THE DEMONSTRATION DAY ASPECT OF THE PROJECT HAS NOW CONCLUDED.
Deer Farm Demonstration Project — final 2015 day to be held in Fife
The final demonstration day in the 2015 series will take place in Fife on Friday 20 November.
The morning session will be held at The Simpson Institute, 47 Main Street, Upper Largo, KY8 6EN Fife from 10.00am and is as follows:
10:00–10:30 Coffee and networking
10:30–10:40 Introduction and welcome — Jonathan Whitehead and Dick Playfair
10:40–10:55 The deer farming enterprise at Wester Balcormo — Nick Gilmour
11:00–11:25 Feeding farmed deer for profit — Alan Sneddon, Venison Advisory Service Ltd
11:30–11:45 The Downfield deer enterprise and abattoir — Bob Prentice
11:50–12:15 The year at Culquoich (demonstration deer farm 2014), breeding for stock and breeding for venison — Ali Loder
In the afternoon there are visits to Wester Balcormo and the new abattoir at Downfield ending around 3.30pm.
The full programme and important information about the day which you should read if attending is available here (.PDF, 1.2 MB).
CHECK IN NOW!
You can register for the Fife event NOW using the contact details below.
E mail: mail@venisonadvisory.co.uk
Tel: 0131 445 5570
The project is grateful for sponsorship from Tornado Wire and Cairngorm Deerfeeds.
The Deer Farm Demonstration Project is a partnership project between Scotland Food and Drink, NFU Scotland, SFQC Ltd and The Scottish Venison Partnership. The funding has been made available through the SRDP Skills Development Scheme which is jointly funded by The Scottish Government and the European Union.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
The previous Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Day took place at
Gledpark, Borgue, Dumfries & Galloway DG6 4SS on 15 September 2015 from 10:00–15:30 The programme covered:
- Update from Rupert Shaw, Gledpark
- Growing profitable deer — Jonathan Holmes, agronomist and agricultural lecturer, Lordington Park Agronomy
- Meat and hygiene requirements — John Fletcher, Venison Advisory Service Ltd
- Panel Q & A on all deer farm and park related topics as well as presentations above — you can send questions in advance to mail@scottish-venison.info
The afternoon session included a ‘walk and talk’ tour led by Rupert Shaw; an ‘in field’ demonstration by Jonathan Holmes, agronomist; and a mobile deer larder exhibit from SMH Products (mobile larder unit range (.PDF, 465 kB).
The project is grateful for continued sponsorship from Tornado Wire and Cairngorm Deerfeeds.
The full programme and other important information about the day is available to download here (.PDF, 1.3 MB).
REGISTER NOW! You can register for the Gledpark event NOW using the contact details below.
e: mail@venisonadvisory.co.uk
t: 0131 445 5570
The Deer Farm Demonstration Project is a partnership project between Scotland Food and Drink, NFU Scotland, SFQC Ltd and The Scottish Venison Partnership. The funding has been made available through the SRDP Skills Development Scheme which is jointly funded by The Scottish Government and the European Union.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
The programme for the demonstration day at Clathic on 28 July 2015 and important information in relation to the event is available here (.PDF, 1.3 MB). The themes for the day are feeding (Callum Thomson, formerly head deerkeeper at Woburn); finance (Barclays) and fencing (Tornado Wire), with an update from Jamie Landale on how his year is going to date at Clathic, and an on-site talk on handling by Alan Sneddon of the Venison Advisory Service. There are a limited number of places still available.
You can register for the day now:
e: mail@venisonadvisory.co.uk
t: 0131 445 5570
The project is grateful for continued sponsorship from Tornado Wire for the 2015 demonstration days, and also welcomes Cairngorm Deerfeeds as a new sponsor for the rest of the year.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………
Dates and locations announced for Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Project 2015
The Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Project in 2015 will be based at a number of different locations. Venues will be Clathic, Crieff, Perthshire (courtesy of Jamie Landale), and Gledpark, Borgue, Dumfries & Galloway (courtesy of Rupert Shaw). There will be two days held at each location and a final day in Fife.
