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. 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 an environmental scheme), 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.

Seen above, a new born calf lays in a bedded area of our cattle shed. Each year cows in calf are housed in a large shed to provide shelter while having their offspring during the early spring. After being born the calves and their mothers are usualy returned to fields as soon as weather conditions are suitable.