Stock Talk

Farm Advisory Service
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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.

  1. 1d ago

    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 Resources Lamb Castration & Tail Docking: Alternative Methods Other Resources ClipFitter - Kinder castration and tailing Numnuts – Numnuts For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    40 min
  2. The Use Of AI In Poultry

    May 29

    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. Resources https://www.fas.scot/livestock/poultry/ Website address: optifarm.co.uk Optifarm email: info@optifarm.co.uk For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    56 min

  3. Feb 27

    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. Resources Livestock 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

    32 min

  4. Jan 30

    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 Gordon 10.23 Organic hens and starting out with poultry 13.14 Lower Mill of Tynet 15.40 Nuffield Scholarship – Organic 22.16 Brown vs white hens 31.49 Micro dairy – milk and ice cream 48.46 What’s next for Gordon Related FAS Resources Organics in Scotland - Lower Mill of Tynet Case Study | Helping farmers in Scotland Getting Started with Organic Farming – How to Convert to Organic | Helping farmers in Scotland Managing Grassland Under Organic Systems | Helping farmers in Scotland Getting Started Growing and Grazing with Organics | Helping farmers in Scotland Other Related Resources Lower Mill Of Tynet.co.uk Direct Retailing from a Poultry, Dairy, Beef, Sheep & Arable farm – Lower Mill of Tynet - FAS Video For more information, visit www.FAS.scot Facebook: @FASScot National Advice Hub Phone: 0300 323 0161 Email: advice@fas.scot

    52 min

  5. 12/26/2025

    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 Resources The 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

    41 min

  6. 11/28/2025

    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

    1h 1m

  7. 10/31/2025

    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

    46 min

  8. 09/26/2025

    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

    39 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Farm Advisory Service
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Farm Advisory Service
  • Show Website
    Stock Talk

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