To ensure there is a constant cash flow Craig and Katreen Malone who had a 10-year tenancy at Pitcairn Farm, a 290-acre lowground unit at Lochgelly, Fife, run a flying herd of cattle and a flying flock of 850 ewes.
Moved to Pitcairn in October 2012 the duo started their business of dreams together, and knew that their tenancy would run up quick, they have managed to source a three-year extension at the moment.
On the sheep enterprise, Pitcairn is home to 850 ewes which is predominantly Blackface ewes put to the Bluefaced Leicester tup for producing the Scotch Mules.
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This year, more than 320 ewe lambs were sold between the two Stirling markets, Caledonian Marts and United Auctions to average £138 and Pitcairn gimmers sold to a top of £212.
“We are looking to sell a good strong tuppable lamb to the commercial man. We want to see them with good skins, and it is more important that we get the size of the lamb right with plenty of power, as opposed to the smaller fancier coloured types,” said Craig, with all wedder lambs going to ScotBeef, Bridge of Allan, having cashed in at £109 so far with only 40 home-bred wedders left to be sold Pitcairn.
To keep a constant cash flow and finding it suits their system, they buy in old Blackface ewes for breeding, having bought 500 in at Dalmally this year to average £62, more than they usually would just to try and expand their flock numbers.
“I didn’t have the capital behind me during the first few years so initially, I bought draft Blackie ewes as I thought this was the most economical way of getting started and it seems to have worked ensuring to keep a constant cash flow, I can cash them in whenever,” said Craig.
“Buying these old ewes in from the west they come here and do well on a lowland farm, and 50% will do a couple of years here,” said Teen, who also runs a small flock of 15 Bluefaced Leicester ewes, of which all females are retained, and the tups will be used as lambs before being sold at United Auctions, Stirling in September as shearlings.
In addition to this there is a small flock of cross ewes which are put to the Texel terminal sire for producing a strong prime lamb, who are sold through the live ring in July and August.
Adding to the enterprise the duo buys in 1500 store lambs to fatten every year. Bought in September/ October with trade dependant, the team like to have them ready for the turn of the year.
Predominantly working with the Blackface wedders as they are a cheaper alternative to buy and hang up well on the hook. Everything will be finished on grass, kale, rape and stubble turnips.
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“This is the first year we have grown a kale rape and stubble turnip mix, as we are trying to reduce our concentrate intake due to the rise in feed costs. Closer to killing the lambs will still be fed a smaller quantity of pellets,” said Craig.
Another string to the bow for the Malones, is their flying herd of 200 head of cattle. Heifers will be bought in around one-year-old from all across the country, bulled to an easy calving Limousin at 18-months-old and calving down at two-and-a-half-year-old.
Buying these young heifers, it is essential they go to an easy calving bull, so everything is AI’d to two Limousin bulls, Elderberry Galahad and Tomschoice Lexicon, with the batches chased up with a Limousin bull.
As a management tool Craig and Teen pelvic score all heifers once they are in their management groups ready to be bulled, and anything with a small pelvic will be culled, to minimise any calving problems.
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“The type of job we are in we are looking to breed a real muscley shapey calf, and we need a good breeding female for this, we want to reduce as many problems as we can at calving time,” said Craig, who is looking for a correct feminine sweet heifer black or blue in colour when buying them in.
The diet regime consists of a home-grown silage ration, with home grown barley and a protein balancer, adding straw when calving approaches for the girls.
There are two batches of heifers – spring and autumn calvers – which are sold two months after calving between Aberdeen and Northern Marts, Thainstone; Caledonian Marts, Stirling; United Auctions, Stirling and Harrison and Hetherington, Carlisle. There is also now more of a demand for selling at home privately each year either in calf or with calves at foot.
“We feel by having two batches we can really target the May breeding sales and the September/October sales, which are the main ones. Selling across the country allows us to meet the demands of various customers looking for different types.
