Farmer Focus: Eggs diversification scheme gets under way
Simon Bainbridge ©Jim Varney We have finally embarked on our diversification plan.
After months of discussion and the painful wait for planning, we have started on the groundworks of our house for 12,000 organic free-range layers.
With a contract in place and teams lined up to dig, build, cement, wire, and fit, we’re feeling excited about this new enterprise fitting in with our existing business.
We have also noticed that when we mention we are going into laying hens the wisecracks start to flow.
It’s no “yolk”. Everyone feels the ability to “crack” an eggy pun – eggciting, eggcellent.
It would appear there are endless opportunities.
It’s great, though, to have another enterprise away from red meat – and not have all our eggs in one basket.
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This week we will finish the silage.
We have had a pretty good summer, but haven’t always had a continued spell of good weather when we have needed it.
Last week, the forecast looked good for three or four days, so we went for it and cut.
The forecast instantly changed and day three was a complete washout.
Red clovers ideally need a 48-hour wilt.
The bulls are all off, so we now have to wait until scanning in October to see how everyone has performed.
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All the lambs have been weaned a month earlier than last year.
We had decided not to second-cut some of the white clover ground, so the fogs were available sooner for lambs.
They have averaged more than 300g per day from birth, so I’m very pleased with how they are looking.
However, typically, just as we have lambs ready to go fat, the price drops.
We recently hosted a BVD Free England event.
A chap who attended the event, who had worked in the electrical industry all his life, was now starting off a herd of suckler cows.
He said no other industry would put up with such losses.
We have a test and a vaccine that works, so let’s get rid of BVD. It really is that simple.
Simon Bainbridge runs a 650ha organic farm in Northumberland alongside his wife, Claire, and his parents. With 150 suckler cows and 1,500 breeding ewes, healthy maternal livestock and quality feed are priorities.