Despite a vast expansion plan over the last 30 years, the marketing of cows and heifers remains a key part of the business at Skirwith Hall


B


rothers Len and Chris run the 740-acre farm in partnership with their mother, Laura. The family moved to Skirwith Hall, Penrith in 1981 when


their late father moved from the home farm in West Cumbria. The herd was founded by Len and Chris’s grandfather in the late 40s with all five of his sons continuing to run dairy herds including Highoaks, Churchbeck and Highdyke. In 1968 Mr Wilson took over the original prefix


SELLING IS KEY AT STOWBECK


for the British Friesian herd. In the mid 80s when Len left school, his dad was milking 110 pure Friesian cows. Keen to introduce Holstein breeding Len used Avondale F Marquis, Deehaven Citation Star and Cherry Lane Mohammed. “The first Holstein bulls I used worked well and we still contin- ued to use stock bulls. Other key sires in the herd include Igniter who bred robust herd cows and we had several that classified Excellent and completed 100t. Rudolph bred long lasting cows that also bred well in the herd.” The Stowbeck herd now totals 350 cows with 300 milking, an ex- pansion which happened through default during foot and mouth in 2001. Being unable to sell surplus stock during F & M numbers built up and Len and Chris got used to milking more cows.


Expansion was easier to manage following the purchase of Powley Farm at Lanwathby in August 2000. As well as an additional 140 acres, it also provides accommo- dation for 200 youngstock and


48 THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2015


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