Farming in Dumfries & Galloway is predominately livestock,  cattle (both dairy & beef) & sheep.   The temperate climate and fertile soil are conducive to good growth and the majority of the lowland pastures are used for grazing and silage production, which provides winter feed.

       A young calf born spring 2002                                                                A typical crossbred cow

It is common practice to mix cattle and sheep

Silage is produced, usually twice a year by allowing grass to grow to an appropriate height, then cutting and either baling in polythene, or storing in a pit or clamp under covers to exclude air.   This process prevents degradation during storage.  The resulting silage is fed to cattle during winter months when grass does not grow.

Our land at Airds extends to around 70 acres, of which perhaps 50 acres are suitable for grazing.   These fields are let on an annual basis to neighbouring farmers for that purpose.   The remaining land comprises 3 acres of paddock, sometimes used for horses, 4 acres of rough grazing, 6 acres of woodland (excluded from livestock under a scheme to protect environmentally sensitive areas), 1 acre of so-called "unimproved pasture" and a number of small protected areas of water margin etc.   The balance of the acreage is the guest house and self-catering cottage, gardens and steading buildings, now mainly used for storage or estate maintenance.

This page is provided for information and interest to visitors to the AIRDS FARM GUESTHOUSE WEBSITE.   Airds Farm offers comfortable bed and breakfast and self-catering accommodation for visitors to Dumfries & Galloway in south west Scotland.   For information on accommodation please visit our Bed and breakfast page or for self-catering our Airdside self-catered cottage page.   Our homepage is Airds Farm.