Latest news with #Shorthorn
STV News
3 days ago
- General
- STV News
How Luing cattle and satellite technology are helping transform Glen Finglas
What links a native breed of cow, the latest satellite technology, and ancient oak woodland? They're all part of a project to restore one of Scotland's largest nature reserves – Glen Finglas. Spanning an area the size of Greater Glasgow, Glen Finglas was bought by the Woodland Trust in 1996. Before that, it was a sheep farm where much of the natural grass and plant life had been overgrazed. Fast forward almost three decades, and a dramatic transformation has taken place. At the centre of this change is an unlikely star – Luing cattle. This breed, a mix of Highland and Shorthorn beef cows, thrives on the hillside. STV News Luing cattle have helped restore the woodland of Glen Finglas 'The Luing Cow being a very good converter of the rough forage and perfect for going out in the woodland that is being restored, with their hooves breaking up the soil,' said Janet Pringle, the farm manager working with the herd. 'The difference in the glen can definitely be seen. The cattle are in and about those woods as the trees grow and get to a height where there not going to be harmed by the cows. 'They will be contributing to that restoration going forward.' Janet, along with land managers, uses GPS technology to manage the cattle's movements. Virtual fences created by GPS collars buzz if the animals stray beyond set boundaries. These virtual fences can be adjusted at the tap of a screen, moving the herd to avoid overgrazing and allowing targeted grazing in specific areas. 'Those collars let us create a fence. If we put in a traditional livestock fence, you spend the money, you put the fence in, that's it. You can only work within that. 'The collars give us greater flexibility to move projects about, increase or decrease numbers and move about the estate in a more free way than what we would with traditional fencing.' As plant life has flourished, so too has the glen's wildlife. Pine martens, red squirrels, otters, golden eagles, and wild trout all thrive here – signs that the restoration is working. Black grouse have also made a comeback, with a stable population now reported. STV News Glen Finglas lies in the Trossachs Deer, however, present a challenge. Estate manager Hamish Thomson said: 'They belong here. They are the primary grazers and they belong in the woods. They help to manage the landscape, and they keep the green bits green we don't want trees everywhere. 'We've got these wildflower meadows, and we need them free of trees. 'But with no natural predators that are preventing some regeneration, so we need to work hard on the deer and reduce the population for a period of time to help that regeneration come through.' With nearly 70 square miles of new woodland created and more than one million native trees planted, Glen Finglas is a vast site. Managing the relationships between various stakeholders is a key part of the ongoing work. 'Glen Finglas and the Great Trossachs forest is a great example of what can be achieved over time. Our job now is to work with stakeholders to supercharge this as it goes forward' said Simon Jones, director of environment and visitor services at Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. 'Farmers completely underpin this. They will deliver nature restoration in many ways and farmers work closely in terms of their network; often one person taking a first step can lead to others getting onboard.' 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
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
300-plus cattle turnout at CCM livestock collective
CCM Skipton's latest Saturday livestock collective sale of cattle attracted another solid entry of 317 head, a busy ringside of buyers keen to secure grazing cattle following the arrival of much welcome rain. The 29 bulls met a flying trade, with a top of £1910 for Limousin entries from New York Farms, Silsden Moor. Suckler bred young bulls were £1750-£1900, strongest dairy-bred 9/10-month-old Continentals £1400-£1650, the next grade at the same age £1200-£1400. Angus bulls sold to £1690 from RD Shaw, Sheffield, for dairy-bred goods. From a turnout of 288 bullocks and heifers, a run of Shorthorn cattle from MD Shields, Thirsk, topped the day with a pair of heifers selling to £1970, other full pens of heifers from the same home away at £1880, £1810 and £1700, plus Shorthorn steers to £1960 top for a pen of six. Other strong steers sold at £1800 upwards, NP&DJ Darwin, Sheffield, making £1320-£1780 with 9/10-month-old Shorthorn. Angus steers made to £1570 from CN&SA Harrison, Skipton, also selling heifers of the breed to tops of £1440. Continental steers traded to £1820 from Tim Metcalfe, Clayton, dairy-bred steers at 12/15-months £1200-£1550 regularly, the stronger end £1600-£1700. Younger 8/12-months grazing cattle traded around £1050-£1200, those at 5/7-months looking well sold at £900-£1100. Continental heifers sold to tops of £1840 from R&N Carlisle, Kilnsey, the best end £1550-£1720, dairy-bred yearlings £1200-£1450 depending on stamp, a younger 6/10-month-old softer type £900-£1150. Black and white steers sold to £1360, with the stronger steers regularly over £1000, the younger end £700-£950. The next sale is this coming Saturday, June 14, with a new early sale of toys and collectibles also on the same day's agenda. Another date for the farming diary is an online working sheepdog sale with real-time bidding on Wednesday, June 25, for which a catalogue will as usual be posted at
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
How balancing modern practices with tradition helps these Clare breeders get €8,000 for their Shorthorns
The Keanes explain how they embrace new technologies while respecting their legacy, why they focus on quality over quantity, and how they achieve a work-life balance Roisin and John Keane's commitment to working with one of the world's oldest pedigree-registered cattle breeds, the Beef Shorthorn, has led to record prices of up to €8,000. The father-and-daughter team's Bushypark herd in Kilfenora, Co Clare, set a new record price for a Shorthorn heifer at a society sale in Ireland last November, with their 10-month-old Bushypark Roisin 4th.
