THE RABY HERD
The Raby herd has a wonderful reservoir of pure true-type British Friesians. Founded in 1927 by their grandfather, Margaret and Christine Ford have now decided to sell up and relinquish the tenancy on Raby Hall Farm
LEFT Margaret and Christine Ford pictured with club chairman Jackie Griffi n and John O’Connor.
BELOW The 30th October will see
the dispersal of the Raby herd of British Friesians as Margaret and Christine Ford have relinquished the tenancy on Raby Hall Farm.
Bulls that were used in the early years were Brookgreen Zwart Dieukman and Stourton Topper and later, Crosswell Cardon and Lavenham Creator, moving on to Darleymoor Banner, Parbury Venue and Blackisle Glenalbyn. Modern genetics include Blackisle Benloyal and Deangate Quadrant.
will see the end of an era for the long established 230-head Raby herd of pedigree British Friesians. Sadly, Margaret and Christine Ford have decided to relinquish the tenancy on Raby Hall Farm in the Wirral which their grandfather took over in 1927.
O ctober 30th
Their father was keen to establish a pedigree herd and so persuaded his father to become a member of the British Friesian Cattle Society in 1941 when 24 cows were registered. They also purchased pedigree cows from the Bulkeley, Baswich, Chorlton and Middleham herds. Bulkeley Havusina and Bulkeley Coral went on to have several heifer calves and each time they calved they established a new family all named after fl owers, with the fi rst Raby prefi x registered in January 1942.
Having classifi ed for numerous years they now have many
animals with four or fi ve generations of Ex or VG in their pedigree and currently have 21 Excellent and 50 Very Good cows in the herd. Due to limited facilities, the Ford sisters have followed a simple system of self-feed silage with modest amounts of cake in the parlour. The family’s enthusiasm led them to attend the inaugural meeting of the British Friesian Breeders Club and they have been fi rm supporters ever since. In fact, it was Margaret and Christine who fi rst suggested a Club Herd Competition.
84 THE JOURNAL OCTOBER 2014
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