Gallery 2024

Winner’s Farm Walk – Drochil Castle Farm, Peeblesshire

Robert Black – Winner of the BGS Grassland Farmer of the Year 2023

On 22 May we visited Drochil Castle Farm, West Linton, Peeblesshire. The visit was hosted by Robert Black who won the BGS Grassland Farmer of the Year title in 2023. Around 100 people attended the visit.

The cattle herd is currently being expanded, with home-bred heifers calving at two years of age. Bull calves are left entire, and finished at 12-14 months of age on a total mixed ration made up of home-grown forage and cereals.

Both the 120 Stabiliser suckler cows and the 1000 Highlander ewes are outwintered on deferred hill grazing. Bales of second cut silage are placed in these areas, and no concentrates are fed.  Lower areas of the farm are part of a six-year rotation that includes forage rape and barley.

The tour of the farm was followed by a light lunch and the chance to chat.