting's Lesley Wylie and Poppy Frater are facilitating discussions and SRUC Ecologist Lorna Cole providing an ecologist's insight.

Agenda:

10.30 Arrive - refreshments

11.00 Farm walk

13.00 Lunch

13.30 Indoor discussion - an honest review of what they do and how they might do better

15.00 Close

Graze Debate 2022 - Maxwelston