Numbers:
40 Cattle.
Breeds:
Belgian Blue, Limousin, Aberdeen Angus, Sussex cross Holstein Friesian.
The two year Cycle:
Cattle generally need longer to mature than lamb, so at Horlands Farm we let the cattle mature over a two year period.
They graze the fields as long as possible and are only sold when they are of the correct size. To ensure we have a constant supply of cattle we buy two batches of calves a year.
The Horlands Farm Cattle Cycle
Calves
The calves we purchase come from the dairy industry. To produce milk for us humans, cows have to produce a calf. Once born the calves are fed the colostrum from their mothers then they are taken away to be reared on milk formula.
Calves we buy are 4 weeks old from dairy farmers. The calves are fed on formula milk until they are 8 weeks old. They are then fed hay and pelleted feed. The calves are then housed for a further month or two before being turned out to graze on the farm's meadows.
1st Summer Grazing
The cattle spend the Spring and Summer and most of the Autumn months in the meadow fields eating fresh grass.
Winter
The cattle are housed in a purpose built cattle shed for the winter months, this is to rest the pastures and to make sure the cattle continue to grow. They are fed rolled wheat, pellets, home grown hay and their bedding is straw.
2nd Summer Grazing
The cattle are turned out onto the new fresh grass growth in the spring. They are fed some wheat in the field through the Summer and in Autumn some of the bigger cattle are sold through the farm shop as a pack of beef or at local livestock market. The rest of the cattle are kept until the winter.
2nd Winter
The cattle are housed again but this time are fed slightly more food to help them to fatten. When they reach the required weight the cattle are sold.