Alan Sneddon
Alan studied for an HND in Biological Science prior to taking up a position as research assistant with the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute at Glensaugh where he took over the daily running of the deer unit. He was then appointed Deer Manager at the JCB estate in Staffordshire.
Over a five year period, the JCB herd grew to become the largest in the UK and underwent a strict recording and selection programme, gaining a reputation for producing high quality, easily handled breeding stock and first class venison carcasses winning both the Birmingham Primestock and Smithfield show in the same year. Alan then spent four years in Ireland developing deer farms and providing consultancy to a large producer group before taking a one-year fixed term contract as Assistant Deer Manager at Woburn Park with a view to then broadening his deer farming experience in New Zealand.
He spent seven years in New Zealand, initially as Senior Stockman at Stanfields Bushey Park, New Zealand’s premier deer stud, before being appointed Stud Farm Manager with New Zealand Deer Farms Ltd. The company farmed 65,000 deer, and Alan was responsible for purchasing new genetics and breeding replacement stags of the highest quality to increase production from the companies breeding herd. He became a recognised industry expert in the management of large scale artificial breeding programmes and has produced some of the world’s top ranking high breeding value sire stags. He also project managed several large scale deer farm conversions and implemented pasture renovation programmes using high performance grass mixes and forage crops with a particular emphasis on production under drought conditions.
Alan is a Council Member of the British Deer Farms and Parks Association, a member of the Scottish Venison Association, and an advisor on deer farm management and farm development. He is the VAS lead on training, and also has a successful wildlife tourism and deer management business.
Recent news:
A farmed deer health, welfare and handling training course is being held at Cassafuir Farm, Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire FK8 3LF on Saturday 29 February 2020.
Organised by the British Deer Farms and Parks Association (BDFPA), topics for the full-day course will include: a classroom overview of deer disease, welfare and best practice, and parasite control. On farm sessions will include practical handling of hinds, mid-winter condition scoring, and administering trace element boluses.
The Veterinary Deer Society is holding a conference on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November 2019 at the Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik EH26 0PZ just to the south of Edinburgh.
The meeting will concentrate on the growing demand for veterinary expertise in the rapidly developing area of UK red deer farming and also, as Christmas approaches, on reindeer welfare. The conference is open to any interested who wish to attend.
Good news, as the Scottish Government has confirmed on Scottish Venison Day, 4 September, that it will fund baseline research to help Scotland’s venison producers and processors better understand the UK market, its challenges and opportunities.
One year on from the launch of ‘Beyond the Glen’, a strategy for Scottish Venison through to 2030 the Scottish Venison Partnership has reformed and relaunched as the Scottish Venison Association headed by an Industry Leadership Group; wild deer health has been thoroughly examined in a project funded by Scottish Government and Food Standards Scotland delivered by the Moredun Research Institute and Edinburgh University, with a final report to come in the next few months; deer health and handling skills training courses delivered by the Venison Advisory Service have been fully subscribed; and the British Deer Farms and Parks Association (BDFPA) Conference comes to Scotland in early November as interest in deer farming continues.
A new training course on the health, hygiene and handling of farmed deer organised by the Venison Advisory Service and the British Deer Farms and Parks Association will run at Cassafuir Farm, Stirlingshire FK 8 3LF on Saturday 24 August 2019.
Topics to be covered over the day include: an overview of deer diseases and care; practical handling of hinds with calves at foot; tagging/sexing; drenching calves; weaning and setting up rutting groups.
A full day course on farmed deer health and handling is taking place on Saturday 2 March at Cassafuir Fam, Blair Hoyle, Port of Menteith, Stirlingshire FK8 3LF courtesy of Jamie and Natalie Hammond.
The Venison Advisory Service warmly welcomes the new strategy for Scottish venison, Beyond the Glen, which was launched by the Minister for Rural Affairs, Mairi Gougeon MSP, at Downfield Farm, Fife on Scottish Venison Day 4 September.
Dick Playfair, Director, VAS, says:
Following the success of the Introduction to Deer Farming day at Innerhadden Deer Farm in July, the Venison Advisory Service (VAS) and leading Rural Chartered Surveyors Bell Ingram, have teamed up again to stage a second event on Scottish Venison Day, 4 September, this time at Culligran Estate, near Beauly.
The demonstration day will provide the opportunity to hear at first hand from professionals and experts in deer farming, on subjects including herd management and stocking, deer health, fencing and equipment requirements, finance and land management.
The Venison Advisory Service (VAS) and Chartered Surveyors Bell Ingram, have teamed up to stage two Introduction to Deer Farming days in Scotland, one in Perthshire on Thursday 26 July, and a second in the north in September.
The demonstration days will provide the opportunity to hear from professionals and experts in deer farming, on subjects including herd management and stocking, fencing and equipment requirements, finance and land management.
A BDFPA open day is being held at Cassafuir Farm, Blairhoyle, Port of Menteith FK8 3LF on Saturday 29 April 2017 from 09.30 – 15.30hrs by kind permission of Jamie and Natalie Hammond. The full day event gives a comprehensive picture particularly to aspirational deer farmers about entry to the sector and getting started and includes what is sure to be an inspirational talk by Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor on a chef’s view of venison.
“Deer farmers have this week been informed the future is still bright with increased demand for venison outstripping an estimated 5 per cent annual increase in production.”