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Crofters’ Bull Hire Scheme continues
08/02/2010
A modern, streamlined bull stud facility will continue to be run by the Scottish Government to secure the quality of livestock in crofting areas.
Roseanna Cunningham today agreed to upgrade the Government's bull stud farms at Inverness and maintain the Crofters' Bull Hire Scheme. However she emphasised that, in the long term, communities should keep and maintain their own bulls.
The Environment Minister said:
"The best way to ensure the continued quality of livestock in crofting areas is a reduced, streamlined stud base at Inverness.
"I asked the Review Group to consider community-run studs. They concluded that this is not practicable in the short term for a number of reasons.
"Nevertheless, my long-term view remains that communities should provide this facility for themselves. Community groups should start to build their own capacity with a view to running studs where bulls are needed most."
A Crofters' Bull Hire Scheme has been funded and operated by the Government since 1897. The scheme has enabled crofters to access high quality bulls and supply quality calves to the beef industry throughout Scotland. The Government subsidises bull hire by some 60 per cent of the full cost. The most recent scheme, the Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme, was introduced in 2005, hiring bulls at a fee of £500, plus an overwintering charge of £350, £80 towards transport costs and £17 for insurance as well as VAT.
Between 2006 and 2008, on average, 120 bulls were hired to approximately 450 participants in 106 crofting townships. These bulls served 4083 cows in 2008 out of a total of 28,315 cows held on crofts, representing 14 per cent of crofters cows.
The Shucksmith Inquiry, reporting in May 2008, recommended that support for bull hire should change. The then Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, announced the setting up of an independent Review Group to look at ways of helping crofters keep or hire bulls in the future. This group was chaired by Sarah Allen, and tasked to look at the objectives of a bull scheme and identify practical and affordable options for maintaining quality livestock in crofting areas. The Group reported to ministers at the end of November 2009.