| 2016-06-07 |    |
Newton Rigg's Luing New Arrivals
There have been welcome additions to the Newton Rigg College's Luing cattle herd with the arrival of the first calves of 2016.
Calving has been underway in recent weeks, with the original 16 heifers having been put to a Simmental bull. The demand for Simmental-Luing cross heifers as suckler replacements was very much in mind, says the College's Head of Agriculture, Matt Bagley.
(L-R) Level 3 agriculture students Jack Baldwyn, 17, from Redditch, Will Rodgerson, 16, from Appleby, and Rebecca Ellwood, 17 from Newton Reigny with the Luing cattle and their recently born calves.
The hardy native beef breed made its debut at the College 18 months ago when 16 in-calf heifers were introduced to graze 500 acres of fell at Eycott Hill, next to the college's upland farm, Low Beckside. The initiative was the result of a successful partnership between the college and Cumbria Wildlife Trust which is on-going.
It is anticipated that the latest calves will be sold at about 15 months, and the Luing heifers put to the bull to produce this year's herd replacements. Luing cattle originate from the Scottish island of the same name and owe their hardiness to their Highland and Beef Shorthorn bloodlines.
