Old Boss Cows, John’s Big Shoes & Running the Herd: Richard’s Story

RARE BREED & TURNING OUT

“I really enjoy working with Lincoln Reds. The breed is usually placid and quiet. They can be temperamental though and you should always be cautious with any breed of cattle. July is the breeding season and the bulls can be frisky at this time of year. In the winter calving season, cows can be very protective.

“With this year’s new additions, we have 463 head of cattle out on the land and things are on the up. I’m learning a lot from Jon Thornes about Pasture for Life and 365-grazing. I’d like to see this as the future for British cattle. Being out all-year round is hard for continental breeds like Limousins which are bred for warmer climates. For native breeds, it’s very doable. Lincoln Reds get shaggy in winter with a good, thick coat. They’re built for our landscape and weather.

“As a manager, I lead from the front. If there’s a dirty job, I’ll tackle it. I want my staff to see that I’m willing to do it and learn to do it right. A few weeks ago, we turned out 250 calves and cows onto the pastures. It’s easier than it looks if you’ve got good staff and the fences are set up right.

“This year’s turn-out took two days to plan. I walked the route, pinpointed problem areas and put systems in to prevent mishaps. I made sure my team of eight knew where to go and what to do. I’m usually at the back for the turn-out, taking control from the quad bike. I get a good overview and I can make sure that the staff are in the right place and the cattle are moving together. Isaac was the leading man at the front, with the rest of the team at the sides.

“The key to it is hierarchy. A couple of the old girls will be the boss cows. We’ve got 11 cows over 10-years-old and their seniority and experience is valuable; they lead us into battle! Get them to go in the right direction and the rest will follow. The old girls know the ropes and they know where they’re going.

“We walk them at a controlled pace so that they remain grouped up and don’t get chance to think and get curious. You don’t stop till you get where you’re going. If one breaks off, I can catch up and persuade them back in. If the pace is too fast, you get stragglers. Mums with calves at foot can get anxious and work backwards to find them. We find the right pace for the shortest legs with a couple of brief pit stops to correct the pace and group up.

“If a boss cow goes in the wrong direction, that can be a problem. Twenty-odd years ago, I helped move a herd three miles with young stock. 250 ended up in a village where they shouldn’t have been, exploring people’s gardens. It took a working day and a few police cars to sort that out.”

DUAL-PURPOSE HERD

“We’re working steadily towards a dual-purpose beef and dairy herd. Up to the Second World War, Lincoln Reds were milked but they’ve been bred for beef since then. There will be an emphasis on quality for Red milk as we’ll never match commercial breeds for volume.

“Dairy breeds like Holstein, Guernsey and Friesian can produce 40-50L per cow, per day. With Lincoln Red cows, we’re getting 5L per day in spring and early summer, tapering off towards the July breeding season. We’re working closely with Creamery Operator Mark Vines, and the fresh grassy taste of our spring milk is perfect for the alpine cheese he’s working on.

“This year we’re milking 35 cows with calves at foot and we aim to expand the operation in future. We milk the cows in the morning, then they return to pasture where the calves get mum’s milk for the remaining 12-hours-plus of the day. The mothering instinct is strong so the cow will naturally keep milk back for her calves.

“It’s nice to meet our customers but I generally like to be out of the way, out and about and working with the herd. My brother is an executive chef so he’s used to the limelight and he’s quite welcome to it.”

If you’d like to share your opinion on anything you’ve read here, we’d love to hear from you. Just head to our Facebook page HERE and comment beneath the post that linked you to this blog. As ever, thanks for your support.