H & I Livestock
H & I Livestock Ltd (HILL), supported by its parent company ANM Group Ltd and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, set out to tackle the perennial problem of marketing underweight lambs from the Western Isles.
The Western Isles Livestock Initiative was launched in 2000 to help crofters in Lewis, Uist, Harris and Skye, bring their lambs up to marketable weight and condition by placing them on East Coast feeding farms. In the previous year almost no demand had existed for lightweight lambs off the islands and frequently they are virtually unmarketable.
Under the pilot scheme, 1875 lambs were selected from 185 producers and divided into four pools for transfer to farms on Easter Ross and the Black Isle. On average they were grazed for around three months before being sold in mid-December to catch the buoyant pre-Christmas market.
The lambs thrived on the mainland and showed an average weight gain of around 10 kgs. At point of sale they had reached an average weight of 30 kg, some 5 kg heavier than an average “killing lamb” bought by HILL directly off the islands. The project therefore resulted in marketable lambs which in all likelihood would have failed to reach a slaughter weight had they remained on the islands.
Lambs in the scheme remained the property of the crofters who were paid a “pool” price, less feeding, haulage, veterinary and marketing expenses.
Bill Souter, H & I Livestock’s General Manager: “The scheme works well for lean, good quality lambs in the 20-25 kg liveweight range which are capable of being fed on for the Christmas market to the advantage of the producer. There is a risk involved and the financial outcome very much depends on the market price in December.
“We believe the risk is worth taking, however, given that these smaller lambs normally have great difficulty in finding a market.”
In addition to improved returns to producers, the pool system gives island producers other benefits.
Firstly, clearing lambs off the island grass early in the season reduces stocking density which in turn should help the following year’s stock to thrive. Secondly, although the ANM Group provided financial backing for the pilot project, the pool system should improve producers’ cash flows as they do not need to fund on-going feed, veterinary, medical and haulage costs.
The success of the project is illustrated by the fact that HILL, subject to FMD considerations, are now looking to have 5000 to 7500 lambs in the pool, the intention being to have a regular supply of lamb to the market rather than a risk strategy of concentrating sales over a short period in December. There is also interest in the Western Isles in a similar pool system for beef cattle.
The Western Isles Livestock Initiative is an innovative and practical example of how partnerships can offer improved access to new markets and has presented crofters with a real opportunity to maximise returns for their lambs.