THE increasing range of cheeses available in shops welcomed an addition this week: Anster, an artisan cheese made on farm by dairy farmers Robert and Jane Stewart, of Falfield, Anstruther.
Apart from the fact that Anster will be the first cheese made in Fife for more than 70 years, the venture by the Stewart family marks the increasing professionalism and business acumen of those farmers with farm shops.
Yesterday, Jane Stewart sai
d the aim was to get people to come on to the farm and see the milk from their dairy herd being converted into cheese.
The Stewarts are featuring nine other cheeses currently being made on site by Scottish dairying entrepreneurs.
This creation of what in retail is called a "unique selling point" is important to businesses that rely on their customers travelling to them.
FARMING MARKETS
WOOLER – John Swan sold 69 New Season Lambs, 1,369 Hoggs, and 251 Ewes. The 69 New Season Lambs averaged 194.3p per kg and sold to £92. The 1,369 Hoggs averaged 155.2 per kg and sold to £85. The 251 Ewes averaged £44.65 and sold to £71.50.
THAINSTONE, Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold 362 head of adult breeding cattle including seven bulls. Judge Craig Hamilton, Fetterletter, Fyvie, awarded the Championship to a Limousin cross heifer with Limousin Heifer calf from Sheep Park, Bridge of Marnoch, which realised £2,400. The Reserve Championship award went to a Limousin Heifer with a Limousin bull calf at foot from Greenhaugh, Huntly which sold for £1,900. Top Simmental sired heifer with Limousin heifer calf at foot from Southbank, Skene sold at £2,000. Leading Prices: Heifer and bull calf: Lim – Greenhaugh £2,400; LimX – Sheep Park £2,200; Sim – South Blachrie, Fyvie £1,800; SimX – Raich, Forgue £1,750(two); BB – Old Manse, Glass £1,550; BBX – Raich £1,500; Stab – Blindburn, Blairdaff £1,450; Cha – Raich £1,350. Heifer and heifer calf: Lim – Greenhaugh £2,400; LimX – Greenhaugh £2,300; Sim – Greenhaugh £1,900; SimX – Sheep Park £1,850; BB – Greenhaugh £1,350; BBX – Auchtygall, Peterhead £1,200; Cha – Drum Croft, Maud £1,000,. Cow and bull calf: BB – Boynds, Inverurie £1,750; BBX – Boynds £1,450; Cha – Boynds £1,400; Sim – Rinnaha, Strathdon £1,400; Lim – Boynds £1,350. Cow and heifer calf: Lim – Boynds £1,550; LimX – Boynds £1,520; BB – Boynds £1,200; Sim – Boynds £1,050. In calf heifers: Sim – South Blachrie £1,000; Lim – Wester Manbeen Farm, Elgin £900; AA – Wester Manbeen Farm £880. In calf Cows: Lim – Wester Manbeen £880; Cha – Boghead, Mintlaw £600; Sim – Dunveaden, House, Bettyhill £600. Bulling heifers: Lim – Wester Manbeen £630; AA – Wester Manbeen £580. Pedigree Bulls: Sim 2yr – East Town, Tarland 2,100gn; Lim 2yr – New Mains, Glenkindie 2,000gn; AA 6yr Camphill Village Trust, Bieldside 780gn.
THAINSTONE – Aberdeen and Northern Marts sold head 13 dairy cattle. Nine milk heifers averaged £1,468. Four milk cows averaged £813. Top price was 1,750gn (three) for heifers in milk from Strathray Farms, Kintore. Leading prices: Heifer in milk – Easter Jackston, Longmanhill 1,450gn; Strathray 1,420gn (two). Cow in milk – Easter Jackston 880gn.
STIRLING – Caledonian Marts sold 221 live prime cattle including bulls and 102 cast cows and bulls. Bullocks (133) averaged 158.1p per kg and sold to 183.5p for 490kg limousin from Robb Bros, Flemington, Cambuslang and to £1,227 per head for 810kg from Meadowend Farm, Clackmannan. Heifers (80) averaged 157.4p per kg and sold to 184.5p (twice) for 505kg from Meadowend, Clackmannan and Easter Ochtermuthill and to £1,168 per head for 640kg from Mains of Cultmalundie. Cast cows sold to £965 Monzie Farms. Beef cows averaged 116.1p. Dairy cows averaged 96.6p.
