The pre-winter destocking of Glensaugh continues with the recent sale of 43 suckled calves. Improved prices for finished cattle have strengthened demand for stores. Three cull cows have also been sold. Although young, these failed the Johnes disease blood test and are being removed from the herd. This costly disease is thought to be transmitted by rabbits (as well as other bovines) and our successful efforts to reduce the rabbit population might reduce its incidence in future years. Another blood test is due before the end of the year.

Our cattle grazing experiment (WP 2.5) continues to run smoothly. The 4 groups of six cows have now been moved in rotation and we are half way through the second two week observation period. The experiment will end on 19 November. The long awaited blood test results for the Thoka Cheviot flock have arrived. The purpose of this exercise was to genotype the breeding stock to identify heterozygous carriers of the Thoka gene for future breeding, and homozygous animals (which are incapable of breeding) for removal from the flock. From the farm’s point of view this clears the way to dispose of unproductive stock prior to winter and also determines which animal will/ will not be mated in November.

We have had a lot of contact recently with the Scottish Government Rural Payment and Inspectorate Department, SGRPID for short, or simply (timeless) “The Department”. Our Rural Priorities grant application is being processed and while we are having to jump through some additional hoops the submission seems to have been well received and should go to an approval committee in December. It has been a steep learning curve, but having drawn up one plan doing another would be relatively straightforward. We must have attracted the Department’s attention because we have been selected for a whole farm inspection. So far we have had an inspection of records to demonstrate cross compliance (Moorland Management Plan, Nitrate Vulnerable Zone records, sheep dip disposal records, silage pit and diesel tank), and sheep counts and a cattle ear tag inspection will follow ……

Finally, the photograph shows part of the dyke which we are hoping to rebuild under the grant scheme; this short section runs alongside the Lodge garden and we are using it as a “dry run” for the bigger job further down the field. While it is proving difficult to get this work to score “high” on paper, in reality it ticks many boxes: uses only natural materials available on site, creates livestock shelter, forms a useful microhabitat and above all is pleasing to the eye. The building in the background is the Lodge, the rear part of which we hope to renovate in time for next year’s field season.