Tim Downes
Tim Downes
Tim and Louise Downes
farm 230ha (570 acres)
with Tims parents in
Shropshire, of which 139ha
(343 acres) is under
contract. The farm is fully
organic, comprising 140
dairy cows plus followers.
Aberdeen Angus beef cattle
are finished and part of the
cereal harvest of wheat,
oats and triticale is
crimped. They also have a
dozen breeding ewes
IT has been worth the wait to see two bonny Charolais calves resulting from a weekend escapade by the neighbours bull. They are now outside in a group of 10, suckling from a home-made barrel and teat system. It has certainly made them more content as they now have to work to suck it through the teat, aiding digestion, rather than a rapid slurp from a metal trough.
The dry spell we had during the World Cup and the start of Wimbledon has encouraged the clover surge, but however much we shorten our grazing round we could not prevent some grass going to seed. But a bit of topping using the replacement tractor, left a great feeling from giving docks and thistles a good thrashing. A bunch of dry cows and in-calf heifers then cleared up.
The dreaded dock pulling continues in earnest next week. We aim to kill a certain amount of dock seeds with the acid used on the crimped cereals.
We have also made 215 round bales of haylage and 250 little square bales of hay. While mowing, Dad left an area uncut the size of a tennis court where a pair of curlews were incubating four eggs. Then, to our dismay, a fox destroyed the eggs in broad daylight, but luckily spared the parents.
Lambs are growing well on our clover rich ley and have just been weaned. This required securely fastening their rather fit mums in a straw yard to dry off and drop a condition score or three.
June has proved a busy time on the social calendar, with Louise stewarding in the Holstein section at a successful Lincs show, then a dash home for the West Mids show the same week. Both shows did well to get back on their feet after a trying time last year.
I just hope they will be well supported in the years to come, as they are an essential part of our industry. They provide an opportunity to look at new ideas or products and catch up with old friends. A highlight at both shows were the YFC floats. *
A bit of topping has proved necessary, but thrashing a few docks and thistles in the process was satisfying, says Tim Downes.