Quality Meat Scotland Podcast

Send us Fan Mail The Neonatal Survival Project, jointly funded by QMS, AHDB and HCC, set out to build a structured plan to improve survival rates across the industry. There is strong research to understand the biology of survival but how do we put this into practice? Dr Alex Corbishley, a farm animal vet, currently working as a Senior Lecturer in Farm Animal Practice at the University of Edinburgh...

Send us Fan Mail Health planning is a key aspect to good herd and flock health which can lead to improved performance. Health planning is not just necessary to adhere to quality assurance standards but is a fantastic opportunity to take stock of past animal health and performance and discuss with your vet what preventative methods and measures can be put in place going forward. Tim Geraghty, manag...

Send us Fan Mail The world's attention was on Glasgow for 2 weeks while the COP26 conference took place. The final agreement fell short of the aspirations of many, who felt the proposals didn ot go far enough to address climate change. However, progress has been made. But, how will Scottish Agriculture contribute to meeting these targets? Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Mairi...

Send us Fan Mail Reducing global emissions and greenhouse gases was a fundamental aim of the COP26 conference in Glasgow this month. Ruminants produce methane which is a fact the red meat sector cannot escape. However, there is research developing in Scotland which could help to reduce methane and greenhouse gas emissions in the farming sector. Listen now to find out more... Here is a link to all...

Send us Fan Mail Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail Youth and Public empowerment was a key theme at the COP26 conference in Glasgow over the last 2 weeks. Listen now to hear how young people such as John McCulloch and SAYFC have tried make their voices heard. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podcast

Send us Fan Mail In the run up to COP26, environmental sustainability is at the top of everyone's agendas. As a country we are working towards Net Zero. This podcast series looks at how the Scottish Farming industry can contribute to this. David Barron of Nether Aden Farm is current chair of the Scottish Beef Association and a former 'Farming for a Better Climate' Monitor Farmer. Da...

Send us Fan Mail Nature and the environment are high up on the agenda at the COP26 conference. Jim Simmons of Ruthven Farm on the Glenlivet Estate strongly believes farming productively and enhancing the environment and biodiversity can go hand in hand. Listen now to hear what changes Jim has made in the last 15 years to the traditional upland farm to receive the accolades of Cairngorms Nature Far...

Send us Fan Mail COP26 is the latest UN Conference for Climate Change taking place in Glasgow from 31st October to 12th November. The event will bring together scientists, politicians and campaigners form around the world to map out decisions which will likely have a great impact on the Scottish Agriculture industry. Sarah Millar, Director of Market Intelligence and External Affairs for QMS is joi...

Send us Fan Mail The Monitor Farm Legacy project has revisited 6 previous Monitor Farmers to look at what has changed since their involvement in the project. Andrew Booth of Savock Farm, Aberdeenshire was a monitor farmer from 2011 to 2015. Peter Chapman of South Redbog Farm, Strichen was chairman of the Monitor Farm community group. Listen now to hear how the Monitor Farm impacted not only Andrew...

Send us Fan Mail Farmers have faced unpredictable and more extreme variations in weather in recent years. The ‘Beast from the East’ was one to remember but this year has had its challenges with a cold, dry Spring followed by a very dry summer. The unpredictability of the weather adds an extra layer of complexity for Scotland’s farmers. Listen now to hear how Kenny Adams of Torhouskie Farm has mana...

Send us Fan Mail Fodder beet has becoming increasingly popular for outwintering livestock. Robbie Newlands of Cluny Farm, outwinters his cows and this year for the first time will be finishing lambs on fodder beet. Kirsten Williams, beef and sheep specialist at SAC Consulting, has been involved in a number of trials for growing the crop across the country. Listen now to hear Robbie’s experience an...

Send us Fan Mail The Monitor Farm programme provides an environment for farmers to try new ideas and concepts and evaluate how they affect the livestock and the wider business. Back in 2012 as Monitor Farmers, Kate and Ed Rowell were involved in a study to change the feeding of pregnant ewes in the run up to lambing time. They used a more natural diet of good quality silage and added protein in th...

