Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) has announced the first phase in its transformation into Scotland's new rural university by 2022.

The first stage will see SRUC move to a faculty-based model, with three new faculties located across Scotland - North, (the Faculty of Agri-Food & Business), Central (the Faculty of Rural Science & Policy) and South & West (the Faculty of Pasture-based Agriculture, Forestry and Biorefining).

The most notable development is the potential £35m investment into SRUC's Barony campus in Dumfries & Galloway, which is the site for the new South & West Faculty.

The investment strategy also includes a phased withdrawal over four years from SRUC campuses at Riverside in Ayr and Crichton in Dumfries & Galloway.

NFU Scotland Ayrshire Regional Chairman Colin Mair said: "A major investment in Barony College and a fresh focus on pasture farming and grassland management are important developments for dairy and livestock farming, not just in the South and West, but across Scotland.

"On a sad note, it will bring to a close the long-running association that SRUC has in delivering teaching and research at Auchincruive and Ayr that started with the West of Scotland College of Agriculture in 1927. Likewise, many farmers will also have benefitted from the excellent work undertaken at Crichton that must continue when the dairy herd moves to Barony.

"The important delivery of consultancy and veterinary surveillance in the region is, for the time being, located at Auchincruive, but both are subject to consultation on what the future holds. Members in the region will need strong reassurance from SRUC that they are not being abandoned. We believe there is a role for establishing consultancy hubs in the region and for the veterinary surveillance centre to continue."

Market round-up

C&D Auction Marts Ltd sold 2434 prime lambs in Longtown on Thursday to a top of £200 for a Texel ram lamb, or 333p per kg to average 175.7p(+4.7p on the week).

The firm also had 3586 cast sheep forward when heavy ewes sold to £155 for Texels and averaged £65.34 (-£3.17), while light/export-type ewes peaked at £62 for Cheviots and levelled at £29.60 (-£8.13).

Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 265 store heifers at Ayr on Thursday to a top of £1255 per head and 227.6p per kg to average £845.47 and 193.9p (-0.9p on the fortnight), while 368 store, beef-bred bullocks peaked at £1340 and 236.8p to level at £898.78 and 203.6p (-8.3p). One-hundred-and-sixteen store, B&W bullocks sold to £1000 and 162.6p for the same pen to average £677.50 and 139.8p (-2.5p).