Cumbria LEP has invested over £200,000 in a new Sheep Husbandry Centre which will help safeguard the future of Cumbria’s hill farming industry. The centre at Newton Rigg College was officially opened on June 13.
Endorsed by the agricultural industry and business leaders, the centre provides a national focus for student learning and is a showcase for the very latest technology.
Specialising in land-based education, the centre, part of Askham Bryan College, is situated at Low Beckside hill farm near Penrith.
The multi-functional initiative has the backing of regional and national organisations including the National Sheep Association and the National Farmers Union.
Catherine Dixon, Chief Executive of Askham Bryan College, says: “This is a landmark occasion both for the college and for hill farming across the country.
“The centre incorporates the latest technology with the needs of a traditional industry.
“Our students will be equipped to become the industry leaders and workforce of tomorrow. Our vision to create a national centre of excellence will enable the college and its students to contribute to local communities and the economy as well as safeguarding the future of upland farming.”
The centre is multi-functional and versatile with removable animal penning areas, which can be transformed from a lambing centre to a vast storage space to a livestock handling area. The light and airy building measures 36m x 25m x 2.95m and lends itself to improved animal welfare plus greater efficiency of stock management.
Technology includes the use of hand-held scanners which record animal data on or off site - from weight to animal health to ear tag numbers. This can all be analysed and then used to inform the college’s stocking regime.
Commenting on the initiative, Graham Hayward, Director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership says: “Cumbria LEP’s priorities include targeting investment to nurture a vibrant rural economy and supporting local skills development.
“The new Sheep Husbandry Centre is a fantastic resource for the county. It will be a national showcase for the best hill farming practices, reinforcing Cumbria’s reputation for excellence in uplands agriculture.”
Newton Rigg College offers full and part-time further education courses, which include agriculture, horticulture, forestry, countryside management, sport, engineering, public services, equine, child care, game-keeping and animal management. The college also has a range of apprenticeship courses.
Newton Rigg has benefited from a £3m investment plan which has transformed the campus by updating existing buildings and providing state of the art facilities.
A new equestrian centre with a large seated gallery was opened in 2015, the farm’s dairy unit was completed in March 2014 and six months later the new agriculture centre, The Frank Parkinson Building, was officially opened.
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