Behind the Scenes at Dalswinton

Speaking candidly on the beef operation at Dalswinton Estate, host of Scotland’s Beef Event on Tuesday, 6 June, Peter Landale, highlights that each of the 550 suckler cows has made a loss of £81 per cow before Single Farm Payment in the year 2022- to 2023.

Consisting of Blue Gray, Luing and Shorthorn cows which are put to the Aberdeen-Angus bull to breed replacement breeding females, the resulting heifers are covered by a Charolais sire to produce calves for the store market.

These are sold at 10 to 12 months of age at an average weight of 400kg, and Gavin Hill, Senior Beef Specialist at SAC Consulting, points out that loss was made in a year with a great calf rearing percentage of 92% and despite the high store prices seen in 2023.

Each week on the lead up to Scotland’s Beef Event at Dalswinton, Peter will put together a headline of information with a different subject area about the herd. The publication schedule is as follows:

3 April - Introduction to Dalswinton

10 April - Production of beef at Dalswinton

17 April - Marketing of beef at Dalswinton

24 April - Controlling cost at Dalswinton

1 May - Cropping at Dalswinton

8 May - Carbon and Biodiversity position at Dalswinton

15 May - Financial support at Dalswinton

22 May - Application of modern technology options at Dalswinton

29 May - The future at Dalswinton

If you are interested in finding out more about the Dalswinton Estate beef enterprise and the future of Scottish beef production, head along to Scotland’s Beef Event at Dalswinton Estate, Dumfriesshire, on Tuesday, 6 June. Tickets will be available to purchase soon and don’t forget to take advantage of the Early Bird discount.