The BROADWOOD Herd
Julian White MBE and his wife Sara farm Crabtree Farm, Brampton Ash. Julian is a first generation farmer with a focus on producing quality South Devon cattle of a forage based system.
Farm Facts
• 420 acres, of which 135 acres is owned
• 100 acres of herbal leys
• 23 acres of red clover
• No fertiliser is used
• 90 pedigree South Devon suckler cows
• 550 ewes
• A glamping business – “Get Lost in Nature”
Management
• Spring calving herd
• Cows all to South Devon bulls
• 20-30 cows per bull group
• Replacement heifers calve at 2 years to a Murray Gray
• Rotationally grazed and moved every 4-5 days
• Calves are weaned in November and fed red clover silage and a small amount of mineral.
• In calf heifers are outwintered on silage and stubble turnips and kale
• Heifers are introduced to the cow groups at 3 years
• Cows at housing are fed hay and straw with a loose mineral fed daily
Performance
• No creep feed and cows provided no supplementary feed
• Stores sold at 11-12 months and 16-18 months
• Pedigree breeding heifers and 1-2 bulls are sold each year for breeding
• Calves daily liveweight gain of 1.3 – 1.5kg
“I am a one man unit which has to be simple. The South Devons easy going temperament and ability to convert forage for growth and milk is essential. With fluctuating prices for feed and fertiliser I am trying to limit the risks of input costs.”