Ronnie Eunson
Uradale
East Voe
Scalloway
Shetland
ZE1 0US
Telephone: 01806 544203
E-mail: ronnie@uradale.com
Uradale Farm is run by Ronnie Eunson and covers a total of 675 hectares. It is a typical Shetland hill farm comprising a number of small crofts along with their common grazings or scattald. This farm is currently 'in conversion' to organic status.
The unit carries 990 ewes and 30 cows with the whole unit subject to an Environmentally Sensitive Areas Agreement. This Agreement allows for a set stocking limit on heather hills, herb-rich pastures and wetlands as well as defining shut off and cutting dates for cropping. All these measures combine to enhance the diversity of plant and wildlife found specifically on Shetland.
Of the sheep stock 400 are Cheviot and Lleyn cross Shetland, which are put to Suffolk and Texel sires, with the lamb crop being grazed on in Aberdeenshire. The rest of the flock are native Shetland, 200 being crossed with either the North Country Cheviot or the Lleyn and the rest bred pure.
The cattle are all native Shetland (a Category 1 rare breed), 20 being crossed with a Hereford bull and the rest bred pure. All the progeny, not required as replacements, are finished for onward sale to butchers.
A separate unit of 240 hectares, Araclett, has been converted to Organic production carrying a closed flock of native Shetland ewes. The lambs off here are finished and slaughtered locally for onward sale to Mainland butchers and restaurants.
Sales of native Shetland meats have been built up over the past 5 years. These meats were unknown on the marketplace when sales started, but numbers have grown year on year. Emphasis is placed on the consistency of quality carcasses and ensuring the unique eating experience that is Native Shetland Lamb and Beef.