Farmer Focus: No downside in switch to shorter mating periods

What a tremendous spell of weather. March came in like a lamb and went out like a lamb – thankfully no lion this year.

Sunshine on the backs of beasts and men contributes to such a positive start to new life.

There was a big debate last summer between myself and my son, Robert, over the length of time to leave the boys with the girls.

I have always adhered to 12 weeks for the bulls and nine weeks for the tups.

See also: How a Sutherland suckler herd achieved a compact calving

About the author

James Playfair-Hannay

Pedigree Angus and Shorthorn breeder James Playfair-Hannay runs 400 suckler cows and 1,600 Lairg-type North Country Cheviots in the Scottish Borders with wife Debbie and son Robert. They farm 1,780ha (4,400 acres), of which 728ha (1,800 acres) is contract-farmed. They also have a 283ha (700-acre) farm contract-farmed for them further north.

Read more articles by James Playfair-Hannay

Rob won the day and we reduced to nine weeks for the bulls and four weeks for the tups.

The results have been just as good: each day is full on, but we will not have to deal with the tail-enders this year.

Calving and lambing have been as easy and gone as well as I have ever known.

The first calves appeared on 17 March (11 days early) and by 18 April we had 640 ewes lambed, and 290 cows had produced 292 live calves – we have 106 to go.

That means we have achieved our target to calve 70% of cows in the first cycle.

For a number of years we have been using low-birthweight and short-gestation genetics with well above-average growth estimated breeding values.

However, although these genetics are easy to find in the Angus world, they are very difficult to find in the Beef Shorthorn world.

Spring crops had all been sown into good seed-beds by the end of March. Last year, we didn’t start sowing until 6 April. Now our light land could do with a drink.

Because of continuing frosts, grass has disappeared in front of the grazing animals.

Fortunately, we do have a quantity of silage bales in stock. As the hill lambing is just starting, we hope the sunshine continues.

Among the many changes at the Royal Highland Show this year is that my services as a commentator are no longer required.

However, as one door closes, another opens: I have been invited to lead an inbound tour of Australian farmers for Field Farm Tours, starting in London and finishing at the show.