The Farmers Mart Apr/May 2016 - Issue 45 | Page 23

Great Yorkshire Show

Ravenfield Galloways
back at GYS
»»RAVENFIELD GALLOWAYS
have shown at the Great
Yorkshire Show since 1999.
It is a small herd of 15 cows
founded in 1992 by David and
Debbie Heath of Wroot near
Doncaster. Now joined by
their daughter and son in law,
Emma and Will Gagg, they will
once again making the trip to
Harrogate for the 2016 show
in July.
Run on a part-time basis,
all the partners have full time
occupations, David and Emma
currently work in the pig
industry for Rattlerow Farms

Ltd, Will is a manager for a large
arable concern specialising in
potatoes and Debbie runs her
own website. Having limited
acreage of their own, the cattle
spend the summer grazing
nature reserves for Lincolnshire
Wildlife Trust. The dry sandy
ground that the cattle graze
will take a larger animal without
damaging the soil too much,
in fact some soil disturbance
is good in encouraging
wild flower germination on
the reserves. This is where
current stock bull, Fergal of
Upper Buckna purchased

from Northern Ireland breeder
Joe Smyth comes in. He
is a large framed bull with
Canadian bloodlines who will
hopefully pass on his size to his
offspring.
All but yearling calves are
housed over the winter at the
farm where Will and Emma
live, turning surplus straw into
valuable manure for the arable
unit. Calving takes place mid
December onwards and is
completed before turnout in
late April.
The selection of animals for
the showing season begins
soon after winter housing
with all heifers that are to be
retained in the herd being
halter trained for future
management purposes.
Once a final decision on the
team has been made, Emma
and Will begin to prepare
them with regular grooming
and walking. This year four
have been selected, a cow

and a in calf heifer that went
to several shows last year, and
two junior heifers, one of which
was purchased from the Mains
of Penninghame dispersal sale
last November.
In addition to taking cattle
to the show, the family also
provide the hospitality in
the Galloway Office at the
showground on behalf of the
Galloway Cattle Society for
the enjoyment of exhibitors,
society members and visitors to
the show. To encourage more
participation in the showing
they also offer a cash prize for
the new exhibitor gaining the
most points in the Galloway
classes. If you require any
information come along and
see them, either in the cattle
lines, or the office where you
will be made most welcome.

www.farmers-mart.co.uk Apr/May 2016 23