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.
What is ClipFitter?
ClipFitter is an animal husbandry system that uses plastic clips and a special tool to perform bloodless castration and tailing on lambs. It is considered a more welfare-friendly method than traditional rubber rings, causing less pain and distress.
Key features and benefits of ClipFitter include:
- Reduced pain response: Research conducted by Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) indicated that young lambs fitted with ClipFitter clips showed a similar low pain response to uncastrated lambs.
- Welfare-approved: In Scotland, ClipFitter is approved for use on lambs up to three months of age, in accordance with the country’s animal welfare regulations.
- Environmental benefits: The system was partially funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) as an environmentally friendly method for improving animal welfare.
Glenkilrie farm hosted a demonstration of the ClipFitter system to showcase its benefits to the wider farming community. Other farmers have also reported positive outcomes, including less distress in lambs and improved performance.