Sustainable Sheep Systems

To be sustainable into the future, sheep systems must first and foremost be profitable whilst at the same time maintaining and enhancing the farm environment - pasture, soils and biodiversity - and meeting the social goals, including work life balance, of all those involved.

Changing subsidy systems, reduced labour availability and increasing input costs mean that productive, low input, easy managed flocks are the future of sheep production. This project is all about forage based sheep systems that optimise production of grass and forage, to reduce reliance on purchased feed and other inputs to optimise profit.

Sustainable worm control, achieving effective control whilst limiting development of anthelmintic resistance is a key part of the long term sustainability of sheep systems. There’s content on this, as well as genetic selection to breed sheep that are more productive, disease resistant, less work and suit low input forage based and outdoor lambing systems.

We’ve got a suite of webinars, and short videos, featuring forward thinking farms, researchers and advisers, on all aspects of sheep production including grazing strategies, forage crops flock management, outdoor lambing, disease control and breeding selection.

Jump to section:

Series 1 -

Improving Production

Series 2 -

Grazing Strategies

Series 3 -

Health Campaign

Series 4 -

Consumer Driven Sustainability

Series 4 - Consumer Driven Sustainability

Clynelish Case Study

Jason and Vic Ballantyne farm 125 ha (309 acres) on a secure tenancy at Clynelish Farm in Brora, alongside a further 50 ha (123 acres) on a contract farming agreement 1 mile away, 34 ha of which is hill ground. The business utilises several seasonal holdings including crofts and common grazings to away winter stock. This lets the pasture platform at Clynelish rest during the winter for the ewes returning pre-lambing to optimise nutrition and negate the need for supplementary feeding.

Click Here to Read the Case Study

Consumer Driven Sustainability Webinar Series

Looking from the outside in, we discuss topics which consumers find a high priority, the environment, antibiotic resistance, tail docking and castration and protein use.

Series 3 - Health Campaign

Viewfield Case Study

The Maxwell family, Marcus, Kate and son Murphy, farm 2,100 ac (850 ha) of grassland at Viewfield and neighbouring units, alongside 900 ac (364 ha) on tenancy at a hill unit 6 miles away. Read how the Maxwell family at Viewfield have developed a sustainable low input productive flock through a focus on functional genetics and production off forage.

Click Here to Read the Case Study

Health Campaign Webinar Series

A focus on improving the health and welfare of the flock, looking at lameness, ice berg diseases and genetics for reduced labour requirements.

Series 2 - Grazing Strategies

Mini Grazing Webinar Series

Maximising performance from grass, we look at a years grazing calendar focusing on getting the most from grass for both breeding ewes and weaned lambs.

Sustainable Sheep Systems

Jump to section:

Series 4 - Consumer Driven Sustainability

Consumer Driven Sustainability Webinar Series

Looking from the outside in, we discuss topics which consumers find a high priority, the environment, antibiotic resistance, tail docking and castration and protein use.

Series 3 - Health Campaign

Health Campaign Webinar Series

A focus on improving the health and welfare of the flock, looking at lameness, ice berg diseases and genetics for reduced labour requirements.

Series 2 - Grazing Strategies

Mini Grazing Webinar Series

Maximising performance from grass, we look at a years grazing calendar focusing on getting the most from grass for both breeding ewes and weaned lambs.

Series 1 - Improving Production

Improving Production Webinar Series

A focus on reducing inputs and increasing performance throughout the production year.

Publications

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Integrated Land Management Plans

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