Stock Talk

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Duncan Shell from Bushelhill farm in the Lammermuir hills. Duncan runs 1500 easy care breeding sheep and a herd of 200 pedigree Aberdeen Angus cows with no hired labour on his 1800 acre farm. He runs a low input organic system with zero purchased feed and makes the most from grazing management such as rotational grazing in the summer, and outwintering. Duncan talks about why he was driven to convert to organic back in the late 1980s. He is passionate about improving his livestock and having them suit his system. He talks about the challenges of being organic and how he deals with these challenges. Duncan also talks about the importance of a work : life balance and the importance of looking after your mental health.

Resources

Organics Discussion Group from the Farm Advisory Service

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer Kythe Mackenzie. In this episode, recorded on 17th September 2026, we discuss the Bluetongue Virus. It's important to note to listeners that the spread of the Bluetongue Virus, the control zones and restrictions is a constantly changing situation, and listeners should ensure that they check the Scot Gov website for the latest up to date information. This Podcast is intended to provide information about the Bluetongue Virus itself, how it is spread, risk factors, clinical symptoms, vaccinations, and testing.

Resources

Scot Gov:

Latest situation - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot

Bluetongue movement restrictions for animals - Bluetongue: how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot

APHA map:

Bluetongue Cases and Zones

AHDB:

Vaccination cost calculator launched to help Battle Bluetongue | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (sheep) | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (dairy) | AHDB

BTV-3 vaccination finance calculator (beef) | AHDB

Ruminant Health & Welfare website:

Home - Ruminant Health & Welfare

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Alice Lennox from the Rare Breed Survival Trust (RBST). Alice tells us all about what the RBST does and gave us some insight to some of the rare breeds on the ‘at risk’ watchlist. Alice and James discuss the role of these rare breeds including conservation grazing, conservation of livestock genetics and the inclusion of native rare breeds in commercial systems, for example to produce a low input suckler cow that can be outwintered.

Resources

RBST website:Right breed, Right place, Right system

Link to training courses: Conservation Grazing - RBST

Email: [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Dick Playfair from the Venison Advisory Service and Janet Keith from Tullynessle Deer Farm. Dick gives us a market overview of venison, tells us about how the wild deer cull influences deer farming and about the importance of provenance when selling venison direct to consumers. Then we speak to Janet, who runs Tullynessle Deer Farm with her husband Willie. Janet tells us their story of how they got into deer farming and how the business has evolved to diversify into direct selling her venison and running farm tours. Janet also tells us the about the meat itself, venison cooking options and how nutritional this meat is.

Resources

Tullynessle Deer Farm website:

Buy Scottish Farmed Venison online or at our family farm

Janet’s mobile number: 07827279241

Email address: [email protected]

Venison Advisory Service website: venisonadvisory.co.uk

Dick’s email address: [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer Kythe Mackenzie, and farmers Ewan Runciman and Scott Fraser. Today we're looking at one of the most important management practices carried out on sheep farms every spring - lamb marking. For many sheep producers, this includes procedures such as castration and tail docking. These are routine husbandry practices, but they're also areas where there has been increasing focus on animal welfare and reducing pain. In recent years, new technologies have emerged to help farmers carry out these procedures more effectively and with improved welfare outcomes. Our three guest speakers have first-hand experience of using some of these innovations.

First, we will hear from veterinarian Kythe about why farmers castrate and tail dock lambs, the legal requirements in Scotland, and the importance of pain management. Then we'll hear from Ewan, who uses Numnuts, a system that combines ring application with local anaesthetic delivery. And finally, we'll hear from Scott, who has experience using ClipFitter, another technology designed to improve welfare during lamb marking.

Related FAS Resources

Lamb Castration & Tail Docking: Alternative Methods

Other Resources

ClipFitter - Kinder castration and tailing

Numnuts – Numnuts

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by David Speller from OptiFarm. David is a poultry farmer who had lots of data and not enough time to analyse it. David will tell us about the AI tool he developed to help him make better informed decisions, which attracted the eyes of investors leading to his company OptiFarm. David explains how the tool works and the benefits of using AI in livestock systems including the use of real-time data to be proactive in terms of livestock management and welfare, and how this can improve livestock performance and profitability.

Resources

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/

Website address: optifarm.co.uk

Optifarm email: [email protected]

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. On today’s episode we hear from James Orr who will be taking over from Kirsten Williams’s role as the host on Stock Talk. James talks about his career highlights as an agricultural consultant at SAC Consulting, his key areas of expertise and Kirsten reflects of some of her favourite projects from the past 20 years.

James looks to continue Stock Talk with more interesting farming stories as well as discussing more technical aspects.

Resources

Livestock Resources -

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/

Poultry Resources -

https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/

FAS Connect -

https://www.fas.scot/connect/

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Gordon Whiteford who farms at Lower Mill of Tynet in Banffshire. In 2012, Gordon and June Whiteford began Lower Mill of Tynet Farm. They built an egg business, then a micro-dairy in 2020, selling milk and now ice cream directly from their 24-hour farm shop. They have brought together traditional farming practices with innovative direct-to-consumer strategies and are proud to have won Sustainable Farm of the Year 2024.

Timestamps

01.10 How it all started for Gordon

10.23 Organic hens and starting out with poultry

13.14 Lower Mill of Tynet

15.40 Nuffield Scholarship – Organic

22.16 Brown vs white hens

31.49 Micro dairy – milk and ice cream

48.46 What’s next for Gordon

Related FAS Resources

Organics in Scotland - Lower Mill of Tynet Case Study | Helping farmers in Scotland

Getting Started with Organic Farming – How to Convert to Organic | Helping farmers in Scotland

Managing Grassland Under Organic Systems | Helping farmers in Scotland

Getting Started Growing and Grazing with Organics | Helping farmers in Scotland

Other Related Resources

Lower Mill Of Tynet.co.uk

Direct Retailing from a Poultry, Dairy, Beef, Sheep & Arable farm – Lower Mill of Tynet - FAS Video

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: [email protected]

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Dr Basil Lowman who has been a beef specialist with SAC Consulting for 55 years. Kirsten describes Basil as a legend in the beef industry. We hear about Basil’s varied career, his passion for the industry, how he thrives on challenge and is a pioneer of new ideas.  

Episode Timestamps  

01.37 Let’s go back in time 

09.13 Body condition scoring of cattle 

16.38 The development of silage and straw-based rations 

24.24 The Green Shed 

29.43 Beef farming in 10 years’ time  

Related FAS Resources   

Cattle resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service | FAS 

Body Condition Scoring - Maintaining condition (FAS)   

Other Related Resources

The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 1 (QMS) 

The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 2 

Greenshed Graphic - SRUC  

GreenShed video - SRUC - YouTube  

For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected] 

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by two industry experts to discuss the beef industry. It’s a lively discussion covering many topics, including: replacement strategies, where the market is it at just now, sustainability and the future of the Scottish herd.  

Gavin Hill is a Senior Beef Specialist with SAC Consulting and Robet Gilchrist is Chief Executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Society.  

Episode Timestamps  

02.30 Cattle replacement strategies  

10.03 Where should the end price be? 

13.26 Changing eating behaviours and changes in the industry 

17.05 Future of the Scottish herd  

27.45 Cow of the future  

43.08 Matching the sire  

50.07 What will the Scottish beef industry look like in the next 10-20 years  

Resources    

Livestock resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service 

Cattle resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service | FAS 

Sustainable Beef Systems | Helping farmers in Scotland  

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot 

Facebook: @FASScot 

National Advice Hub 

Phone: 0300 323 0161 

Email: [email protected]