The Farmers Mart Dec/Jan 2015 - Issue 37 | Page 63

THROSTLE NEST FARM and will ensure that the stock is well tended this winter. “We take our bulls through to finishing at around two years by which time they are at about 750-800 kilos and they go to Darlington Livestock Mart,” Fraser explained. “Females go to Carlisle as bulling heifers where we sell them as draught every year once they have reached two years. I want my cows to get to an average age of around 13 years and I have cows here that were born in 1999 and are due to calve again. I look for a slightly milkier cow, something more maternal and don’t like things that are too extreme. I like a variety of colouring. “I have Beef Shorthorns because I like them but also because from a business and management point of view, they make sense. They are a quiet breed and work well for me. I haven’t a single cow where I couldn’t go and pick up a calf as it is born.” Throstle Nest Farm runs to 177 acres mostly down to grass, but with 32 acres of wheat. It is a wet farm on heavy clay and until recently had been purely a sheep farm. Fraser’s father, Edgar moved to Calf Garth Farm in Raisdale near Chopgate with his wife, Sheena some years ago and took on White House Farm in Great Broughton in 1981. Calf Garth Farm was sold two years ago to finance the move to Throstle Nest. “I’d always been clear that when I came back it would be to run the farm and not to be a farm worker,” said Fraser, whose father retired four years ago.” “I now farm 140 acres of the 170 at Great Broughton as the rest is involved with the caravan site and woodland that my father still manages. Over there it is all arable apart from 10 acres of grass. We grow a rotation of spring beans, wheat, Every crop deserves the best care Agriplus are proud suppliers to Fraser Hugill Your new Vicon dealer for North Yorkshire Your crop deserves the Vicon GEOspread www.uk.vicon.eu Tel: 01642 712965 Paul Allinson Fencing Contact Paul: 07833 93083 / 01751 430406 / Kirkbymoorside, YO62 6NJ Pleased to be associated with Fraser Hugill and wish him continued success • All aspects of Agricultural fencing • Quality workmanship you can trust • Emergency work • Reliable service 7 days a week • New Fencing and repairs undertaken To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk FarmersMart Dec/Jan 2015 63