News

9th September 2010

Arnold Park wins ‘Future Farmer’ award

Photo & Article courtesy of The Scottish Farmer

A pioneering veteran of the UK’s sheep industry has won the ‘Future Farmer of the year’ award 2010, with a £4000 prize recognising innovation and sustainability.

The current joint title holder of the Carmichael Trophy for services to the sheep industry, Arnold Park, of Drinkstone, based at Hawick, in the Scottish Borders has added the prestigious title, awarded by the Elizabeth Murray Trust for innovation in farming and supported by NFUS.

Viewing the Drinkstone Texel Rams - from left - Harvey MacMillan - Murray Trust Chairman, Michael Williams - Trust Co-ordinator and Arnold, Diane and John Park

With five decades of practical farming under his belt, including 25 years in the pig industry – he is now at the forefront of sheep recording in the UK. He reflects “In the pig industry we used boars with figures to keep feed inputs down – we could achieve an extra £10 / £15 without impacting on carcase spec.”

It is that philosophy which has enabled his flocks of pedigree Suffolk’s and Texels to outrank others – achieving the top index lamb more times than any other breeder in the past 10 years. He explains “Our Texel flocks’ average EBV index is 326, compared to a breed average of 187 – that means we delivered average scan weight EBV (Estimated Breeding Value) for 2009 of +10.2kg with 3.32mm muscle depth. We currently have the highest stock ram on index in the UK, having the largest gigot score ever recorded in Drinkstone Punt Gun.

However, it was Arnold’s all round achievements that appealed to the judges. A combination of the outputs of three flocks resulting in the annual sale of more than 100 rams, 400 Scotch Mule Gimmers, 600 commercial lambs. Embryo and semen, for both home and export market account for 20% of pedigree outputs. The third flock being Drinkstone Bluefaced Leicesters, where improving lambing ease and survival are the driving factors.