PIGS

Pigs are reared on a ‘bed and breakfast’ basis; we do not own the pigs but rear them for their owner. The piglets are born in their owner’s fields and after weaning come into our straw bedded buildings to be fattened. We rear them to about 110kgs. Our pig yard is Red Tractor Assured and RSPCA assured, reflecting our high welfare standards.

CATTLE

We have a herd of suckler cows that spend most of the year grazing the parks and ancient sites on the farm. Fields are also put down to new leys to grow the grass needed to make silage for winter feed and for fresh grazing for the cattle. The use of grass within our arable rotation helps to promote soil health and makes our farming system more regenerative.

The cows are mostly cross bred and based on the Simmental, Limousin and British Blue breeds.   The aim is to have top quality cattle producing top quality beef.  Of the five bulls used four are pedigree Limousin and one a pedigree British Blue. 

The wellbeing and welfare of the herd is of great importance.  We are members of a High Health Scheme which monitors the health of the cattle and helps reduce the incidence of disease. Our attention to stockmanship delivers high standards of welfare. Our cattle are all Red Tractor Assured and spend their entire life on our farm. Apart from buying in our stock bulls we operate a closed herd, which helps us maintain our health status.

The majority of our beef is sold to Morrisons supermarkets.

SHEEP

Sheep are also reared on a ‘bed and breakfast’ scheme.  The lambs come to us after weaning and we grow them on until they are big enough to breed from, they leave our farm before they lamb.  The sheep are fed on grass and on forage crops, such as stubble turnips and kale, some of which are grown especially for the sheep. The sheep also graze on some of our Sustainable Farming Initiative options, where the rules support this.