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Press and Journal
12-05-2025
- General
- Press and Journal
There's so many pigs on just two Aberdeenshire farms
Where on earth have all these animals been hiding? That was my first thought after Aberdeenshire pig farmers Ben Lowe and Gregor Bruce told me they kept about 900 sows between them. I've lived in Ellon for more than 20 years and their farms are within a few miles of my doorstep. But I don't recall ever seeing such large numbers of swine in the fields nearby. The scale of these two large pig farming operations – and there are much bigger ones elsewhere in Scotland – got me thinking about the pork industry north of the border. It's fair to say that when we think about livestock farming, it's usually cows and sheep. We're more likely to see these animals in the fields around where we live. Pigs have a lower profile. Gregor told me there's also often a bigger disconnect between pigs and the products. Picking up a pack of sliced ham in the supermarket can seem far removed from the living animal it comes from, he said. But pigs are clearly big business in Aberdeenshire and many other parts of Scotland. Ben and his wife, Harriet, run HB Farms – an intensive pig and arable enterprise. Their land consists of Newseat of Dumbreck, an arable farm on tenancy from the Aberdeen Endowment Trust, and Pitmillan Farm, which is home to 450 breeding sows and a finishing unit. Ben grew up in North Berwick, near Edinburgh, and worked on farms from the age of 14. He went on to obtain an honours degree in agriculture at Scotland's Rural College in Edinburgh, while also building up a flock of 150 ewes. After studying, he completed a traineeship as an agronomist with Agrovista and now works as an agent for the firm, working with farmers all over the country. He moved to the north-east 10 years ago and married Harriet – a farmer's daughter – in 2023. They'd bought their pig unit two years earlier. They now farm 970 acres, growing cereals and producing straw for the animals. Their enterprise produces about 300 piglets a week which are taken through to finishing at about 265lb. It employs a handful of people. With 20 sows giving birth every week, on average, the work is hard and the hours long. And there's another new life to think about – as I write, Harriet is also due to give birth. Ben gave me a fascinating glimpse into life on their farms, explaining how the sows are impregnated using artificial insemination. This means there is more control over the genetic mix – the sows are a cross between Large Whites and Landrace pig breeds, which is the norm for this livestock in Scotland. It also helps to ensure the sows and their offspring stay disease-free. 'If we get anything wrong, it could be disastrous.' Ben added. There are four boars on the farms, but it seems their role – through scent – is to keep the females frisky and 'in the mood'. I was amazed by how much data goes into a modern-day pig enterprise. And this is delivering results – Ben told me the sows are producing 50% more pork than they would have done 15-20 years ago. There are stats for everything from how the mums give birth and the health of their piglets to how fast the animals grow. 'We need to know as much as possible to make this business work,' Ben explained. But there are huge challenges, as well as fears. Pig farmers share the same concerns about input prices, as well as the impact of inheritance tax and National Insurance changes, as the rest of the agriculture industry. But Scottish pig producers are highly dependent on the abbatoir at Brechin. This facility, owned by Browns Food Group, is the main pork processing site in Scotland. Should anything happen to it, Ben and Harriet's pigs would have to endure a journey of more than seven hours to get to the next nearest slaughterhouse. This is beyond what is acceptable under modern-day welfare standards for the transportation of farm animals. Ben and Harriet are proud of their circular economy credentials – growing most of its own animal feed, with manure going back into feeding the crops. But there's an economic imperative here too – doing this makes them less exposed to volatile feed prices. They can also sell feed on the open market when prices are strong. Pork prices are relatively steady just now, in stark contrast to just a few years ago when a combination of Covid, Brexit and gas issues hit the market extremely hard, Ben said. The ever-present threat of disease, particularly highly contagious African swine flu, which is often fatal for pigs, is a major concern. Ben told me about some of the strict biosecurity measures he has in place to protect his stock. Visitors have to strip down to their underpants and change into boiler suits before going anywhere near the pigs. Despite the many challenges, he said he and his wife were determined to 'build a business for the next 30 years' Gregor and his dad, Roderic, are in a pig farming partnership at Logierieve, near Ellon. They have about 350 sows, again Large White and Landrace crosses. 'We take everything to bacon, finishing all the pigs on site,' Gregor told me. He and his dad grow their own animal feed too. Further highlighting the vulnerability of the route to market for Scottish pork producers, the majority of the Bruces' animals also end up at the abattoir in Brechin. Roderic has been a pig farmer all his life. Gregor joined his dad in the business in 2020, having previously left home to study physics at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. There were also a few jobs in IT and data before the pig farming newbie returned home. But that was 'always the plan,' he told me. He worries about 'critical mass' for the sector in Scotland, given its distance from the main markets, as well as its possible future demise. But pork prices are holding steady at around £2 per kg, 'despite all that's going on the world,' he said. Gregor also cited challenges around tax as well as new rules governing the use of nitrogen-based fertilisers. But it's worries about African swine fever that are keeping most Scottish pig farmers up at night just now, he said. Ben and Gregor are both spending part of this year travelling on scholarships. They are among 24 people from throughout the UK who are trying to gain a better understanding of their study topics from global experts, thanks to bursaries from the Nuffield Farming Scholarship Trust. Gregor is keen to understand more about pig litter size and what impact it has on gestation and farrowing, as well as management plans to support sow and piglet health.
