CONNACHAN SALVER 2024

The name Nunnerie is synonymous with the Blackface breed.  The winner of the Connachan Salver this year is the man at the helm of this renowned family business.

Alistair is the 3rd generation to farm at Nunnerie since 1901 with son David following on to be the 4th.

Nunnerie totals 3750 acres with the added on in bye farms and rises to 2000 feet.

They  now also run crossing Leicesters, Mules, Texels and Luings, allvery successfully.

Alistair’s first figure tup was £11.000 by  a Troloss bought in 1986 – which sold back to Troloss.

Since then there have been many 5 figured tups  and most recently  2 x 6 figure lambs at £1000,000 and £125,000 and a shearling at 100k.

All of this already makes Alistair a worthy winner of the salver but to add to this is his work on the recognition and detection of OPA within sheep.  Alistair’s openness about the disease and determination to reduce its effects on the entire breed has led to many more flocks scanning and much more open and transparent approach to the control of the disease.  There are many myths about OPA but because of  Alistair’s open approach many of these have been laid to rest.

I am sure you will agree ladies and gentlemen – a renowned stockman of the highest calibre, an open minded forward thinker, a slatwart of the Blackface breed and hill farming – Alistair McArthur is a worthy winner of the Connachan Salver.