Glenkilrie is a hill farm in Perthshire, Scotland, known for its livestock and Farm Shop, Glenkilrie Larder.
.The farm has been associated with promoting the ClipFitter system, a modern and humane method for castrating and tailing lambs. In 2025 they used ClipFitter on all the lambs on the farm, having started using ClipFitter in 2023, but encountered a problem at the end of the season.
We are 100 % behind your invention the lambs definitely feel a lot less pain, but you have to be sure that you are using the most up to date clips “We used clipfitter on all the lambs which were not born inside last year .Unfortunately we ran out of clips for the last lot and bought more from a local merchant, (unwittingly from old stock). They wouldn’t clip together properly, and although they were the oldest lambs I don’t think the lambs were too big .
Brian Eadie (Designer) says “As ClipFitter has developed we have taken many steps forward but inevitably sometimes a step back. The SINGLE style of clip (above) was introduced in 2024 as a simpler, more economic clip with a tighter closure around tails and scrotum. However, despite the positives, the split pin was unfortunately more prone to breaking than our original solid pin design if used on older lambs. So for Midi and Maxi clips, we have reverted back to a solid pin and adjusted tightness as much as we can. Our Mini Clip remains with a split pin design for 2026 – it works without any breakages on young lambs.
Andrew and David conclude “We will continue to use them if we can . We both are of the opinion that regulations will change and we cannot expect to carry on using methods which inflict a lot of pain on the lambs . Sorry Brian if it had not been for the bad box of clips we would have been delighted to promote them .We really appreciate all the help and products you have given us”
It’s only because of customers like the Glenkilrie, who continue to encourage us despite a set-back, that we want to keep on perfecting the system, for them and others.