10 HIGHCLIFFE FARM FEB / MAR 2023 • farmers-mart . co . uk
EXTOLLING THE VIRTUES OF THE HAMPSHIRES … IN HALIFAX
Chris Berry talks with Stephen Short of Highcliffe Farm , Southowram
BREED champion for two consecutive years at the Great Yorkshire Show is no mean feat and that ’ s what young Hampshire Down breeder Stephen Short of Highcliffe Farm , Southowram overlooking the Shibden Valley has managed in the past two years with a ewe lamb in 2021 and a ram shearling in 2022 .
Proud moments for the eminently likeable farming character who never had any intention of doing anything else but farming .
“ I farm all the time ,” says Stephen . “ It was my grandparents Willie and Margaret ( Rushforth ) that taught me everything I know . My mother and father are both accountants by trade and so although I am the fifth generation here , I ’ m only the fourth generation to farm it .
“ We had some calves on the farm in my teens . We had milk cows for a while and went on to beef cows . We had a lot of poultry when I was 10 years old and I sold a lot of eggs . I saved up some egg money to buy my first sheep .
Today Stephen runs the farm as a commercial cattle and sheep enterprise , with the pedigree Hampshire Downs not just a show interest but also used on his commercial flock .
“ I have 128 Texel X ewes that I tup with Charollais on shearlings to help them with easy lambing , and the ewes are put to the Hampshire and Texel tups . I buy my Charollais tups from Charles Marwood of Foulrice , Whenby .
“ There are 26 pedigree Hampshire Down ewes of which two scanned geld this year , so we lambed 24 in December . They would be a lot more prolific to lamb them in March . It doesn ’ t make a lot of sense lambing in December , but we want them right for show season .
“ December born Hampshire lamb that is destined for butchers goes largely in March and April when the price is generally that bit higher , but I will also keep some on a bit longer to reach the weight I ’ m looking for if they haven ’ t achieved it .
“ For me the benefit they bring is that they are generally quick growing , with plenty of shape , and from being born they ’ ll get up and go and are quite hardy . We ’ re 1000 ft up here . They are also a good terminal sire that can produce good butcher ’ s lambs . There are many who really like Hampshires as fat butcher ’ s lambs .
Stephen had around 40 lambs on the ground as we were going to press with this March edition