| RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS - AUCHNERRAN


Improvement to the genetics of the flock is needed, including through careful selection of tups. © Marlies Nicolai/GWCT


KEY FINDINGS


November 2014 saw the GWCT take on the tenancy of the Game and Wildlife Scottish Demonstration Farm (GWSDF) Auchnerran in Aberdeenshire. Two years of baseline monitor- ing and farm management show this 480ha hill farm is rich in wildlife and semi-natural habitats, with many productive wading birds. This farm provides the GWCT with the opportunity to demonstrate how to intensify farm production in grass and livestock dominated farming areas while protecting habitats, wildlife, soils and water.


Adam Smith Allan Wright David Parish


Red grouse are benefiting from the predator control by the local gamekeeper. © Marlies Nicolai/GWCT


Allan Wright, our shepherd-manager, was employed in November 2015. His focus is to maximise production of the hefted sheep flock by improving over-winter nutrition, disease control and flock genetics to improve welfare and productivity. The basics have been important: copper, cobalt and selenium are very low so there is a regular and thorough drench/bolus and supplementary feeding regime. Poor mothering needs to be bred out of the flock with strong ewe culling and improved ram selection. The sheep are turned out to graze the 5,000ha heather hill of Dinnet grouse moor at typical times of the year for a hill flock: April for the ewe-hoggs, and after lambing for ewes and singles. Once there they perform a key role written into our tenancy – they graze the moor, preventing grass and heather from becoming too rank, and they are treated against tick, allowing them to mop up these parasites, protecting red grouse and other species from excessive tick burdens. We work closely with the Dinnet Hill keeper team on gathering and treating sheep. In turn, we welcome Auchnerran Farm being part of the gamekeeper’s beat so foxes, crows, rats and mustelids are controlled. The relationship between sheep farm and grouse moor is a key facet of this project


– the grouse do better because the sheep act as ‘tick mops’, the wildlife benefits from the predator control and habitat management undertaken by the keepers.


72 | GAME & WILDLIFE REVIEW 2016


www.gwct.org.uk


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