SUSTAINABLE SHEEP FARMING


Thursday 19th July 2007, Aultbeg Farm, Glenrinnes, Aberdeenshire.  AB55 4BS
Opens at 1 p.m. and runs till 7.00 p.m. 

Host Farm

The event will be held on the 6,000 acre unit at Glenrinnes which is managed by Mr Richard Smith.  The unit runs 1,600 Scottish Blackface ewes and 200 suckler cows.  The ewes are mated to Blackface, Charollais and Texel rams.  Visitors will be able to view the sheep flock and also the prize winning pedigree Glenrinnes Beef Shorthorn herd. 

The land is 100% organic, registered with the Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA) and runs from 800' to the highest point in the region, the 2,700' Ben Rinnes summit.

All the Glenrinnes lamb goes to McIntosh Donald, who are exclusive suppliers of organic Scotch beef and lamb to Tesco. 

The event is being organised by the Charollais Sheep Society as part of their 30th Anniversary programme.  A revelation to many farmers over the past few years has been the use of Charollais rams on hill ewes.  This cross produces a remarkable lamb; they lamb easily and grow to give a carcass weight that enhances profitability in hill situations.  A breed that many considered not suitable for this job, is rapidly proving critics wrong.