Ways to improve production efficiency and returns in the beef-finishing business will be up for discussion at a special event in the north-east next month.
The event, organised by SAC Consulting, will take place at the 1,700-acre Easter Auquharney Farm, near Hatton, Peterhead, where a large number of beef cattle are finished every year.
Owned by Dr Gordon Masson and his wife, Ann, the unit is managed by James Law, who was a previous president of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society and farm manager at the Rowett Research Institute, outside Aberdeen.
SAC consultant Ian Pritchard said: “The unsettling price fluctuation of recent months has raised many questions about the way forward for beef, especially the finishers.
“We think the event will encourage farmers to discuss the options, hear what all the links in the chain have to say and get a look at an outstanding host farm.”
The day will feature a tour around the farm, which has recently invested in two new cattle courts, a 1,500 tonne feed store and additional 1,500 tonne silage pit, and presentations from SAC Consulting staff on livestock nutrition health and finishing system efficiencies.
The day will conclude with a discussion – The Great Beef Debate – on the future of the industry.
Chaired by NFU Scotland president Nigel Miller, the panel will include beef calf producer Robert Marshall, of Kincraigie Farms; beef finisher Jim Brown, from Lanarkshire; Frank Ross, from ABP’s plant in Perth, and Andrew Loftus, from Morrisons.
To register for the event, which takes place from 10.30am on Tuesday, November 4, and is free to attend, contact SAC Consulting’s Turriff office on 01888 563333.