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

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Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot

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: advice@fas.scot

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams. On today’s episode, Kirsten is joined by Ross Robertson, a Farm Technology Specialist at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. Ross collaborates with a network of farms to create practical solutions and demonstrate use of technology on farm to increase productivity. Ross draws on his practical farming experience and knowledge gained through visiting systems in other countries to bring about innovative change at a farm level here in the UK.

Episode Timestamps

00.20 Introducing Ross Robertson, Farm Technology specialist and sheep farmer

04.34 Sector technology: dairy, arable robotics and precision farming, pig and chicken technology and animal health

09.00 Return on investment

10.36 Understanding how to handle and understand the data – the importance of training

13.32 Applying dairy technology to the beef sector

15.41 Main driver for introducing technology: labour, cost saving, health monitoring, increasing productivity

19.11 Ross’s background

24.28 Biodiversity sensors

27.42 LoRaWAN – Long Range Wide Area Network

30.15 Connectivity - a barrier to the uptake of technology?

32.01 ONE AgriTech survey – broadband, apps and expert help

43.30 What motivates Ross

Resources

The UK Agri-Tech Centre | farming & food innovation

Ross Robertson contact: 07858309293, ross.robertson@ukagritechcentre.com

Opportunity North East (ONE)

The University of Edinburgh - The Power of Data in Farm Animal Practice

For more information, visit www.FAS.scot

Facebook: @FASScot

National Advice Hub

Phone: 0300 323 0161

Email: advice@fas.scot