Farmer Focus: Bull deliveries build learning of beef systems

March has been a great month here in north-east Scotland, with much more sunshine and dry weather than we have become accustomed to lately.

It has been a much-needed change and has given us a chance to get back on the land again.

The region has been a hive of activity following a tough winter. With some sleet and snow in the past couple of days, you can never be sure which season we are in: spring or fool’s spring.

See also: 5 tips on selecting and breeding beef replacements

About the author

Duncan Morrison

Duncan farms owned and tenanted land with his wife, Claire in Aberdeenshire. They run a small Lleyn ewe flock and around 260 Aberdeen Angus and Stabiliser cows and are a QMS Monitor Farm. Operating a low-cost system, stock are outwintered on deferred grass, bale grazing and forage crops.

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As conditions improve, we have managed to get a large quantity of dung spread without creating too much mess.

Following the recent increase in fertiliser prices, dung is a rather valuable resource. This year, we will be undertaking a considerable amount of fencing on the block of land we took on last summer.

The aim is to get much more subdivision set up, so that we can graze it more effectively. There will be lime to go on too once we get some soil sampling completed.

Preparations are under way, with calving and lambing just around the corner. Both cows and ewes seem to have wintered well and are in fine condition. I can’t wait to get stuck in to my favourite time of year.

Today, I delivered the final bull of our 2024 crop to his new home.

I really enjoy delivering bulls as it gives me a chance to learn about the farming systems that our customers run and also see more of the countryside.

This particular chap is going out to bull heifers this season.

The herd he is going to is a self-replacing, breeder-finisher unit that needed a good all rounder that can breed easy-born calves that go on to meet market spec when the time comes.

I hope that our bull can tick those boxes.

On the way home, I stopped by with the truck and trailer on another bull customer who has recently opened a self-service, vending-machine-style farm shop.

Coming home with some cracking ribeye steaks was a good end to the day. I often think many pedigree breeders forget what their role in the food chain actually is and get too side tracked with show rosettes.

The ultimate aim of any breeder should be to help their customer produce good-quality beef, as easily and efficiently as possible.