Daily Record
01-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Rare opportunity to take over dairy farm on outskirts of Dumfries
A rare opportunity is being offered to take over a dairy farm on the outskirts of Dumfries. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) is inviting prospective dairy farmers to apply to manage its Acrehead farm near the Crichton. The chance has arisen as SRUC is moving the focus of it's academic dairying activities to its Barony campus at Parkgate, which is home to the new Digital Dairy Chain and Dairy Nexus innovation hub. Principal and chief executive of SRUC, Professor Wayne Powell, said: 'This new venture is a unique opportunity and we're proud to be able to support the future of farming by making SRUC land available to the farmers of tomorrow. 'If you're a knowledgeable farming entrepreneur seeking a new opportunity, or a farmer early on in their career, ready to take on the rarely available chance of a next step up, we would like to hear from you.' SRUC hopes offering the chance to manage the farm will support the future of the dairy industry by prioritising key issues such as reduced emissions, biodiversity, human health and economic growth After submitting a successful business plan, the chosen contractor will receive a share of the milk cheque dependent on the performance of the plan, while running the farm and taking part in knowledge exchange activities. SRUC will maintain responsibility for the condition and legal compliance of the farm and also provide the herd and machinery. Acrehead covers 130 acres and comprises highly productive grasslands, with outputs reaching 12t/ha DM, along with sufficient buildings and infrastructure to support a herd of approximately 210 cows. Click here for more news and sport from Dumfries and Galloway. Overwintering facilities, milking parlour and associated plant form part of the offer, along with a house nearby. This is a five to 10 -year proposal. Acrehead sits on the Crichton unit, with strong connections to the nearby Barony, allowing the successful applicant to benefit from the new dairy facilities. The Barony will also soon house the Langhill Experiment, which won SRUC a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2017. Prospective candidates can register their interest with the Scottish Land Matching Service . The closing date for registrations is midnight on May 11, with SRUC hoping to announce the successful contractor at the Royal Highland Show on June 19.
STV News
01-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
Applicants sought to take over running of long-established dairy farm
A rare opportunity to take over the running of a long-established dairy farm has been created by Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). Prospective dairy farmers are invited to submit an application to manage SRUC's 130-hectare Acrehead farm, near its Barony campus in Dumfries and Galloway. The opportunity has been created as part of wider SRUC aims to support the future of the industry by prioritising forward-looking issues such as reduced emissions, biodiversity, human health and economic growth. Following the submission of a successful business plan, the contractor will receive a share of the milk cheque dependent on the performance of the plan, while running the farm and taking part in knowledge exchange activities. SRUC will maintain responsibility for the condition and legal compliance of the farm and provide the herd and machinery. Professor Wayne Powell, principal and chief executive of SRUC, said: 'This new venture is a unique opportunity and we're proud to be able to support the future of farming by making SRUC land available to the farmers of tomorrow. 'If you're a knowledgeable farming entrepreneur seeking a new opportunity, or a farmer early on in their career, ready to take on the rarely available chance of a next step up, we would like to hear from you.' Acrehead comprises highly productive grasslands, with outputs reaching 12t/ha DM, along with sufficient buildings and infrastructure to support a herd of approximately 210 cows. The offer includes overwintering facilities, a milking parlour and associated plant, along with a house nearby. Candidates interested in the opportunity at Acrehead can register their interest with the Scottish Land Matching Service at The closing date for registrations is midnight on Sunday May 11. SRUC is hoping to announce the successful contractor at this year's Royal Highland Show on June 19. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Multi-million pound dairy innovation centre opens
A multi-million pound facility designed to drive innovation in the dairy industry and make it more environmentally friendly has been officially opened. The research and development laboratories have been built at Scotland's Rural College's (SRUC) Barony campus near Dumfries. The Dairy Nexus project aims to decarbonise the dairy industry and boost sustainability in milk production. It has been funded with £4m each from the UK and Scottish governments and £738,00 from South of Scotland Enterprise. It is expected to be home to about 60 staff - 15 of them new. Those behind the development say its location means it is ideally placed to boost innovation in the major dairy-producing regions of Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria. They hope it will allow researchers, advisors, farmers and businesses to identify and solve real-life problems, and take opportunities to improve sustainability and productivity. The labs were officially opened by UK government minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeil and Tom Arthur, Scotland's employment and investment minister. Russel Griggs, who chairs South of Scotland Enterprise, said Dairy Nexus also aimed to bring further jobs and investment to the area. He added: "It will drive innovation to allow the dairy sector to decarbonise, as well as accelerate its productivity, enhance animal welfare and develop new products from dairy resources." It is the first project to be delivered through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal. In 2019 the UK and Scottish governments confirmed funding of up to £350m for the region through the original plans for the Dairy Nexus had to be revised due to financial pressures said to be caused by Brexit, inflation and the Covid pandemic. The original scheme would have seen a two-storey building but that has been replaced by a single-storey structure built by Portakabin
