Fearn farmer pioneers Scottish lamb first
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN innovative Ross-shire sheep farmer is preparing to hold a Scottish first.
John Scott of Fearn Farm near Tain will host what is believed to be the first on-farm store lamb sale in Scotland today (Tuesday August 11).
Mr Scott, the 2014 Sheep Farmer of the Year, has for the past three years hosted an on-farm ram sale.
Now he is now in the throes of preparing more than 2,000 lambs for the family’s first on-farm sale.
Mr Scott who farms in partnership with his father James, mother Janet and wife Fiona, said: "The sale will include lambs drawn from all of our properties, including Cheviot, Suffolk and Aberfield cross lambs from our farm at Sutherland, Suffolk and Aberfield crosses from our upland unit at Nigg and also Texel cross lambs from Fearn Farm itself and Beltex and Southdown cross lambs bred from ewe lambs.
"There will be both longer term and shorter term lambs within the sale, with lambs coming from a variety of ground, but all sure to adapt and improve quickly when farmed elsewhere."
Conducted by Dingwall and Highland Marts, the sale takes place on the evening of Tuesday August 11, starting at 6pm.
Said Mr Scott: "The sale falls on the evening of the Lairg sale and the day before the major sale at Dingwall.
"Many lamb buyers will already be in the area for these two sales and we wanted to offer them another opportunity to source top quality lambs off-farm.
"We’re easily accessible being just three miles from the A9 and we hope the store lamb sale can build on the success of the well established ram sale which this year takes place on August 28."
Mr Scott says a large number of the lambs will already be on the Heptavac P system to protect against clostridial diseases and lambs can stay at Fearn overnight after the sale while transport is arranged.
He added: "The ram sale has become a great social occasion locally and in time we hope the store lamb sale can become an established fixture in the calendar.
Catering will be available and we look forward to welcoming buyers to what we believe is the first on-farm store lamb sale in Scotland."
