The Farmers Mart Oct/Nov 2016 - Issue 48 | Page 56

Dodsworth Farm [email protected] 01845 523165 www.thirskmarket.co.uk Furniture & Collectable sales Fur & Feather & Collective sales Breeding & Store sale Primestock Tuesday fortnightly Entries day before sale 8:30am - 1pm Sale Box lots & electricals 4pm, collectables 5.30pm, furniture 6pm (2 auctioneers) Every alternative Tuesday Sheep at 12 Noon and Cattle at 1pm. 1st Saturday of the month, Collective entries Friday before sale 8am - 3pm.  Fur & Feather entries on day 7am-9am.  Sale starts @ 10am Every Thursday, Pigs at 9am, sheep at 9.30am and cattle at 12.30pm See website for details of dates and special sales. Thirsk Farmers Auction Mart, Thirsk Rural Business Centre, Blakey Lane, Thirsk, YO7 3AB 56 Oct/Nov 2016 www.farmers-mart.co.uk The problem with rare breeds is trying to find unrelated ones because of the small gene pool: it is like choosing new family members. Showing their animals is as important as saving and developing rare breeds - their kitchen is festooned with rosettes and certificates and you sense their immense pride in what they do. They do a lot of displays with the York Rare Breed Society as well as many agricultural shows from the small local ones to the Great Yorkshire Show. Such a thriving operation needs to be self-funding which is a major exercise. Shelley works at the Murton Farm Museum in the mornings looking after their entire stock of animals and poultry etc and indeed Shelley has supplied most of their cows, calves and lambs. This helps to fund the farm but they do also sell a lot of meat to friends, family and local people which is something that they don’t particularly enjoy. As Shelley said, however, “Any animals that do go for the table, we know they have had the very best life possible here.” They also sell some at auction as well as well as selling many direct to other farmers etc What did tickle me somewhat is that EVERY animal and bird has a name and even some have names before they are bought! Shelley told me that every joint in the freezer has its name on it. They were absolutely gutted when they lost their13 year old bull just before The Yorkshire Show; he had managed to cover four cows prior to his demise – good lad! When Rodney the steer goes to the Abattoir Shelley is keeping his hide. Rodney I hear you say? Yes that’s right, they all have names from the Trotter family! So to the future – as you would guess nothing stands still here. A few years ago there was a fire in the old milking sheds. They plan to pull these down and pu t up some new and better shelter and handling area for all the animals at Dodsworth. Shelley will continue to search out more rare and endangered breeds and develop them. They would like to be able to afford some new machinery although Phil still loves his second-hand JCB Telehandler. In common with many other farmers, Phil has some understandable concerns around single farm and stewardship payments following Brexit as these are key to their survival. Having met and talked to Phil and Shelley ,who are so friendly but also tough and resourceful, this wonderful eclectic animal haven that is Dodsworth deserves to flourish and grow. We wish them well. NOTES The Irish Moiled Cattle Society is a rare and distinctive breed. Traditionally a dairy cow, it is actually dual purpose animal producing high quality beef and milk from poor quality grazing. Visit www. irishmoiledcattlesociety.com The Rare Breeds Survival Trust monitors rare and native farm breeds and produces an annual watch list. It saves genetics in its Gene Bank and also saves animals in emergencies. It promotes the use of rare and native breeds for food, fibre and conservation grazing. Support groups exist throughout the country – visit www.rbst.org.uk to find out more.