Aberdeenshire farmers Harry and Helen Brown and their children Abbie and Murray run this year’s AgriScot Scotch Beef Farm of the Year. 

 The family farms 750 acres at Auchmaliddie Mains, near Maud in Aberdeenshire, with additional seasonal lets. They run about 200 predominantly Limousin-cross sucklers put to one of four Limousin bulls or an Aberdeen Angus, and buy a further 200 store cattle each year to finish. Heifers from the best performing cow lines are kept as replacements, with some also sold with calves at foot at Thainstone, while all other cattle are finished on-farm. 

 While the business sells finished cattle deadweight, and is also well known for its success in the commercial showring, a new venture during Covid-19 has given the family a different insight into its cattle enterprise. Now, about 30 of the farm’s homebred heifers are finished and sold as direct meat sales, either through farmer’s markets or doorstep deliveries to local customers. It is sold alongside Texel cross lamb and eggs from the sheep and hens owned by Abbie and Murray.