It’s been a while coming, but we are very pleased to let you know that we will soon have fresh beef to sell once again, produced from the Wassledine herd of Red Poll cattle. After almost three months out on the grass the herd is looking great – glossy and gleaming, especially after recent rain. […]
It is almost exactly ten years since we borrowed a trailer and drove to Ed Turner’s farm near the east coast, beyond Ipswich and that’s a long way east; to pick up three in-calf cows. That was a pretty exciting and alarming day and there have been plenty of memorable ones since – births, deaths, sales, […]
I spent most of the morning wrestling with a tractor that died last night – in a gateway, with a trailer, blocking a neighbour’s drive. Thanks to John of Town Farm Garage (the best place to take your car for a service), who, rather than going home at 6.30 on a Friday, volunteered to tow […]
The bitter north-easterly wind leaves your face painfully cold; more January than April. The ground’s really soft in places, but drying – slowly. And that made today just a bit of an anti-climax. We got the young stock out onto grass this morning. Usually there’s warmth in the air, sun on your back, working through layers of […]
Jane’s very sensible. I know this. She has an uncanny ability to calm me; I know this too. An important trait to look for in a partner, although I’m certain it didn’t make the list when an overwhelming need to marry her developed in me, some years ago. I got in yesterday evening saying that […]
I woke up early this morning, thinking to get some paper work done before getting out to use all the light the day can muster. Of course I forgot the weather. It’s raining hard and the forecast suggests that it could continue through to the end of Christmas Eve. I did know this but had […]
Daily feeding of hay and straw in the field is now underway and although we know this will last for only a matter of days, it is a bit of a pain. Not wanting to drive across the ground every day we are wheelbarrowing feed across one field – not exactly a brilliant solution in terms of time […]
At this time of year we aim to be completely prepared for winter. All winter feed is in, water supplies insulated against the coming frost, shed clean and tidy. For once I think we can tick all of those. By now (early November) we are just putting off the inevitable day when the herd comes […]
Something really exciting happened! The Red Poll Cattle Society’s Chairman visited recently and agreed that although we have, up until now, been unable to claim pedigree status for some of our animals; we can now. And that’s great news. The reason for this (and here I have to suggest that those not of a cattle tendency […]
Apparently Admiral enjoyed his trip to the Midlands on Saturday; quite at home amongst the sights and sounds of a busy Stoneleigh showground for the Red Poll Cattle Society’s annual show and sale. He also seemed to enjoy the attentions of Joy and Ted who provided a wash and shampoo service that was second to none. Cows […]