Friday 18 September 2009

WHITEFORD VISITS LEADING BUCHAN CATTLE BREEDER

CANDIDATE MEETS NEW CATTLE BREED, THE ‘BUCHAN BLACK’

SNP Westminster candidate for Banff & Buchan Eilidh Whiteford visited West Knock Farms, Stuartfield, yesterday to hear about the opportunities and challenges facing the farming industry.

West Knock is owned and operated by leading cattle breeder Albert Howie, who is also an Independent member of Aberdeenshire Council for Central Buchan. During the visit, Eilidh Whiteford toured the cattle operation with Cllr Howie as well as his flock of Texel sheep.

Buchan has long had an enviable reputation as the home of the best of Scotch Beef and this was underlined with the ongoing breed development being carried out at West Knock with the ‘Buchan Black’, an Aberdeen Angus-Limousin cross.

Speaking after the visit, Eilidh Whiteford said:

“I welcomed the opportunity to visit West Knock Farms to see the livestock and learn more about the challenges North-east farmers face on an on-going basis.

"I particularly enjoyed meeting Albert's ‘Buchan Blacks’ - an Aberdeen Angus-Limousin cross - from which he is aiming to develop a new breed of cattle. It's great to see that innovation is still a major part of Buchan farming."