A Borders farm has been confirmed as the venue for Scotland’s biennial national sheep event in 2014. NSA Scotsheep 2014 will be held on the Berwickshire farm of Quixood, Grantshouse, courtesy of the Macfarlane family, on Wednesday 4 June. (Note that the NSA’s major UK biennial event ‘Sheep’ takes place at Malvern on 30 July 2014.)
Quixwood is base for a large-scale farming enterprise extending to 2500 acres (1040 ha). Enterprises include 1730 breeding sheep and 750 suckler cows with all progeny, apart from replacement hoggs and heifers, finished on the farm.
Arable cropping comprises 600 acres (250 ha) of combinable crops, including a contract arrangement on 200 acres (83 ha) on a neighbouring farm. Quixwood is ideally situated close to the main A1 Edinburgh–Berwick road and the farm is highly regarded for the production of high quality sheep and cattle.
“We are indebted to John and Iain for kindly agreeing to host our flagship event, NSA Scotsheep,” said Mrs Sybil Macpherson, chairman of the Scottish region of the National Sheep Association, organisers of the event. “The reputation of Quixwood goes before it and it will be a great venue for Scotsheep.”
“We are greatly honoured to have been asked to host NSA Scotsheep next year and look forward to welcoming sheep farmers from throughout Scotland and south of the Border to see what we do here,” said John Macfarlane, who runs the farming enterprise with his son, Iain.
The Macfarlane’s have farmed at Quixwood since November, 1998, and have built up an extensive farming enterprise which includes 500 Mule ewes crossed with the Texel and 800 Texel cross ewes crossed with the Suffolk. In addition, 300 Blackface ewes are put to the Bluefaced Leicester for replacements and 250 Texel x Mule hoggs to the Beltex.
The suckler cows are a mixture of Aberdeen-Angus, Limousin, Beef Shorthorn and Simmental and bulls of all four breeds are used, along with the Charolais as a terminal sire.
Further information available from the organiser: euan@appliedremedies.co.uk
29 July 2013
