Durslade Farm Livestock
On our 100-acre farm in Somerset, we raise two breeds of sheep and three pure breeds of cattle, alongside our Wagyu X crossbreeds.
Sheep
On the farm, our flock is made up of Exlana and Mule sheep. We lamb around 1,000 lambs every season in the traditional style, with lambs being born around Easter time.
Exlana sheep are popular because they are self-shedding and don’t require shearing, which reduces both the cost of the breed and the labour involved.
Our second breed is the Mule, a North Country cross from the hill lands of England. They are the most prolific breed of sheep in Britain due to their hardy nature and ability to rear lambs. The cross became popular as it is an excellent commercial flock, with attributes from several breeds. Fantastic mothers, these sheep are early to mature and thrive in a variety of conditions.
Cattle
Our herd consists of Aberdeen Angus, Hereford, and Wagyu cattle. We have three bulls, one of each breed, and we also crossbreed the herd to produce our Wagyu X cattle.
Wagyu cows originated as a Japanese breed but have spread across the world since the 1970s. Breaking down the word, ‘Wa’ means Japanese and ‘gyu’ means cow. Originally used as draft animals in rice fields, they are strong cows with high endurance. This is reflected in the meat, which has a higher level of marbling compared to other beef, due to the abundance of fat cells in the muscle. Renowned for being calm and docile, these are the friendliest cows in our herd. The Wagyu bull is used for heifers (cows that have not yet given birth), as this cross produces smaller offspring.
The Aberdeen Angus breed was developed in the early 19th century from polled Scottish cattle, creating a hardy breed adaptable to all conditions. This breed is often used in crossbreeding to ensure quality calves with good growth rates. Aberdeen Angus cattle produce excellent meat due to the distribution of fat, which results in juicy and tender steaks.
An efficient and hardy English breed, Herefords are the final breed in our herd. Often found on tenant farms in Herefordshire, the breed is distinctive for its white face and red body. It thrives on pasture and the grass-based diet leads to succulent beef with a wonderful flavour.
The crops we grow on the farm are selected to provide silage for our cattle and sheep, as well as straw for bedding. We grow pea crops to aid soil health, and we clamp the crops to be used as feed during the winter. After the straw is used in the cattle sheds, it is clamped for use as fertiliser in the fields, creating a circular economy and minimising inputs. The grain from the wheat is also sent to the wholesale market, ensuring that no part of the crop is wasted.
Open Farm Sunday
Every year we take part in Open Farm Sunday at the start of June, a time for you to explore our farm, find out more about the cattle and sheep, foraging, coppicing and more that we do. This year join us on 8th June to find out more about Durslade Farm.