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July 2025
Posted Tuesday 1st July, 2025
Warm weather across June with little rain has left some parts of the farm needing a good shower. Fields reseeded with herbal lay back in April are now proving their worth. Deep-rooted clovers and legumes are more drought resistant so during periods of little or no rain they can continue to offer our pasture fed cattle and sheep something to graze upon, whilst also restoring nitrogen back into the ground.
Fields down along the river Tern which were lost to flooding last winter are now abundant with thick lush pasture. Silt and nutrient rich debris from burst banks on the river have left behind much needed nutrients for the low-lying areas of the farm.
Our calving season for 2025 is nearly over, with 45 calves born to date. Never an assured date range here as there are a few variables such as the breed and eagerness of the 2 bulls which can leave this window to be over a few months. Usually this would be a problem for farmers who may want calves born across a short window to suit. For us its preferred as a sudden influx of additional hooves on the fields can result in damage to the soil structure. It also means we will have different age calves across our herd which will all be at different stages in their growth.
This year Ben and Shawn have kept back the very best heifers that would usually have been used in the butchery but because of their confirmation (shape and size) they will make excellent breeding cattle for many years to come. This will hopefully reflect in the calves which they produce who will inherit characteristics of both the cow and bull.
The two bulls entered into the field with our breeding cattle last week to get the process of next years spring calves in full swing!
Ben and Shawn have just weaned the lambs and ewes. The ewes will now spend the summer relaxing in their own fields until being re-introduced with the ram in October. The lambs will head out onto the rich pastures where they'll fatten over the next year.
