Fishermen with Ploughs

FARMING Agriculture remains Orkney's main production industry as it has been for the last 6,000 or more years, although Tourism now vies with it in terms of income to the community. Today most of the 1,000 or so farms are family-owned, and the production of prime beef cattle is the main activity. There are over 100,000 cattle in Orkney, and about 30,000 are exported annually, mostly as stores (stots) for fattening nearer the markets.

The traditional small black cattle have been replaced by larger breeds such as Aberdeen Angus, Hereford and Shorthorn, and Continental bulls such as Charolais and Simmental have become popular. The crossing with the more traditional cows, produces larger, leaner, faster-growing calves. Many meat-lovers consider that the special flavour and quality of Orkney beef to a large extent depends on retaining at least some of the old-fashioned genes, so that Aberdeen Angus is again very much in favour.

Aberdeen Angus cow at the Annual County Show

and much more...