Dates for the 2015 demonstration days as follows:
- Tuesday 12 May — Clathic, by Crieff, Perthshire, PH7 4JY
- Tuesday 16 June — Gledpark, Borgue, Dumfries & Galloway, DG6 4SS
- Tuesday 28 July — Clathic
- Tuesday 15 September — Gledpark
- Friday 20 November — Upper Largo, Wester Balcormo and Downfield, Fife
More information and the programme for Day 1 at Clathic, 12 May 2015 available here (.PDF, 1.3 MB). Please read and note carefully if you are attending.
If you wish to register for day 1 at Clathic you can do so now:
e: mail@venisonadvisory.co.uk
t: 0131 445 5570
Programme for the fifth Deer Farm Demonstration Day 2014
11 November 2014 — Towie Hall, Glenkindie and Culquoich Estate
10:30 — Scottish food, food policy, objectives, and how does Scottish venison fit? James Withers, Chief Executive, Scotland Food and Drink, Lead Partner in the Deer Farm and Park Demonstration Project
10:50 — Overview of the deer farming year John Fletcher and Alan Sneddon, Directors, Venison Advisory Service
11:10 — Supplying what the market wants Rob Bunn, Livestock Support Manager, Dovecote Park
11:40 — Comfort Break
11:50 — UK venison – and why we must increase domestic production Christian Nissen, Managing Director, Highland Game
12:10 — Culquoich – a look back at 2014 Ali Loder, Culquoich Estate
12:30 — Panel questions and discussion
12:45 — Lunch
13:45 — Case studies – further processed and adding value 1. Richard Barclay – Rannoch Smokehouse 2.Jan Jacob Baak – Great Glen Charcuterie
14:15 — Question session – then transfer to farm
14:30 — On-farm briefing Guided farm walk covering: Outwintering stock Housing calves Winter feeding Handling system (for those who have not seen it)
15:45 — Final questions
16:00 — Depart
Register by calling 0131 445 5570 or e: mail@scottish-venison.info by Friday 31 October (max 2 per land holding)
Important information
Parking
There is a car park at the Towie Hall, and overspill parking at Towie Church adjoining. The hall is immediately opposite Towie School. Please park safely and responsibly. For parking at Culquoich Farm please park as directed.
Lunch
A free soup and sandwich lunch is provided. Those with special dietary requirements/ food allergies etc are asked to bring their own lunch as a precaution.
Disabled access
Some aspects of the afternoon farm sessions are unsuitable for disabled access.
Registration
Please ensure that everyone registers separately at Towie Hall (a registration sheet will be circulated) giving name, business, e-mail address and contact phone number to ensure the Project organisers can contact you about future days/events.
Safety
Culquoich is a working farm – please observe all safety notices and instructions during the visit.
Clothing, footwear, etc.
Please bring suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for the afternoon session. Foot dips and brushes will be available at the farm and must be used for bio-security. Please also ensure that vehicles have been cleaned.
Binoculars
We recommend that you bring binoculars.
On-farm hygiene
All are asked to comply with simple on farm hygiene instructions, use of hand wash and sterilizing gels if in contact with animals etc.
Event notes and papers
We will not be providing accompanying notes for the project days. All presentations will be available on the project website following each event. We recommend that you bring a notebook. There will be a Feedback Form for completion following the morning session.
Comments on the afternoon session can be given online. You may also be asked to participate in the concurrent Deer Farm Research Project being run by Aberdeen University, The Hutton Research Institute and the Scottish Venison Partnership. Your support for this would be appreciated.
Contact and more information:
The Deer Farming Demonstration Project
c/o The Scottish Venison Partnership
3 Winton Loan
Edinburgh
EH10 7AN
t: 0131 445 5570
e: mail@scottish-venison.info
https://deerfarmdemoproject.scottish-venison.info/
The Deer Farm Demonstration Project is a partnership project between Scotland Food and Drink, NFU Scotland, SFQC Ltd, The Scottish Venison Partnership and Culquoich Farm. The funding is being made available through the SRDP Skills Development Scheme which is jointly funded by The Scottish Government and the European Union.