Farmer focus, livestock:Iain Green ponders a tight building schedule

Finally, our long-awaited Scottish Rural Development Programme contract arrived to be signed. This confirms our application for a new slurry store, pig finishing accommodation, cattle court, covered cattle feeding area and Dutch barn. Phase one, which is the pig building and slurry store, must be completed by the 31 December – a very tight schedule.

This building will be used to finish male pigs and the slatted flooring will save on straw and reduce costs. With the increase in cereal prices and ultimately pig feed costs, every saving will be needed. I do not grudge the cost of cereals as we grow a large acreage and I know the costs involved, but I do feel the processors must realise they will have to pay a higher price for pork, chicken and beef.

Finished lambs have been sold liveweight to average £67.20 a head. Ewes have had their annual MOT with cull ewes drawn out. The first of these have also been sold liveweight and averaged £71.30 a head. I fear every penny from these sheep sales will be required to purchase our replacement Mule gimmers. At the annual gimmer sale my pals always maintain they are not there to buy many, but they still seem to keep bidding on the same lots as I am. Once again I have kept 70 Mule cross Texel gimmers for our own use which will ease the pressure on sale day.

Within the last month, spring-born calves have been wormed and introduced to creep feed. Last year’s autumn calves have also been wormed and treated with a flukicide and are now receiving supplement feeding. The male cross-bred calves will be sold as stores in October, by which time the Aberdeenshire cereal farmers and intensive finishers will have received their large barley cheques.