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“By having such a niche product, we need to be selective when we are selling them, it wouldn’t work selling them all in one day. We manage to get a premium for the top end by choosing a select few,” said Craig.
Teen added: “The main aim is to get a living outfit that is a sellable yolk, it needs to be a well-balanced pair.”
This year these achieved a new UK record for a heifer and calf at foot when selling for £7800 at United Auctions, Stirling, in May, to Barry Paterson, Cairndaie Croft, Sauchen.
Notably, Craig and Teen’s batch of heifers this year, cashed in at an impressive £3312 for 79 spring/autumn calvers.
Sticking on the cattle front, Teen’s passion for Charolais cattle has continued, having been brought up around them, she now has a small herd of two breeding females, to try and breed the odd bull to sell.
Additionally, this year, Craig bought in 30 store cattle to fatten, which is where he sourced his two heifers – out of a pen of six – that are entered for the Scottish National Fat Stock Club’s Premier Meat Exhibition. This year the team also have four heifers and one steer for LiveScot.
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For the first time the duo will be showing a native heifer in the form of the Aberdeen-Angus cross, Queenie, which came out of Tiree Market.
“Having worked with George McFadezean, who is native daft, I have always fancied showing a native at Livescot,” said Craig.
Having highly invested their time and money into the business the last decade, showing has had to take a back seat for Craig and Teen, although more recently have started venturing back to the winter shows.
Being close to the top tickets the duo took the reserve overall champion and bullock champion in 2018 with their Limousin cross, Prince Harry and the same year produced the calf champion in another Limousin cross, She’s A Belter. Craig and Teen went one better last year and managed to secure the LiveScot supreme champion at Lanark, with their Charolais cross bullock, Silver Lining, which was bred by Duncan Semple.
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Commenting on their big win at the event last year: “Winning LiveScot was a life achievement for us, it is something I have always wanted to do, but never thought we would,” said Teen.
Craig added: “It was an emotional one and a day we will never forget. It really was a dream come true.”
Making it even more special was when their champion went on to make £5600.
“We were delighted with the trade, it really is a tremendous price for a bullock, especially when you add the prize money into the equation! The sale is going from strength to strength at Lanark and is great to see so many butchers and wholesalers source their quality beef for the Christmas rush,” said Teen.
Craig went on to comment: “We are aware that show cattle are so far removed from the commercial reality of the beef industry but when you see something like this it really brings everyone together. It is great to see so many people with a real passion for bringing out that all important show winner. As there are fewer show ones being bred so they are harder to source.
“Show cattle is an expensive hobby at the end of the day, but it is folk’s life. I would recommend anyone to get involved with the Premier Meat Exhibition, which is to be hosted this weekend, it is very educational and is just what the job is all about, focusing mainly on the end product which is what the whole beef industry is all about,” concluded Craig and Teen.
Farm facts
History: The Malones secured a 10-year tenancy at Pitcairn in October 2012 and have been granted a three year extension.
Involvement: Craig and Katreen Malone, with the additional help from freelance stockman, Dexter Logan at the busier times of the year.
Acreage: 290 acres at Pitcairn with a further 310 acres rented at two separate units, one being the neighbouring farm too Pitcairn which is on a three year tenancy and the other unit near Saline on a yearly let. The duo also take on various winterings.
Livestock numbers: A flying herd of 200 head of cattle, where Limousin cross British Blue heifers will be bought in and calved at Pitcairn, before being sold as heifers with calves at foot. On the sheep enterprise there are 850 ewes predominately Blackface sheep for producing the Scotch Mule ewe lamb.
On-the-spot questions
Best investment: Teen and then having our two amazing daughters, Alba (4) and Jess (2).
Biggest achievement: Being granted a 10 year farm tenancy from the forestry commission before the age of 30 to allow us to grow our business and really make a go of it.
Best advice: Actions speak louder than words.
If you could change one thing, what would it be: rising costs. Put a stop to all the rising costs no matter what industry you are in rising costs are a real worry.
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