The Farmers Mart Oct-Nov 2018 - Issue 59 | Page 25

SOWERBY PARKS FARM 25 • OCT/NOV 2018 www.brmltd.co.uk [email protected] 01325 378552 Brian Robinson Machinery have been agricultural machinery suppliers for the Hunt family for a number of years BRM wish the Hunt family all the very best for the future. www.brmltd.co.uk ‘It was my accountant who, when I was building up my livestock, told me the amount I was paying to rent land and build- ings I would be better buying a farm that got me looking and this came up. I had to sell my Texel flock I’d built up since I was 16 to raise the money to buy it. I started building up the Dexter herd and we had 200 pigs on B&B for Don Sanderson of Brompton.’ ‘When I lost my job after just a month with the feed company I’d joined after being headhunted we needed to up our game on the farm and within six months, after converting farm buildings for pigs we had 2000 for Don. I’m grateful to him for keeping me filled up with pigs that come in at 5 weeks or 7 kilos and we take through to 110 kilos destined for Woodheads in Colne, but I’m also immensely grateful to my neighbours John and Sue Smith who have helped enor- mously. I wouldn’t be here now without their generous support 15 years ago.’ The pigs and Beef Shorthorns make up the farming business that now sees Graham and Sam with another 150 acres rented in Sessay. ‘If we could get hold of more grazing we would grow the herd. We calved 36 cows this spring and next spring it will be around 50. We haven’t paid a fortune but we have paid good money for them. We pick out one or two for the pedigree men to use as breeding bulls and the rest of bulls we fat- ten and take to Thirsk or Darlington marts at 13-15 months where they make good mon- ey. We generally keep most of the females as replacements or building the herd up further. To get to 100 cows we would need another 50 acres, so if you know of anyone who wants to rent land?’ Other current projects with the Beef Shorthorns include embryos brought in from America by Martin Moore that Graham has tried. ‘We’ve had four live calves, two bulls and two heifers from embryos through our own cows. I’ve recently bought 10 heifers from an organic farmer in Wales and we’ve put embryos in them. Our herd is in a high health herd scheme.’ Graham has achieved what he has always striven for – his own farm, his own herd of Beef Shorthorns. He’s rightly pleased with the way things have turned out. ‘It’s not bad for a lad from a council house in Gainford.’ [email protected] 01325 378552 Brian Robinson Machinery have been agricultural machinery suppliers for the Hunt family for a number of years BRM wish the Hunt family all the very best for the future. www.brmltd.co.uk [email protected] 01325 378552 Brian Robinson Machinery have been agricultural machinery suppliers for the Hunt family for a number of years BRM wish the Hunt family all the very best for the future. www.brmltd.co.uk [email protected] 01325 378552 Brian Robinson Machinery have been agricultural machinery suppliers for the Hunt family for a number of years BRM wish the Hunt family all the very best for the future. The Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society forthcoming society sales Wednesday 7th November Skipton, CCM, including the dispersal of the Newfield Herd www.beefshorthorn.org | 01738 622478 Docile • Fertile • easy calving • HarDy • easy care • Premium BeeF • natural Foragers • ProFitaBle • milky • long liveD Scottish Charity No. SC010218.