More than 120 attended the recent Monitor
Farm Scotland lamb selection event at United Auctions Huntly, including a
sizeable young contingent eager to build on their sheep farming skills.
The evening began with breakout sessions from
Michael Wilson, Livestock Buying Manager at Woodhead Bros, Lucy Shand and
Trainee Auctioneer Farquhar MacRae of United Auctions, as well as vets Olivia
Busson and Alasdair Prentice of Strathbogie Vets.
Topics included the classification of lambs
and understanding market requirements, batching and presenting lambs for the
live market, and ewe and lamb health for optimal production.
Banff and Buchan Monitor Farmer, Bruce
Irvine, provided a fine group of sale-ready lambs and explained how his
proactive approach to lamb health has improved growth figures and the overall
quality of his flock.
Farmer Duncan Morrison, meanwhile, explained
how he is developing a new sheep flock at his Deeside Monitor Farm and
highlighted the importance of using accurate figures to inform decisions on
selection and performance.
Gary Raeburn of Forbes Raeburn Butchers
discussed the provenance of his shops’ Scotch Lamb. Originating from a Huntly
farm, the lamb used during the meeting was sourced by Quality Meat Scotland
from Millers of Speyside before being butchered by Gary and his father
Charles.
Charles split the lamb lengthways and, with
one half, demonstrated the traditional butchery method, which was compared to
the second half which utilised modern butchery techniques. Gary explained the
extra work and value that the modern techniques offered them, including the
creation of award-winning ‘Scotch Lamb Stacks’, burgers, seasoned chops,
colourful kebabs, attractive racks of lamb and small, intimate roasts, for
retail through the shop.
Gary said: “It was good to have people
gathered from every part of the supply chain at the meeting: vets, farmers,
buyers, auctioneers, butchers, and chefs. The lamb we used for the butchery
demonstration came from Stevie Mutch’s farm at Huntly, and was purchased by
Woodhead Bros at the Huntly Mart fat sale for Millers of Speyside. Lamb from
the same suppliers made up the two lamb dishes served by The Huntly Market Café
during the evening, showcasing the versatility and tenderness of Scotch
Lamb.”
Beth Alexander, Monitor Farm Programme
Manager, said: “Market requirements vary, from butcher to wholesale to export,
so knowing which market you are supplying and understanding its requirements,
such as specification, is important to optimising the marketability of your
lambs. The Monitor Farm Scotland programme offers an open and honest platform
for discussion. It was a rare and fantastic opportunity to bring the full
supply chain together; from farmer to the finished product.”
The butchered lamb halves were auctioned off
by UA trainee auctioneer Farquhar MacRae, raising £225 for the Royal Scottish
Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI).
The Monitor Farm Scotland initiative is
managed by QMS with support from AHDB, with funding from the Scottish
Government.
To find out more and to see upcoming events,
visit www.monitorfarms.co.uk