The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2018 - Issue 56 | Page 41

HOME FARM 41
• APR/MAY 2018
A LONG TRADITION WITH TEESWATER
JOHN Liddle of Stainburn, North
Yorkshire, has worked all his life
on the family farm since he was
old enough to push a wheelbar-
row. The business was established
by John’s grandfather, JB Liddle.
John’s father, Keith Liddle then
carried on the farm and it re-
mained his passion and life until
the day he passed away, making
John’s family the fourth-genera-
tion to farm in Stainburn.
Farming is well and truly in the
Liddle blood, as the next generation
of the Liddle family are all involved
in agriculture. John’s son William
worked as an Agronomist for
Frontier Agriculture after studying at
Harper Adams University before re-
turning to the family farm four years
ago. His eldest daughter, Christina
is the Secretary of the Teeswater
Breed Association, whilst his young-
est daughter Alice is currently in her
final year at Newcastle University
studying Agriculture with Animal
Production Science.
Throughout the generations
the flock of pedigree Teeswaters
has been at the heart of the farm
to produce Mashams, which are
shown at local shows and The
Great Yorkshire Show and then
sold as shearlings at the Mash-
am Sheep Breeders Association
annual shearling sale in the
Autumn. As well as the Teeswater
flock, John has a flock of pure-
bred Dalesbreds and commercial
cross ewes. These breeds suit the
diverse land John farms in order
to maximise production with
minimum input costs, with the
commercial ewes being suited
to the improved grassland, and
the hill ewes being suited to the
rougher land.
The Teeswaters and their off-
spring make very good ewes, they
are renowned for their longevity;
being good milkers, with excel-
lent maternal instincts, and being
capable of rearing two lambs under
varying conditions (especially im-
portant with the dreadful weather
they have endured this spring!).
This proves the hardiness of the
Teeswater breed. These traits, as
well as weight and fleece quality are
passed onto their progeny. Whilst
the major advantage to the pro-
ducer is the lambs can be taken to
heavier weights and still retain their
leanness, which meets the consum-
er demand for healthy meat.
Overall, these characteristics
mean the Teeswater Breed has a
respectable commercial viability,
especially when used as a cross-
ing sire. With increasing consumer
demand for natural products over
synthetic products, there has
been a subsequent increase in de-
mand for Mashams and Teeswater
fleeces because the character-
istics of these fleeces meet the
necessary processing require-
ments. The fleeces are desired by
specialist weavers and spinners
from as far afield as the USA.
John believes if anyone is looking
to farm or be involved with the
Teeswater breed then they would
benefit from joining the Teeswater
Breed Association, as they organise
regular gatherings and breed sales
which are the best way to pur-
chase pedigree Teeswater sheep.
Also, it is a great way to liaise with
other farmers who are interested
in the breed and improving the
breed through correct breeding.
The long period of dreadful
weather over the past months has
made it a very difficult, enduring
lambing, with limited grass growth
resulting in additional hay being
heavily relied on compared to
usual years.
Looking to the future John
believes “Brexit will provide both
opportunities and threats to the
way the country farms the land. I
am hopeful this is the opportunity
for the industry as a whole to work
in unison, to engage with the con-
sumer, and bridge the gap between
the producer and consumer, which
is increasingly difficult in the super-
market fuelled convenient lifestyle
we are all so accustomed to.
Brexit provides a historic chance to
educate consumers on how the UK
produces food and the standards
of welfare and regulation us as
farmers all comply with to ens ure
food safety. I also think we should
be expressing truth behind import-
ed food, educating consumers of
the risks that come with consuming
and relying on imported produce.
If the public are more informed we
are likely to see their purchasing
decisions changing, after all you
pay for what you get, and you
can’t get much better than grass
fed Yorkshire lamb”.
The next couple of years are full
of uncertainty for farmers like my-
self, making it very difficult to plan
for the future of our business. We
are continually trying to reduce
our input costs in order to put the
farm in the best possible position
regardless of future outcomes.