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About Us
Overview and philosophy
Frith Manor Farm is located on the Kent, Surrey and Sussex borders, approximately equidistant at 30 miles from both Marble Arch in London and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.
The fold was newly established in 2003 to concentrate on the development of a prime quality pedigree fold that is commercially viable both from the sale of breeding females and commercialisation from beef production. The ultimate aim is to offer our produce - with others - in a selection of our own local farm retail outlets in the South East of England thus highlighting the benefits of naturally reared ("free range") real products, locally sourced and produced for the local market.
The foundation stock has been carefully sourced from some of the leading and best regarded breeders in the UK. The aim through a carefully monitored programme is to breed a type of Highland that retains all the traditional breed characteristics with excellent calf rearing and growth rate properties. The theory is that if we can produce excellent quality breeding females. That is the theory but it unfortunately takes at least 15 years until it can start to be proved!
Husbandry
All our beasts live outside throughout the year. Given the warmer climes in the South of England, it seems that the Highlands only look truely at home during a cold snap or prolonged harsh winter!
The grazing is typically old pasture and because the soil is of marginal cultivable quality (lower grade three), the yield is well suited to the animals since it is not too rich. Home produced hay is gathered and stored in small bales over the summer to supplement winter feeding (approximately half a bale per head per day from December to March, according to the vagaries of the weather) and also promote natural pasture re-seeding.
A sugar-beat, barley, maize, soya and mineral rolled feed is mixed for us on demand by an excellent local dairy farmer (we call this "Felcourt Mix" after the farm it comes from!) and this is used for additional feeding as and when required. Typically our feeding pension regime is for the following groups:
- Calves - from four months through the first winter by a calf creep
- Steers - from November to march for both winters
- Expectant mothers - that is for the last two months of the pregnancy depending on the time of year and animal condition.
- Bulls - daily throughh the winter months to restore working condition
- Show team - as necessary according to beast type, age and condition
- Others - if and as necessary, for example if an older cow is looking too lean