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Farmers fear being 'wiped out' if any more diseases strike
A livestock farmer has lost more than half his newborn lambs in one of the first Scottish cases of a deadly virus - and fears he could be wiped out if his farm is struck by any more Schmallenberg virus killed up to 92 of the 152 lambs that Michael Goldie was expecting to deliver last month at his farm in Dundonald near Troon in had remained largely free of the Schmallenberg virus until January but concern is growing after a spike in country's chief vet, Sheila Voas, says the disease is just one of an unusually high number of threats being faced by farmers. She believes it is inevitable that other diseases will spread to Scotland and is urging farmers to be extra vigilant for warning signs. Michael, 52, is a fifth generation farmer who breeds pedigree Suffolk sheep with the help of his mum Helen, who's pair have been working together with the sheep since Micheal was 10 years old and the virus has left them both first realised he had a problem on the second day of lambing at the beginning of called in the vet when they realised some lambs "didn't look right", after which Michael said "it went bang". The financial losses run into tens of thousands of pounds - but he says the emotional toll it's taken on the whole family has been much worse."You're looking at your dreams in front of you effectively just being shattered," he said."If I can get absolutely hammered by Schmallenberg, I could be wiped out by a different vector-borne disease." A range of diseases are causing concern for farmers at the Schmallenberg virus was first detected in Germany in Rural College (SRUC) has confirmed five new cases so far this year - but because it's not a notifiable disease, it is thought there could already be dozens more.A new strain of the bluetongue virus - which originated in the Netherlands - was detected in England in than 200 cases have now been recorded, with movement restrictions in place along the east of the country stretching from Sussex to North viruses are carried by midges which can be blown in the wind, and the changing climate means Scotland is becoming more exposed to diseases previously reserved to warmer Schmallenberg, Bluetongue can kill adult animals and have a more devastating effect on chief vet, Sheila Voas, has urged farmers to remain alert to the threats and submit suspected cases for said: "There are a whole number of diseases there that are causing grief and it's a difficult time to be a farmer."There have always been health-related issues but it does feel like we've got more than is reasonable at the moment." In January, an avian flu protection zone was declared for the whole of Scotland following a confirmed case in a backyard flock in its presence is causing significant concern to poultry farmers and the next risk comes in the spring when infected flocks of pink footed geese pass through Scotland as they migrate protection zone requires enhanced biosecurity measures to be undertaken by keepers although there is no requirement yet for birds to be kept of birds can accelerate transmission where the virus is present, which means housing them in sheds is not always the safest of liver fluke, which is transmitted through mud snails, have been rising over the long can result in the sudden deaths of previously healthy animals including sheep and isolated case of classical BSE - or mad cow disease - was discovered on a farm in Dumfries and Galloway in of animals were subsequently culled, although no further cases were picked a single case of foot and mouth disease in Germany led to restrictions on products being understood the source of the case has still not been established. Experts at Scotland's rural college have been developing an app to help farmers improve the efficiency of their monitoring of animal replaces paper-based surveillance and allows farm staff, vets and nutritionists to track and monitor vaccination strategies and infectious disease protocols across a range of areas in real aim is to help farmers test regularly and spot potential problems at an early enough stage to contain are also available to carry out heavily subsidised post-mortem examinations on animals to establish what caused them to says it carried out about 1,400 post-mortems in 2024 and is expecting that number to increase this of veterinary surveillance at SRUC, Dr Pamela Johnston, said post-mortem testing was "absolutely key" to understanding the transmission of added: "If you think back to the foot and mouth epidemics that we've had, [they can be] disastrous. Not only financially but emotionally."It's horrific for the farmers to deal with."Michael Goldie's flock is now showing signs of antibodies which, he hopes, will protect them from a repeat of the Schmallenberg chief vet though says it's "probably inevitable" that Bluetongue will reach Scotland at some stage, maybe even this so farmers like Michael are being urged to be extra vigilant for the signs of that and other diseases that may be coming.
