Slade Farm is a mixed organic farm that spans 800 acres. You might be wondering what a mixed farm is (and how big is an acre, for that matter - it’s about the size of a football pitch). A mixed farm is what it says on the tin: we ‘grow’ a mixture of animals, arable crops and vegetables. In a future post we can talk about the pros and cons of mixed farming, but for now let’s take a look at our animals.
Slade is home to a balanced blend of animals – sheep, pigs, and cows – each with an important role in keeping the land productive and healthy. By using lower stocking densities, we protect the pastures and soil from overuse, allow our animals the space they need to stay happy and healthy, all while maintaining a sustainable environment.
Crossbreeds, all
Before we get into how each of our animals contributes to the farm, it is worth noting that each species (cow, sheep and pig) that we raise is a cross of various pure breeds. The hope is that by mixing different breeds we raise animals that have all the strengths of the pure breeds, whilst minimising the negatives.
With that in mind, here’s how each animal contributes to the farm.
The Sheep: Productive Grazers and Soil Builders
Our flock of 500 sheep – all a cross between Texel, Suffolk, and Romney breeds – are essential grazers on the farm. The Texel adds muscle and strength, the Suffolk brings a hardy, lean build which is fast to mature, and Romneys are well-suited to our climate.
Sheep with a view - Dunraven Bay in the distance
Lambing season is the busiest time of year on the farm and begins in late February and lasts about seven weeks. Each ewe can have anywhere from 0 to 3 lambs, which averages out to around 1.6 lambs per ewe across the entire flock. So, we start off with 500 sheep and end up with around 1300! Now you can see why it’s such a busy time. If you come to the farm any time in March you’re guaranteed to see escaped lambs prancing all over the place and Polly and Graeme looking in need of a well earned rest.
Ahead of the ewes giving birth we bring them into the sheds and get them comfortable. This is so we can keep a closer eye on them as they give birth (and lend a helping hand if need be) and so that the newborn lambs are protected from the worst of the unpredictable early spring weather. This close care during their first few weeks helps us ensure each lamb gets off to a strong start.
Beyond providing wool and lambs, the sheep are vital for pasture management. Their grazing keeps grass controlled, and their manure naturally fertilises the soil, adding nutrients for the next crop cycle. All the manure that builds up in the sheds during lambing is composted down and later spread across the fields to improve soil health, and enhance the productivity of the farm.
Pigs: Soil Tillers and Composters
Our 50 pigs, a cross between Duroc and Gloucester Old Spot breeds, are efficient foragers and soil tillers. Duroc (an American breed) is strong and calm, while Gloucester Old Spots are skilled foragers and excellent mothers. Their natural rooting behaviour turns up the soil, which aerates it and adds organic matter through their manure.
Little…
…and large
The pigs also help reduce waste from our two-acre market garden. Imperfect or surplus vegetables that don’t make it into the veg bags each week become a nutritious addition to their diet, keeping waste to a minimum while giving the pigs a varied feed. With space to roam, the pigs naturally enrich the soil, helping prepare it for future planting without the need for non-organic inputs.
Cows: Grazers and Soil Enrichers
Our 150 cows—a mix of Hereford and Angus breeds—are essential in keeping our pastures fertile and productive. We have 50 mother cows, 50 calves, and 50 yearlings (or ‘fats’), rotating their grazing areas to prevent overuse of any single pasture. Herefords, known for their red coats and white faces, are very efficient at turning food (grass, silage, oats, etc.) into body mass, while Angus are renowned for their meat quality.
Calving season begins in January, during which we bring the cows into the sheds to ensure that the calves have a safe, warm environment. This controlled setting allows us to monitor the health of both mother and calf, helping the young ones get a solid start before heading back out into the fields once the ground has dried up enough for them to not churn it into a mud pit. Having the cows in the sheds also creates a bit of fun on the yard as the calves occasionally squeeze through the fence and go on adventures together.
Predominately Angus genes on show
Like mother, like child - Hereford colour on both
The cows’ grazing and natural fertilisation help maintain grass health and soil fertility. Their manure enriches the pastures, and rotating them across fields ensures that no single area is overburdened. This rotation supports crop health, especially for our wheat and oats, by creating a natural cycle of soil enrichment and regeneration.
And there you have it – a little tour of the Slade Farm animal team! Each animal has its own role, from the sheep who keep the grass in check (and give us a yearly lamb marathon) to the pigs who happily handle our veggie leftovers, to the cows who enjoy most of the year out in the fields and occasionally test the fences. So, next time you visit, you’ll know a little bit more about the animals you see, and what they’re doing for the farm.
(The keen eyed among you will note we left out two very important animals, our dogs Moo-two and Severus. We felt they probably deserved their own post in the future)
All photos taken on Slade Farm, by Felicity Crawshaw
