Farm Innovation Visits Application Form- Sustainable Low Carbon Sheep Systems- Scotland

Closes 14 Feb 2025

Opened 1 Feb 2025

Overview

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is offering sheep farmers the opportunity to take part in a farm innovation visit to learn about innovative approaches and technologies delivering sustainable low carbon sheep systems.  

This study tour is part of the Farm Innovation Visits Scheme which is being delivered by DAERA’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE). Sheep play an important role in meeting sustainability challenges across a wide range of land uses including upland, lowland and arable. Improved performance driven by genetic selection, feed efficiency, animal growth and disease resilience will support low carbon livestock systems.  The tour will include visits to the Scottish Rural University College (SRUC) research farm to see ongoing work quantifying emissions and genetic selection for lower methane ruminants.  Also on the visit agenda is Moredum institute where we will hear about high animal health systems, focusing on animals with increased resilience to parasites.  Visits are planned to several progressive sheep farms that are implementing high health systems and incorporating technologies to reduce reliance on anthelmintics.  

Further visits will focus on efficient grazing systems looking at improved soil health, maximising production from forages including legumes and multi species swards to reduce reliance on fertiliser and concentrate.  This will give opportunities to see the innovative practices and technlogies within systems that enable efficient low carbon production.

The group will travel to Scotland at the beginning of May and will be held over three days/two nights.

Application Form

Audiences

  • All stakeholders

Interests

  • Higher Education