Duns-based steel fabricators, Thorburn Group Limited had acquired the livestock handling business, Premier Livestock for an undisclosed sum.

Premier Livestock of Dalbeattie is the brainchild of George Clark, 67 and provides some of the highest quality, safest and most innovative cattle handling systems in the country, with equipment constructed to improve welfare and safety of livestock and the stockman. As a result, cattle can be handled in a quiet and calm manner.

Euan Thorburn, 34 managing director of Thorburn Group Limited said: “We are delighted to have acquired Premier Livestock Limited, we see this as a natural extension of what we already manufacture in our Duns workshop for our extensive farming clients and we look

forward to manufacturing this high quality, patented technology from our base in Duns and bringing these products to the wider UK farming market.”

George Clark, founder of Premier Livestock Limited added: “I have been seeking the right partner to take on the operation and manufacturing of my patented livestock handling equipment, so was really pleased when Thorburn Group Limited came forward with a proposal that allows me to focus on continuing to develop and invent engineering improvements whilst knowing that the crushes will continue to be manufactured to the highest quality that has always been a source of personal pride. I look forward to working with Thorburn Group in the coming years to further develop and improve the range”

The Thorburn Group Limited will have the full patented Premier Livestock range on display at the Royal Highland Show.