Stock Talk

Hosted by Farm Advisory Service

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Jul 2026

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About the show

Welcome to Stock Talk, bringing you all the latest news and advice for livestock producers. Each month, livestock specialists will discuss current issues, opportunities and options for producers. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable.

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47 recent

July 31, 202657 min

Venison Market Outlook & Tullynessle Deer Farm

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by Dick Playfair from the Venison Advisory Service and Janet Keith from Tullynessle Deer Farm. Dick gives us a market overview of venison, tells us about how the wild deer cull influences deer farming and about the importance of provenance when selling venison direct to consumers. Then we speak to Janet, who runs Tullynessle Deer Farm with her husband Willie. Janet tells us their story of how they got into deer farming and how the business has evolved to diversify into direct selling her venison and running farm tours. Janet also tells us the about the meat itself, venison cooking options and how nutritional this meat is. Resources Tullynessle Deer Farm website:Buy Scottish Farmed Venison online or at our family farm Janet’s mobile number: 07827279241 Email address: tullynessledeerfarm@gmail.com Venison Advisory Service website: venisonadvisory.co.uk Dick’s email address: richard@venisonadvisory.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

June 26, 202640 min

Changing the Mark: New Technology in Lamb Marking

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by SRUC Veterinary Investigation Officer Kythe Mackenzie, and farmers Ewan Runciman and Scott Fraser. Today we're looking at one of the most important management practices carried out on sheep farms every spring - lamb marking. For many sheep producers, this includes procedures such as castration and tail docking. These are routine husbandry practices, but they're also areas where there has been increasing focus on animal welfare and reducing pain. In recent years, new technologies have emerged to help farmers carry out these procedures more effectively and with improved welfare outcomes. Our three guest speakers have first-hand experience of using some of these innovations.First, we will hear from veterinarian Kythe about why farmers castrate and tail dock lambs, the legal requirements in Scotland, and the importance of pain management. Then we'll hear from Ewan, who uses Numnuts, a system that combines ring application with local anaesthetic delivery. And finally, we'll hear from Scott, who has experience using ClipFitter, another technology designed to improve welfare during lamb marking. Related FAS ResourcesLamb Castration & Tail Docking: Alternative MethodsOther ResourcesClipFitter - Kinder castration and tailingNumnuts – NumnutsFor more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: advice@fas.scot

May 29, 202656 min

The Use Of AI In Poultry

Welcome to Stock Talk. In this episode James is joined by David Speller from OptiFarm. David is a poultry farmer who had lots of data and not enough time to analyse it. David will tell us about the AI tool he developed to help him make better informed decisions, which attracted the eyes of investors leading to his company OptiFarm. David explains how the tool works and the benefits of using AI in livestock systems including the use of real-time data to be proactive in terms of livestock management and welfare, and how this can improve livestock performance and profitability. Resourceshttps://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/ Website address: optifarm.co.uk Optifarm email: info@optifarm.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: advice@fas.scot

February 27, 202631 min

James Orr – Stock Talk Handover

Welcome to Stock Talk. On today’s episode we hear from James Orr who will be taking over from Kirsten Williams’s role as the host on Stock Talk. James talks about his career highlights as an agricultural consultant at SAC Consulting, his key areas of expertise and Kirsten reflects of some of her favourite projects from the past 20 years. James looks to continue Stock Talk with more interesting farming stories as well as discussing more technical aspects. ResourcesLivestock Resources -https://www.fas.scot/livestock/Poultry Resources -https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/FAS Connect - https://www.fas.scot/connect/For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

January 30, 202652 min

Gordon Whiteford - Lower Mill of Tynet Farm

Welcome to Stock Talk. On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Gordon Whiteford who farms at Lower Mill of Tynet in Banffshire. In 2012, Gordon and June Whiteford began Lower Mill of Tynet Farm. They built an egg business, then a micro-dairy in 2020, selling milk and now ice cream directly from their 24-hour farm shop. They have brought together traditional farming practices with innovative direct-to-consumer strategies and are proud to have won Sustainable Farm of the Year 2024.Timestamps 01.10 How it all started for Gordon10.23 Organic hens and starting out with poultry13.14 Lower Mill of Tynet15.40 Nuffield Scholarship – Organic22.16 Brown vs white hens31.49 Micro dairy – milk and ice cream48.46 What’s next for GordonRelated FAS ResourcesOrganics in Scotland - Lower Mill of Tynet Case Study | Helping farmers in ScotlandGetting Started with Organic Farming – How to Convert to Organic | Helping farmers in ScotlandManaging Grassland Under Organic Systems | Helping farmers in ScotlandGetting Started Growing and Grazing with Organics | Helping farmers in ScotlandOther Related ResourcesLower Mill Of Tynet.co.ukDirect Retailing from a Poultry, Dairy, Beef, Sheep & Arable farm – Lower Mill of Tynet - FAS VideoFor more information, visit www.FAS.scotFacebook: @FASScotNational Advice HubPhone: 0300 323 0161Email: advice@fas.scot

December 26, 202540 min

Basil Lowman – 55 years of Driving the Beef Industry Forward and Pioneering New Ideas

