Identifying rams that seriously cut the mustard - or mint - is key to achieving a profitable flock, together with a formula for sustainable production. These were the take-home messages for more than 40 visitors to the award-winning “Future farmer of the year” Drinkstone flock at Hawick, last Wednesday 27 July.

With top speakers triggering in-depth discussion, Sam Boon of Signet, urged commercial producers to consider their current flock breeding programme and what ought to be changed when setting future breeding objectives.

He said: “With Drinkstone’s Suffolk and Texel flock Signet performance figures in the top one per cent in the UK, it clearly demonstrates the rewards of setting breeding objectives. The genetic progress at Drinkstone is three times the rate of the national average - of those who do record.”

Sam urged lamb producers to do their homework on the internet: “All the information is in the public domain. Identify the traits which will be profitable for your flock and then locate the breeders that will cut the mustard.”

Commenting on Drinkstone’s pasture management, Dr John Vipond of SAC praised the Parks’ approach to sustainability - targeting a bigger proportion of clover in the sward. Dr Vipond explained, “In order to achieve more clover in the sward you need to have compatible grass clover varieties, late-heading tetraploids and small leaved clovers fit the bill.

“The Parks are using red clover and hybrid rye grass in a specific mix for producing silage and aftermath grazing for lambs. Even the demands of the high performance Drinkstone flocks are satisfied by supplementing this high protein red clover silage with soya in late pregnancy, rather than feeding grass silage and concentrates.”

Dr Vipond concluded that the knock-on benefit is reduced worm challenge: “Ewes don’t lose their immunity in late pregnancy, meaning that both the ewes and lambs are cleaner, further enhancing sustainable farming and profit.”

Chairman of the Murray Trust, Harvey MacMillan, which awards the Future Farmer of the Year, praised the combination of running the high index flocks while enhancing sustainability through grassland management and achieving sound environmental practices, all of which are of great benefit to wildlife through projects supported by the Scottish Rural Development Programme.

• For more information about the Future Farmer Award, or for photos of the day, please call Sarah Anderson on 0131 472 4108.
• For more information about Drinkstone Farm, please call Joy Fox 01743 718801

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Contact Sarah Anderson on 0131 472 4108