Caithness farmers among those making up a record-breaking attendance at NSA Scotsheep 2022
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A record-breaking crowd flocked to Over Finlarg, near Dundee, for the long-awaited National Sheep Association (NSA) Scotsheep 2022 event last week.
Thousands of farmers, including a number from Caithness, gathered along with industry enthusiasts and school children for a well-deserved day out in the Angus countryside on Wednesday (June 1).
Caithness young farmer Alastair McCarthy, who works at Over Finlarg, said: "After all the hard work put in by many, it was great to see a record crowd attending.
"Many had travelled from near and far, with some Caithness faces amongst them. The moral was high on the day with everyone in good spirits, delighted to get back out and about post Covid."
After being postponed on three previous occasions due to Covid-19, host farmers Robert and Hazel McNee, were delighted to finally open their farm gates to visitors who travelled the length and breadth of the UK, and indeed from Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The event, sponsored by Virgin Money, featured 40 breed societies and individual breeders, 160 trade stands and various competitions and seminars which were held throughout the course of the day, with the farm tour proving extremely popular.
It was former United Auctions executive chairman David Leggat MBE, who officially opened the event and congratulated the McNee family on how well the farm was looking and the high-quality pedigree and commercial livestock that they produce each year.
He also praised Scottish agriculture, in particular Scottish beef and lamb, but urgently called for more government support to help develop the farming industry beyond 2024.
"The main responsibilities of government include food security, food supply and food safety so we cannot ignore farmers’ roles as providers of food for the nation," he said.
"Significant support must be given to production and infrastructure as it’s essential to maintain the critical mass of both Scottish beef and lamb."
With focus on carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, a full farm carbon audit on Over Finlarg was conducted by main sponsors Virgin Money, in a bid to encourage more farmers to make use of new technology to improve efficiency.
Simon Haley, director of Carbon Metrics, said that Over Finlarg was "very efficient" and that total emissions for both the beef and sheep enterprises were well below Agrecalc averages.
The sale of ewe hoggs at the closing of the event attracted its usual crowd of spectators which saw a new Scotsheep record of £2000 apiece paid for a pair of Badgerface Texels from Stuart and Wendy Hunter of the Hunters from West Cairnhill, Insch.
Sired by Cleenagh Biggy, and bred from their foundation ewe, they were purchased by Lancashire breeders, Caroline Brown and Sheila Mason.
The couple also topped the Blue Texels, selling a pair for £1500 to Ayrshire breeder David Alexander, from Millside, Galston. One is by Lyles Eagle, with the other being sired by Hunters Deerstalker.
Robbie Wilson’s Milnbank flock from North Dorlaithers, Turriff, produced the overall champion pair with two Texels by Castlecairn Doodlebro, which sold to David Pickford, Cheshire.
Kate McNee’s black North Country Cheviots made £1300 each to Dean Anderson, Smallburn Farms, Elgin, with all proceeds being donated to Prostate Scotland. The family also sold Texel cross hoggs with Beltex lambs at foot to a top of £250 per head twice.
A shepherd’s crook made by John Fotheringham from Ardler, Meigle, was sold prior to the sale of ewe hoggs, raising £400 for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
Jennifer Craig, chairperson of NSA Scotland, was awarded the NSA Scotland silver salver for outstanding contribution to the sheep industry. Ms Craig farms at Normangill, Crawford, Biggar, and is currently in her fourth year as chairperson of the organisation.
