Benjamin James Duthie

I currently have a flock of 200 ewes held on annual grazing licenses comprising of primarily Mule ewes with draft blackface ewes bought in to produce replacement mules each year. The mule ewes are put to the Texel with all lambs sold through Hexham and Northern Marts.

I am currently looking for a longer term agreement which would afford me greater security and enable me to progress my business. All of the sheep work is done by myself (including clipping) with the occasional assistance from family.

I have 2 working collies, which I take great pleasure in working on a daily basis.

Whilst running my own flock, I also work as a self employed shepherd (B J Duthie Livestock) with regular work with A Murray & Sons at Sewingshields farm and West Deanraw/Stell Green. I take a great interest in the breeding of the North of England Blackface and enjoy working as part of a team helping to turn out/showing the breed within the society sales/shows etc. I am also a member of the North of England Branch of the Blackface committee.

I am currently a member of the newly formed Northumberland Farmer Network and I have enrolled in the Next Generation Programme to further help me develop my business. Resulting from my involvement with the Next Generation programme, I have received a grant for the purchase of a mobile electric fencing unit. This will enable me to implement a regenerative approach to my grassland management.

I would like to implement a regenerative farming approach to my grazing system/management. Such as rotationally grazing stock, allowing the pastures to rest and improve root structure/soil health. My aim being to manage my farming business on a predominantly grass based system, thus reducing inputs (concentrates, winter forage etc). I have attended multiple courses/farm walks on this subject conducted by organisations such as Understanding Ag it is something I feel passionate about and would like to implement. Allowing a process of on farm productivity and increasing environmental biodiversity.

Prior to establishing my own flock and becoming self employed, I was employed for two years full time as a stockman/shepherd by JW Robson & Sons at East Shaftoe Farm.

I was responsible for the day to day care and management of 1000 ewes (700 Texel x and 300 North of England Mules) East Shaftoe farm, predominantly an upland livestock farm comprising of around 800 acres of owned land and farming a further 200 acres of rented permanent pasture. My role was primarily focused on the sheep enterprise of the farm, with the use of the Texel as a terminal sire to produce Texel cross fat lambs, whilst keeping the first cross ewe lambs as breeding replacements to be retained within the flock.

One of my aims within the business was to carefully select Texel tups with the correct traits to aid in the production of ewe lambs for both retaining and for selling privately as breeding sheep.

I used to select around 160 texel cross ewe lambs each year to be retained for breeding and were put to the tup as hoggs. I have experimented with different breeds of sires for this job to help find the optimum breed for ease of lambing. For example LLeyn and South Country Cheviot tups. The use of teaser tups was also introduced to help get the ewe lambs to cycle and help to tighten the lambing period.

I would also source around 70 North of England Mule ewe lambs (ex blackface) privately. These lambs were ran on as hoggs and would be tupped as gimmers.

At East Shaftoe we opted for an indoor lambing system, with the assistance of veterinary students each year.

I also worked as part of the team to manage a herd of around 230 Beef suckler cows. The intention is to breed Saler heifer replacements due to their easy calving ability, to eventually go to the Charolais bull. Angus cross heifers were also purchased from predominantly grass/forage based systems to introduce lower input characteristics within the herd. We opted for a spring and autumn calving, allowing the Saler heifers to be bulled at around 14 months.

During my time at East Shaftoe, I also built up a good raport with Black Sheep Vets at Rothbury, having attended numerous talks and discussions regarding livestock conducted by the practice.

I still continue to have occasional self employed work at East Shaftoe, maintaining a good working relationship with the farm.

East Fourstones Farm, Hexham Northumberland.

I had the opportunity to gain relevant experience on this mixed arable and livestock farm with the business farming around 500 acres. During this apprenticeship I received a distinction through Newton Rigg College, gaining experience working with the following livestock:

Cattle work – Assisted with management of a mixed suckler herd comprising of 100 cows including: Calving and monitoring herd health (e.g. signs of pneumonia) dehorning, vaccinations/vet meds, mineral bolus administration , oral drench, injections and PD scanning and general care bedding/feeding.

Pigs – More recently the farm have taken on 540 finishing pigs on a bed and breakfast system in which I have taken part in their general welfare.

Sheep work - During my time at East Fourstones I was given the opportunity to undertake a lambing position comprising of a thousand texel x lleyn ewes on a lowland outdoor system. I had also done various sheep work on a farm in the Coquet valley and around Northumberland. Tasks include: vaccinations/injections, castration, assessing lameness, blue seal certificate in shearing and assisted in the safe use of sheep dip.

Arable and Machinery – Crops include: Fodder beet, Wheat, Barley and combinable rye.

I have had the opportunity to operate a range of agricultural machinery involved in the production of the crops. I have also been involved with the production of silage and hay. During my studies I have gained the following certificates:

· Pa1 (Principles of Safe Handling and Application of Pesticides)

· Pa6 (Safe Application of Pesticides using Pedestrian Hand Held Equipment)

· First Aid at work

· Level 2 Award in Land-Based fork lift truck operations (rough terrain, masted and telescopic types) (Telehandler)

· Safe use of Vet meds

· Lambing course undertaken through Scott Mitchell Veterinary practice

· Blue seal sheep shearing course undertaken by the The Wool Board

· Pre-DSC1 course

· Shotgun/firearm certificate

During my time at East Fourstones, I also assisted with the contract fencing operations gaining further experience throughout the local area with the business.

Throughout my apprenticeship, I undertook a 2 week placement at the local land agents, Youngs RPS, Hexham.

During this time, I observed a wide range of roles including: farm sales/valuations, countryside stewardship Grant applications, rural property management and accompanying a land agent on multiple site visits.