The Scottish Government

Comments

Feed costs lower as lower protein level now

Cheaper rations

Creep Feed Costs reduced by better mix and £80 tonne less

Feed Costs are down by £25/tonne as a better mix

Feed costs down £20/tonne

Lower feed costs

Saved £30 per tonne on feed

Feed less, yeast additive is helping

Better types of minerals to match need

Feed cost increased by 50%

Saved £60/t on feed

Changed minerals to a better specification with higher vitamin e and selenium

Reduced feed costs

Reduced mineral costs

Scrutinised feed costs more to decide whether to sell or to finish lambs

Spent more on minerals

Saved feed costs after silage analysis

Stopped using feed blocks

Comments

Better Lambing %

Using better bulls with higher EBV values

Fertility is better on suckler's

Using weighing to monitor beef cattle

Using better EBV bulls for breeding

Reduced numbers of cows and lambing % to be efficient

Changing suckler to outdoor types

Going to lamb ewes in a poly tunnel

Introduce Meat line ram for breeding

Will look at sheep boluses

Improved lambing % by 12%

Fertiliser costs for beef reduced

Influenced to keep lambing simple

Probably will cull ewes if they are not in lamb as gimmers now.

Minerals now used pre tupping to improve conception rates

I learned to keep sheep lambing period as short as possible

Extending grazing season with tracks for cows

Better digital dermatitis control

Changed to out of parlour feed/mixed rations

Installed cow mats

Shortened Calving period

Lamb % increased up from 70% in 2004

Now focused on improving stock condition and quality

Joined elite health status scheme which has increased costs

Saved some slight costs on better targeted worm control

Used slightly less bedding

Used mineral buckets and it was well worth it

Comments

I don't do gross margins

Don't do gross margins but feels some feed cost savings have occurred

Don't do costings at present

I want to get a computer to enable detailed costs to be recorded

No cost knowledge, I'm in the dark

Margins on beef and sheep are up

Margins improved on Sucklers, Beef and Sheep

Margins on cattle have increased

Margins on all enterprises have risen

My margins on cereals increased by £30 an acre (and £20 on OSR) , mostly due to cereal price rise but in part due to better cost control

But changes in physical products have saved money or enabled better efficiency in enterprises e.g using molassed mineral buckets saved a dose of minerals

I aim to benchmark my farm to see where it is going

Gross margins up on sheep and beef

Adopting benchmarking

Beef margins increased slightly

Improved focus on performance costs made

I'm post retirement age and don't do gross margins

Comments

Used more lime and cut fertiliser

Better seed mixtures has improved grass

Sprayed to save clover

Used more lime and saved on fertiliser

Trying to improve grassland

Hoping new seed mixtures will reduce cost and lift output

Spent more on grass seeds mix

More attention has been paid to growing grass as a result of the MF

I have brought grass seed mixtures that require less fertiliser

Fertiliser Costs were reduced 33%

Better grazing management in spring

Has Improved grazing management

Better Fertiliser management

Use better seed mixes for grass

Control fertiliser use more

Comments

Fertiliser costs down using soil analysis

Arable yields have improved

My fertiliser bill down 10% as using soil analysis

Better use of fertiliser due to soil analysis

Increased spray costs

Made savings on fertiliser costs

Comments

Outwintering pads at feed stations

New shed planned for 2009

Plan to take on a further 1300 ha of hill land in 2008

Reduced labour costs

Will keep all heifer calves for breeding in future

I see a need to improve my buildings

I see a need to improve my buildings

Reduced stock numbers as lost labour, this not related to MF programme

Focused on improved fences, buildings and stock handling

Comments

Vet costs down as testing samples

Reduced cost of castration

Saved on castration

Will consider BVD vaccination

Some reduction in medicine costs

Increased spot on used

Vet Costs were reduced 15%

Plans to BVD vaccinate

Vaccinating for BVD now

Using blood tests to guide need for minerals

Comments

No more changes planned

Made me see the need for attention to detail

By observing what other people do and don't do

Thinking about electricity costs

There have been benefits as it makes us think more

Input costs may not have been saved through MF discussions.

Tips are always at hand from other folk through discussion

I wasn't in at the start but have enjoyed the few meetings I have been to

I have learned from the speakers and the farmers

It has provided a forum for information on the monitor farm.

A good exchange of views of the farmers present

Reduced Electricity costs

Would like better data on performance financials (eg GM) from group members

Improving field access gates

Meetings too long

Good source of information

Have taken a lot of snippets on board

Have learnt a lot of things not to do

Have really enjoyed the meetings

Have gained a lot of information from them

Contact with other farmers and speakers has been invaluable

Had already embarked on improvements but meetings kept us focused on the right track

Liked contact with other farmers

Liked access to advisers on a nearly one for one basis

Liked targeted local advice

Gained a few good tips from the experts and other farmers

When I retire from my day job I will 1) Improve the grassland 2) Introduce environmental measures

As meetings progressed the discussion has helped understand each subject

Considering diversification letting accommodation

Open discussion has helped farmers and neighbours to increase their knowledge that things are as bad as they seem!