Farm Director Peter Scott isn’t famed for his smile, but he can’t keep the grin off his face as he surveys the new £400,000, 3,500-square metre state-of-the-art cattle unit which has finally been completed on the College campus.
Some of the worst winter weather in living memory put paid to hopes of having the development completed before Christmas 2010 but there’s no concealing Peter’s pride now that the main, first phase of the redevelopment of the Oatridge Farm facilities is “open for business”.

The unit, built by Algo of Blairgowrie, consisting of two massive sheds with room for 300 cattle from the College’s pure-bred Aberdeen Angus and Simmental herd. It will provide students with facilities which compare with any they can expect to find on the most modern farms Scotland. The project received a 40 percent grant from the Scottish Region Development Programme.

“We have got to be as good, or better, than elsewhere,” says Peter. “The new unit allows us to use modern technology for the feeding and safe handling of cattle.  This is a commercial operation which means that we have got to improve efficiency to compete, but the main beneficiaries will be our students.”

Plans are already on the drawing board for the second phase of the redevelopment: A sheep handling unit, which will also include feed and grain stores.