Getting a bigger margin from grass will be the topic of the next Sutherland monitor farm meeting on Tuesday 4 June.

At the event, which is being held at Clynelish Farm in Brora, Trevor Cook, vet and livestock production consultant from New Zealand, will share his knowledge on all aspects of livestock production from grass-based systems.

Owners Vic and Jason Ballantyne have seen the benefits of improving grassland management at Clynelish Farm. The rotational grazing system they have established is working well, and they can now easily identify fields that can be taken out of the system for silage production. This has lowered feed costs in winter. The grazing season at Clynelish has been extended too; this year they turned out their cattle on 8 April, two weeks earlier than they have been able to do so before.

The project started this year, in order to investigate and test methods of collecting and sharing knowledge and experience of managing fodder beet in Scotland

As well as discussing how farmers can make the most from their grass, Cook will share suggestions for those interested in growing and feeding fodder beet. This crop is something that Vic and Jason are keen to establish at Clynelish, to help feed their ewes over the winter months.

Along with other farmers from Scotland’s monitor farm network, they have sown a series of trial plots. The project started this year, in order to investigate and test methods of collecting and sharing knowledge and experience of managing fodder beet in Scotland.

Trevor Cook will also lead a session on the practical control of parasitic gut worms in grazing livestock, and will explain how farmers can manage their grazing land and stock to minimise the development of anthelmintic (wormer) resistance.

The meeting is free to attend and begins at 11am, with coffee and registration from 10.30am. Anyone attending should call Willie Budge or Cat MacGregor at SAC Thurso on 018-47892602, or email fbsthurso@sac.co.uk