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Dr Basil Lowman who has been a beef specialist with SAC Consulting for 55 years. Kirsten describes Basil as a legend in the beef industry. We hear about Basil’s varied career, his passion for the industry, how he thrives on challenge and is a pioneer of new ideas.  Episode Timestamps  01.37 Let’s go back in time 09.13 Body condition scoring of cattle 16.38 The development of silage and straw-based rations 24.24 The Green Shed 29.43 Beef farming in 10 years’ time  Related FAS Resources   Cattle resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service | FAS Body Condition Scoring - Maintaining condition (FAS)   Other Related ResourcesThe Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 1 (QMS) The Benefits of Cow Condition Scoring - Part 2 Greenshed Graphic - SRUC  GreenShed video - SRUC - YouTube   For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot 

November 28, 20251 hr 0 min

Robert Gilchrist & Gavin Hill

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by two industry experts to discuss the beef industry. It’s a lively discussion covering many topics, including: replacement strategies, where the market is it at just now, sustainability and the future of the Scottish herd.  Gavin Hill is a Senior Beef Specialist with SAC Consulting and Robet Gilchrist is Chief Executive of the Aberdeen-Angus Society.  Episode Timestamps  02.30 Cattle replacement strategies  10.03 Where should the end price be? 13.26 Changing eating behaviours and changes in the industry 17.05 Future of the Scottish herd  27.45 Cow of the future  43.08 Matching the sire  50.07 What will the Scottish beef industry look like in the next 10-20 years  Resources    Livestock resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service Cattle resources for farmers from Farm Advisory Service | FAS Sustainable Beef Systems | Helping farmers in Scotland  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot 

October 31, 202546 min

Innovation and Technology in the Livestock Industry

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode, Kirsten is joined by Ross Robertson, a Farm Technology Specialist at the UK Agri-Tech Centre. Ross collaborates with a network of farms to create practical solutions and demonstrate use of technology on farm to increase productivity. Ross draws on his practical farming experience and knowledge gained through visiting systems in other countries to bring about innovative change at a farm level here in the UK. Episode Timestamps  00.20 Introducing Ross Robertson, Farm Technology specialist and sheep farmer  04.34 Sector technology: dairy, arable robotics and precision farming, pig and chicken technology and animal health 09.00 Return on investment  10.36 Understanding how to handle and understand the data – the importance of training  13.32 Applying dairy technology to the beef sector  15.41 Main driver for introducing technology: labour, cost saving, health monitoring, increasing productivity  19.11 Ross’s background 24.28 Biodiversity sensors 27.42 LoRaWAN – Long Range Wide Area Network 30.15 Connectivity - a barrier to the uptake of technology?  32.01 ONE AgriTech survey – broadband, apps and expert help 43.30 What motivates Ross  Resources    The UK Agri-Tech Centre | farming & food innovation Ross Robertson contact: 07858309293, ross.robertson@ukagritechcentre.com  Opportunity North East (ONE) The University of Edinburgh - The Power of Data in Farm Animal Practice  For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot  

September 26, 202538 min

Herd Monitoring with Jilly Duncan Grant

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Jilly Duncan Grant, Founder & CEO of Herd Advance Ltd.  Jilly has a real love for agriculture and her varied career led to a focus on data driven decision making and developing Herd Advance with her husband to improve herd performance, profitability and wellbeing.   Episode Timestamps  00.42 Introducing Jilly Duncan Grant – a Jill of all trades! 09.18 What is Herd Advance? 23.49 The family farm – managing ‘boom and bust’ fluctuation in the marketplace 27.55 QMS board member role 31.03 What motivates Jilly to keep pushing forward FAS Resources Data Driven Decision Making for Finishing Cattle | Helping farmers in Scotland Data Driven Decision Making for Suckler Herds | Helping farmers in Scotland FFBC_Case_Study_Improving_weight_data_capture_Glenkilrie_ Other Resources    Herd Advance   For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot 

August 28, 202553 min

Bred to be Wild!

Welcome to Stock Talk hosted by Kirsten Williams.  On today’s episode Kirsten is joined by Turkey Farmer Paul Kelly. In 1971, Paul’s parents started the family business, known today as ‘Kelly Turkeys’ and ‘Farmgate Hatcheries’. The cycle starts with eggs going into incubators in April for 28 days. When they hatch, they go into brooding sheds, then by 5 weeks of age they are ready to go to the woodland where they roam freely. At Kelly Turkeys they have complete control over the whole production cycle, making them very unique in the industry and one of a kind in the UK. The business has developed resilience to deal with issues like Brexit, labour, marketing and work by the motto ‘change is the name of the game’.   Episode Timestamps  00.31 Introducing Paul and the turkey cycle 02.41 Inseminating vs running with stags 03.24 Genetics and breeding lines 09.43 Hatchery business: 1.8 million chicks a year 12.48 Kelly turkeys: 100,000 turkeys reared through to Christmas 18.38 Split between whole turkeys, crowns and butterflies  27.36 Bringing resilience into the business 33.32 Avian influenza (bird flu)  37.44 Markets, trends and online sales 39.09 Weighing turkeys, sources of protein (acorns!) and organic  44.36 Succession  46.50 Marketing and celebrity chefs!   FAS Resources Poultry | Helping farmers in Scotland Other Resources    Kelly Bronze Turkeys   Farmgate Hatcheries New GB avian influenza wildlife interactive map and data dashboard launched | SRUC Avian influenza (bird flu): how to spot and report the disease - gov.scot  For more information, visit  www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot  National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot 