Quality Meat Scotland Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we catch up with Professor John Gilliland about the QMS/AHDB about an Environmental Baselining programme based on the success of a similar scheme in Northern Ireland. This industry-led pilot aims to recruit 170 farmers and growers in Scotland and England to understand and improve their environmental performance. John explains the learnings from NI and the hopes fo...

Send us Fan Mail Working with farmers and influencing policy is key for QMS. In this episode Kate Rowell explains how QMS is doing this important work alongside other industry stakeholders and Scotch farming ambassadors, to promote the Scotch red meat sector.  The QMS team will be at the Royal Highland Show and Kate explains what to look out for, including steak tasting.   Abby Tong is QMS Categor...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak to John Ritchie about grassland management - he's very inspiring and infectiously enthusiastic! Also to Alix Ritchie about Farmstrong Scotland and the events coming up in their calendar for farmers and crofters to join and hear how others are investing in their wellbeing.  Iain Macdonald, QMS’s Market Intelligence Manager,  talks about the beef, shee...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak to Wayne Godfrey, Chief Executive of Brown Brothers, about their vision to add £100 million in retail sales of Specially Selected Pork via the family’s investment in the Brechin processing facility.   Iain Macdonald, QMS’s Market Intelligence Manager,  talks about the beef, sheep and lamb markets, and the outlook for demand and supply. And, ahead of start...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we look at developing red meat markets in Scotland, the wider UK and internationally. Guests are Tom Gibson, QMS's Business Development Director and Emma Heath, who is the new Marketing Director at QMS. Tom talks athrough his role - discovering, developing and building new market opportunities, both in the UK and abroad, with new export business continually co...

Send us Fan Mail This episode is all about pork, following the successful month of 'Porktober', during October, when QMS, and butchers all over Scotland, celebrated Scotland's pig farmers and Specially Selected Pork. Conversations are with Bruce McConachie from QMS who talks about disease surveillance and controlling Scotland's feral pigs, and with two butchers - Jordan McCaugh...

Send us Fan Mail Ensuring Scotland's school children know where their food comes from,  and the nutrition it offers, is part of the role for QMS Health and Education Managers, Jen Robertson and Alix Ritchie, who promote Scotch Beef, Lamb and Specially Selected Pork in schools.  In this episode, Jen talks about their work with all of Scotland's local authorities, and the creative ways of...

Send us Fan Mail QMS Chief Executive, Sarah Millar and QMS board Chair, Kate Rowell, explain the three key pillars of QMS’s five-year strategy - provenance, profitability and productivity, planning and place, and what getting this right means to Scotland’s red meat sector.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, the conversation focuses on meat eating quality. The discussions are with Bruce McConachie, QMS's Head of Industry Development and Dan Gilmour, a third generation butcher from East Lothian.   For the red meat sector to be able to meet the challenges of a global marketplace improving the eating quality and consistency of our red meat is essential. This podcast...

Send us Fan Mail Farmers are having to look at all aspects of their business to try to control costs and one of the areas that they can do this is by focussing on the forage that they grow for their livestock. Tune in to this week’s podcast to hear from Andrew Houstoun, who farms Glenkilrie Farm near Blairgowrie and Charles Murray, seed merchant and agronomist, who runs Clyde Agriculture (Seeds) L...

Send us Fan Mail Farmers and their workers are the most important asset on any farm. Now an initiative founded in the farming community in New Zealand has made it’s way to Scotland.  Farmstrong aims to help farmers and their workers live well, to farm well.  Tune in to this weeks podcast with John Scott of Fearn Farm and is leading FarmStrongs introduction to Scotland, Gerard Vaughan is Farmstrong...

Send us Fan Mail Data is power. By collecting and measuring data it can help to make informed management decisions on farm. There are multiple platforms you can use to help gather this data, one of which is AgriWebb. Lawrence Martin, Farm Manager at Carbeth Home Farm in Stirlingshire, has a particular passion for technology and using it to drive sustainable and efficient business practices within...

Send us Fan Mail As part of the post-covid engagement strategy, QMS staff have been out at shows and events to engage with members, levy payers and consumers.  In this episode Mark catches up with Sarah Millar, Chief Executive and Kate Rowell, Chair at Turriff Show. Have a listen to hear an update on QMS activity. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-m...

Send us Fan Mail Stuart Mitchell, Whitriggs Farm joins the podcast to discuss how they have dramatically reduced the winter feed bill by moving to outwintering. Through the Monitor Farm Scotland Programme the Mitchell's calculated the cost to feed a cow through the winter. Colin MacPhail of MacPhail Consulting was one of the facilitators for the Borders Monitor Farm at Whitriggs and was heavi...

Send us Fan Mail Beth Alexander, cattle and sheep specialist at QMS, is joined by quests at the QMS stand live from the 200th Royal Highland Show.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail Barry and Gordon discuss the continued personal development and skills requirements as you move up through the business into management/shop ownership.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail Sonia and Gordon discuss the challenges faced by the processing sector and the training and opportunities available within the sector.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail Dr Jonathon Wilkin, Abertay University, discusses the importance of New Product Development (NPD) and innovation to the future sustainability of the red meat industry and the skills and attributes required to work in this field from farm to the finished product on shop shelves. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail Sion and Andrew discuss the benefits of work-based learning to both the student and the employer and the on-farm logistics of taking on a trainee. Sion and Andrew discuss the benefits of work-based learning to both the student and the employer and the on-farm logistics of taking on a trainee. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/...

Send us Fan Mail Mark talks to Dr Jan Connell and Jeremy Taylor from SRUC to find out how Further and Higher Education is equipping it’s students to adapt to the technological and data driven revolution taking place in agriculture.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail This introductory podcast discusses the skills challenges facing livestock farmers in Scotland and the range of opportunities for new entrants and existing farmers to develop the skills they require in an ever-changing landscape.  Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail This series has focused on animal health from fertility to colostrum quality. Yet there is one important aspect of animal welfare we have not discussed – human health. At one of the busiest times of the year for Scotland’s livestock farmers, it is easy to prioritise animal health and forget to look after ourselves. Chris McVey, Welfare Manager at RSABI and psychotherapist, Hannah...

Send us Fan Mail Colostrum is the key to healthy lambs and calves, delivering a boost of energy and vital protection against disease.  With spring around the corner many farmers will be thinking about storing colostrum, when and how much to give, and whether to use replacements. Colin Mason, Centre Manager at SRUC Veterinary Services in Dumfries, and Fiona Lovatt, European Recognised Specialist in...

Send us Fan Mail Nutrition is vital for ewes and cows pre lambing and calving. Analysing forage and building a ration to suit the animal’s needs is instrumental but how do you know if the ration is performing as required? Metabolic profiling is another tool in the box which can tell us how the animal is responding to the ration. Jill Hunter, beef and sheep nutritionist from Harbro and Ed Hill, dir...

Send us Fan Mail In the run up to lambing and calving we can see pregnancy losses which are disappointing for all famers. In this week’s podcast, Cici Corbett, a Veterinary Investigation Officer for SRUC joins us to discuss abortion in cattle and sheep and the importance of follow up investigation to inform management decisions in future years. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast...