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Clyth Mains Farm
Farmer: Iain Sinclair
Location: Lybster, Caithness
Enterprises/Activities: Organic layers, suckler cows and ewes
A North of Scotland organic free-range egg producer has achieved the highest performance of any flock in Scotland during his first year in production.
First class management, correct nutrition and high quality birds has seen Ian Sinclair (on the left of the picture with the Tropper and its operator, Stuart Webster), Clyth Mains, Lybster, Caithness, exceed the performance of conventional flocks with his flock of Lohmann Brown layers.
He now has three 3000-bird units on 25 acres and already organic egg production is proving the best paying enterprise on the farm – despite an investment of £300,000 in buildings.
“Our traditional beef and sheep enterprises have not proved very profitable in recent years,” says Mr Sinclair, who runs 140 suckler cows and 300 ewes on his 550-acres all-organic farm.
“I read an article about organic egg production two years ago and thought this might be a worthwhile venture, even although we are a long way from the main market. Our first flock of 3000 birds proved profitable and we have since added two further sheds for another 6000 birds.”
The first flock peaked at over 96% and maintained a production level of over 90% for 33 weeks to produce 322 eggs over the 56-week laying cycle compared with a target of 280 and an average of 316.6 achieved by conventional flocks. The second flock did even better with peak production reaching 98%. Feed intake is working out at 128g/day/bird. At the end of their lay, the birds were 85% feathered.
“An extra three dozen eggs at £1.50 a dozen from 3000 birds makes a huge difference to the viability of the whole enterprise,” Mr Sinclair points out.
Sourcing organic wheat is the biggest potential problem in an area like Caithness, which is well away from Scotland’s main arable cropping areas, but Mr Sinclair has contracted with two local farmers to supply him with the 250 tonnes of wheat he requires every year. This has been costing him £300/tonne over the past year.
“It’s expensive but the grower needs it when you consider that yields of organic wheat in this area will not be much over a tonne an acre,” he says.
Feed is mixed on the farm using Feedmix’s Tropper state-of-the-art mobile feed mixer which is specifically designed to produce pig and poultry feeds. The Tropper is mounted on a six-wheel Scania wagon with a six-tonne mixing tank and computerised system which can produce a print-out of ingredients used and costings at the end of each batch. Mixing is 40% faster compared with conventional feedmobiles. The Tropper has the ability to change the speed of the grinder, bruise some raw materials and the unique outloading system reduces separation, therefore the grist and structure of the feed is consistent and as it should be when the birds receive it (see pic above).
Protein is supplied as straights by Feedmix parent company, Harbro, through local merchant, W and A Geddes Ltd, and comprises peas, soya and minerals.
“Organic feed is expensive but the ration we feed is very good and is producing excellent results for us,” says Mr Sinclair. “I am also grateful to Harbro for the nutritional advice which has got us off on the right footing from day one.”
The birds, which were supplied by JSR Services of Blairgowrie are housed in the three purpose-built slatted sheds with a belt system to remove muck, an automatic feeding system and automatic egg removal. Stocking is six birds per square metre in accordance with EU animal welfare requirements and organic rules and birds have daily outdoor access.
Mr Sinclair reckons the units produce sufficient high-nitrogen poultry manure to apply two cwt per acre to 90 acres of grassland, representing a considerable saving in fertiliser costs.
Mr Sinclair’s father, John, is responsible for two of the sheds, and Mr Sinclair looks after the third shed, although the intention is to take on an employee in the future. Man hours per shed per day is reckoned to be no more than three hours.
The first two £100,000 sheds attracted grants from the Agricultural Business Development Scheme and Highlands and Islands Enterprise but the third shed received no grant.
Eggs are sold to Farmlay, who are major egg suppliers to the Morrison supermarket group. “Morrisons and Farmlay have been very fair and we have found that the egg price has increased in line with the rise in feed prices which means our margin has been maintained,” says Mr Sinclair. “This is vital as every £5 per tonne increase in the feed price equates to 1p per dozen eggs produced.”
Mr Sinclair is delighted with the move into organic egg production which has not only provided him with a profitable diversified enterprise but generates a monthly income and an excellent cash flow.