Agriland
26-05-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Weanling bull prices reach €6.05/kg at Ballinrobe Mart
Ballinrobe Mart in Co. Mayo hosted its weekly general cattle sale on Wednesday, May 21, with bullock prices peaking at €5.55/kg, heifers at €5.67/kg, cows reaching €4.32/kg and weanling bulls making as high as €6.05/kg. Speaking to Agriland after the sale, mart manager Teresa Gibsey said: 'Bullocks fetched prices from €1,360-1,860/head or €4.05-5.55/kg.' Bullocks in the 400-500kg weight bracket averaged €4.34/kg or €1,770/head, while the 300-400kg bullocks averaged €4.56/kg or €1,545/head. The lightest of the bullocks weighing below 300kg averaged €5.21/kg or €1,485/head. Some of the top bullock prices from the sale included: 415kg Angus bullock sold for €1,860 or €4.48; 360kg Shorthorn bullock sold for €1,840 or €5.11/kg; 290kg Charolais bullock sold for €1,610 or €5.55. Heifers at the Ballinrobe Mart sale achieved prices from €940-3,070/head or €3.44-5.67/kg. The heavy heifers over 500kg averaged €4.07/kg or €2,775/head and 400-500kg heifers averaged €4.19/kg or €1,795/head. 300-400kg heifers averaged €4.35/kg or €1,506/head and heifers weighing below 300kg averaged €5.09/kg or €1,300/head. Some of the top heifer prices from the sale included: 750kg Charolais heifer sold for €3,070 or €4.09/kg; 605kg Angus heifer sold for €2,370 or €3.92/kg; 245kg Charolais heifer sold for €1,390 or €5.67/kg. Dry cows ranged from €1,510-3,570/head, with an average of €2,590/head or €3.90/kg. An 880kg Aubrac cow sold for €3,570 or €4.06/kg. Another 900kg Angus cow sold for €3,510 or €3.90/kg. Weanling bulls achieved prices from €900-1,790/head or €4.03-6.05/kg in the sale. Some of the top heifer prices from the sale included: 375kg Limousin bull sold for €1,790 or €4.77/kg; 310kg Angus bull sold for €1,640 or €5.29/kg; 200kg Charolais bull sold for €1,210 or €6.05/kg. Weanling bulls weighing from 200-350kg averaged €4.87/kg or €1,470/head. Sheep trade at Ballinrobe Mart Ballinrobe Mart hosted its weekly sheep sale on Thursday, May 22. Spring lamb prices ranged from €150-195/head with an average price of €180/head or €3.76/kg which was the same as the last week. Hoggets ranged from €94-208/head or €2.45-3.50/kg, averaging €3.20/kg. Cull ewe prices ranged from €50-274/head averaging €189/head, and the price per kg ranged from €1.11 to €2.82/kg with an average of €2.41/kg. Ewes with lambs at foot sold from €205-€320 for third-crop ewes with twins at foot. Average for ewes with lambs was €260/outfit.
