The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2015 - Issue 41 | Page 57

Andrew Fisher

“Mrs Hamilton was
unbelievably helpful, advising on
the type of cattle. She pointed
me in the right direction and I
selected the best I could afford.
I was also extremely fortunate to
get two of our current president,
Mrs Kevill’s, females from over
near Lancaster.”
Andrew’s herd currently runs
to 30 pedigree cows. With
calves to fattening cattle, also
buying in stores from other
British White breeders, he has
around 100 head on-farm. His
vision is to have 50-60 cows,
but his thirst for the breed’s
success extends way beyond
his own herd.

“I’m on the executive and
management committees of
the British White Cattle Society
and I’m also a breed judge,
travelling throughout the UK.
The breed is doing well right
now having been on the Rare
Breeds Survival Trust critical list
in the 70s,” he explained.
“There are generally two
types of British White cow,
either the smaller more
parkland ones and the bigger
framed type that I believe has
more of a commercial value.
I’m pushing for the larger
British White all the way and
aiming get us accepted into
native breed schemes such

as those that Beef Shorthorns,
Herefords and Aberdeen Angus
have secured with the major
supermarket chains.”

‘I’m on the
executive and
management
committees of
the British White
Cattle Society’
But that doesn’t mean
Andrew is reliant on those. He
has pursued his own markets
and supplies Weeton’s butchers
in Harrogate.

“Weetons took my beef
when I first started with British
Whites and I have been loyal to
them ever since. The beef has
tremendous texture and great
marbling.
“I aim to finish beasts at
around 24 months with a
carcase weight of over 250
kgs. A couple of weeks ago I
took one that killed out at 394
kgs and another at 318. They
go in to Penny’s at Rawdon
and from there to Weeton’s. I
had been sending two beasts
a month but recently that
has gone up to two every
three weeks as the beef is in
demand.

Carrs Billington are pleased to be associated with
Andrew Fisher, Wellhouse Farm

Your stock deserve the very best!
A comprehensive range of products
with a full range of services supported by
professional on-farm advice, all based
at your local Country Store
For further details contact
Hawes Country Store
01969 667334
Malton Country Store
01653 600328
carrs-billington.com

www.farmers-mart.co.uk Aug/Sep 2015 57