Knocknagael Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme: EIR release

Information requested

You asked a series of questions which all refer to the Bull Stud at Knocknagael and/or the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme.

1. How many animals are housed/are residing at the Stud? Please provide a breakdown and numbers for each year from 2020 to present, specifying which/how many are bulls.
2. How many people work at the Stud? Are there currently any vacancies? How many members of staff has the Stud had in each year since 2020? What are the key positions?
3. How much does the Bull Stud at Knocknagael cost the Scottish Government to run each year? Please provide a breakdown since 2020.
4. How much does the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme cost the Scottish Government to run each year? Please provide a breakdown since 2020.
5. Does the Scottish Government intend to continue the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme over the next financial years? If so, will it continue at a similar capacity, or expand/reduce its activity?

Response

I can provide a response to your various questions in turn:

1. Only bulls are housed at the Bull Stud and the numbers for the years requested are as follows:

2020 - 141

2021 - 145

2022 - 142

2023 - 152

2024 - 128

2025 - 125*

* This is the current figure but will likely increase with further purchases during the year.

2. The Bull Stud is currently staffed by a full-time Farm Manager, full-time Deputy Farm Manager, one full-time and part-time Stockperson. The full-time Stockperson post is currently vacant and the recruitment process is well advanced to fill this position. Over the years requested the Stud has had the following members of staff:

2020 - 3

2021 - 4

2022 - 4

2023 - 4

2024 - 4

2025 - 3

3. & 4. The running costs for the Bull Stud and the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme are concurrent and for each year requested are as follows:

YEAR	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Total Income	£216,980.76	£256,712.17	£292,119.35	£224,479.75	£271,091.16
Gross Expenditure (exc Deprec.)	£577,638.74	£575,008.27	£811,389.62	£781,342.21	£780,801.07
Net Expenditure	-£360,657.98	-£318,296.10	-£519,270.27	-£556,862.46	-£509,709.91

5. The Scottish Government intends to continue operating the Crofting Cattle Improvement Scheme at its current capacity. We know the subsidised bull hire service that it provides is highly valued by the hundreds of crofters who use it each year, most of whom live in areas where no alternatives are available

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