Innovation in Upland Livestock Systems – SRUC’s Hill & Mountain Research Centre
15 October 2019SRUC’s Hill & Mountain Research Centre, with its team of systems-scale researchers, is based at Kirkton and Auchtertyre Farms, a 2200 ha Highland estate near Crianlarich in the west Highlands of Scotland. The site is set within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and ranges from high quality and productive grazing to high altitude (over 1000 metres above sea level) semi-natural habitats of high conservation value.
A major focus of our work is in helping drive forward innovation that has the potential to change the economic viability of hill farming and crofting in Scotland and beyond. Until fairly recently, technological innovation have been seen as only relevant to lowground arable and dairy farming systems. But the use of precision livestock farming, as we call it, is just as relevant in upland areas, if not more so.
Our work aims to seek economically, environmentally and socially sustainable land management systems in the context of international, national and local land use policies, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helping hill farmers and crofters contribute to tackling the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
The following webpages provide a brief overview of aspects of our work, primarily drawn from short articles aimed at farmers and land managers in the farming press by Davy McCracken, Head of the Hill & Mountain Research Centre. The articles are divided into four themes, and these can be viewed and downloaded by following the links below. And Introduction and insight into the work at SRUC’s Hill and Mountain Research Centre can be found Here.
For any comments, queries or questions please do get in contact with us via our contact page, or to Professor Davy himself on Davy.McCracken@sruc.ac.uk
