The Farmers Mart Jun-Jul 2020 - Issue 69 | Page 32

32 STUBBINS FARM JUN/JUL 2020 • farmers-mart.co.uk Keep your water flowing □ Pipe & water supply installation □ Bore holes, springs, & wells □ Water pressure problems □ Filtration Proud to be associated with Jason French Call us on 01765 600 144 or email [email protected] hhwaterservices.co.uk challenges in coping with cancer, that necessitates him going for regular checkups, and he’s grateful to his father for all of the support he still puts in, and that of his wife Suzanne. ‘Dad prides himself on his stockmanship and we both believe wholeheartedly that by giving your animals a good life you see the results in the way they are on the farm and how well they perform at a livestock market or how good their meat tastes from a farm shop. We bed all our pigs on our own straw too.’ ‘We buy 50 Large White X pigs at 40-45 kilos each fortnight from Mark Greensit. Mark is only a quarter of a mile from us and we take them to finishing weights for both Martin and Arlene Hare’s Lane End Farm Shop in Tong, near Bradford and Hartley’s Butchers in Tholthorpe. We take Martin and Arlene’s to 100-105 kilos and Nick Hartley has a variety of weights from 90-130 kilos. It’s all down to what their customers are looking for. They are fast-growing, which was really important during lockdown when demand went through the roof.’ The Aberdeen Angus X cattle are managed by Stephen and the French’s buy them in as stores at 5-6 months. Stephen ensures they reach peak condition at two years when they usually command a strong price at Thirsk livestock market. MANUFACTURE | SUPPLY | INSTALLATION Agricultural | Industrial | Equestrian | Local Authority Gate Automation | Home & Garden | Fence Strike Markers www.fencingsupplies.co.uk | 01756 720318 | [email protected] LIVESTOCK HOUSING & HANDLING SYSTEMS | STOCK NETTING | BARBED WIRE | PLAIN WIRE LARGE STOCKS OF CLASS 4 TREATED POSTS | CREOSOTED POSTS | PRESSURE TANALISED POSTS BESPOKE TIMBER & STEEL GATES | UNRIVALLED RANGE OF GATE HANGINGS & ACCESSORIES Jason is also chuffed that their sheep flock receives recognition at Thirsk livestock market from time to time. ‘We have made the leader board a number of times. We’re not at the top, but it’s nice to be up there with the big boys at times especially when there maybe a couple of thousand lambs going through each week. We start selling in June and go right through to the following March when we’re selling hoggs.’ One significant change made in recent times at Stubbins Farm has been in moving from Texel tups to Texel X Beltex on his Texel and Mule flock of 300 ewes that lamb over a three week period from the end of March. ‘ Jason and Stephen provide a very real example of how a mixed farming operation can work’ ‘The Texel X Beltex provides a good mix for our lambs. The Texel brings the size we’re after and the Beltex gives the shape.’ Jason and Stephen provide a very real example of how a mixed farming operation can work with the cropping assisting the livestock. The weather is of course one of the factors that can throw everything out. Jason and Suzanne have two daughters – Shannon and Leah. His experience health-wise has made him more conscious than ever over enjoying life, not just farming. ‘It’s important to get away from the farm every now and then. You’ve got to make time. Suzanne bought me a Honda 600RR for my 40th birthday and we now have a BMW Tourer. Even if it’s just going for a spin and enjoying a coffee somewhere, or getting out and walking our Border Collies, it’s all important.’