Send us Fan Mail Continuing the theme of last weeks podcast we Focus on how arable farming can be productive while delivering for the environment and public goods.  Hugh Broad, Woodhead Farm, was one of the first monitor farmers in Scotland. He has worked hard to deliver environmental goods as well as improving his yields. Bill Gray is a farm manager for Prestonhall Estate, another past monitor fa...

Send us Fan Mail This series we are visiting Monitor Farm Legacy farmers to discuss the long lasting impact the project had on their business and community. Political and social pressure is looking to farmers to do more than produce food. There is a growing desire for the farming industry to deliver wider environmental benefits and public goods. Joining the podcast to discuss how hill farming is p...

Send us Fan Mail New Zealanders amongst the world leaders in sheep production. Sharon McIntyre, Genetics Technical Manager from Sheep Improvement Limited, New Zealand, joins the podcast to discuss how farmers have adopted genetic evaluation and performance recording to revolutionise sheep production. Here is a link to all episodes of QMS's podcast https://qmscotland.co.uk/news-media/qms-podca...

Send us Fan Mail James Walker is an Australian farmer based on the tropic of Capricorn in the middle of Queensland, Australia where they are farming in the throes of an 8-year drought meaning he is operating at 50% stocking capacity. While Australian market prices are at their highest, productivity is at its lowest. Join us to hear how James diversified his business to reduce volatility to the cli...

Send us Fan Mail Dr Karen Beauchemin is a federal scientist in Canada and is recognised as an international authority on Green House Gas emissions from livestock farming. Karen and her colleagues have established a broad based research programme to improve feed utilisation in beef and dairy cattle while reducing methane emissions. Karen joins the podcast to discuss her research. Her team has disco...

Send us Fan Mail Next up in the QMS World Tour podcast series, we hear from Tom Gubbins, director of Te Mania Angus. Te Mania Angus is an Angus seedstock breeding business, over 90 years in the making. There are currently 1,800 females in the herd, with bull sales held annually in Walgett, NSW and Mortlake, Victoria. Bulls are leased annually as part of the Team Te Mania Progeny Test Program, whic...

Send us Fan Mail This Spring into early Summer, Scottish farmers have been challenged by the elements. The land has gone from dry to extremely wet to dry in a matter of weeks. How do we learn to adapt to these challenging conditions? Many of the answers lie beneath our feet with soil structure and soil biology influencing water retention. Ray Archuleta is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist wi...

Send us Fan Mail The red meat industry has been under pressure from claims that red meat is bad for human and environmental health for a number of years. Diana Rodgers RD is a real food nutritionist from Boston, Massachusetts and author of ‘The Sacred Cow’. The book is a detailed examination of some of the claims that have been made about red meat and Diana joins us to discuss where they came from...

Send us Fan Mail Various tools are available that allow sheep farmers to both improve worm control and slow the development of anthelmintic resistance. These include tools to understand life cycles, grazing and pasture management, knowledge of farm anthelmintic resistance status and avoiding highly selective practices. Ally Anderson of Zoetis discusses the parasites and clinical signs farmers need...

Send us Fan Mail Fertility is one of the major factors affecting the efficiency of any suckler beef herd. Sarah Pick, AHDB Knowledge Exchange Manager, completed a Nuffield Scholar titled ‘Heifer Replacement Strategies: Cost Reduction in the UK Suckler Beef Herd’. Through her travels, Sarah discussed the idea of a ‘functional female’ in suckler beef systems across the world which is underpinned by...

Send us Fan Mail Spring is here, and with it comes the end of long days feeding and bedding cattle in sheds. Watching cattle content at grass is one of many pleasures of farming. But how can we make the transition as easy as possible both for the cattle and farmer to avoid extra handling throughout the summer? Ainslie Smith of Eden Vets practice in Fife joins us to share some tips on preparing you...

Send us Fan Mail Farmers spend a lot of time measuring and looking at pastures above the surface. But it is in fact below the surface that holds the potential. Soil health is key to building resilience into swards to withstand dry summers and wet winters. Emily Grant from Forrit (Farming and Consultancy) has a particular interest in making the most from the natural systems on each farm and managed...