Near Cardigan Bay in West Wales, Jack Cockburn runs a Soil Association certified Organic farm of 140 acres over four sites between 200ft and 750ft above sea level. With enterprises ranging from commercial livestock to small-scale renewable energy, and holiday accommodation to agroforestry, Jack has embraced diversification across the business to maximise output, all whilst managing the land within the guidelines of both the Soil Association and the Nature Friendly Farming Network.
Established in 2005, the business includes the Aeron pedigree herd of Original Population Hereford cattle now comprising 30 breeding females, plus a breeding flock of local Llanwenog sheep, and has grown to incorporate other elements such as their award-winning holiday cottages, log cabins and glamping, enhanced by renewable energy and agroforestry.
Low-input commercial beef production
Describing the setup of the farm and how the herd has been developed, Jack says: “In the beginning I was drawn to the Traditional Hereford for its docility, ease of management and ability to fatten on grass. As a first-generation farmer who wanted to farm organically, and with no prior experience of working with cattle, the docility, hardiness and easy fleshing traits were the most important. Over the years we have always tried to use top-quality, influential stock bulls, as well as a range of AI bulls to complement the spread of female families existing within the herd. All are docile, with good conformation and excellent maternal traits.
“The farmland at Treberfedd and Tyglyn Mansion farms is managed as an all-grass cattle and sheep raising enterprise. The better fields consist of silty, medium-brown loams, whereas other grazing areas lay wet most of the year in patches of grey clay and rushes. We practice rotational grazing over summer and are self-sufficient in feed all year round. Due to being in a high rainfall area, the cattle are housed in a modern, Roundhouse-style building from the end of November to the end of March and fed on homemade, round bale haylage. The cattle are 100% grass and forage fed, unless we are preparing a bull for show and sale, in which case a small quantity of organic concentrate may be bought in.
“Most of the land still benefits from a traditional layout of fields with hedged boundaries, the largest field size being 7 acres. This aids in rotating the herd around the fields from April through to November. I try to allow as long a rest period on a field as possible so that the cattle are grazing longer grass with more fibre, and the plants are rooting deeper to improve soil aggregation and structure. This system also fits into being a Nature Friendly Farm as part of the Nature Friendly Farming Network. Larger pasture plants allow more space, diversity and seeds for wildlife to thrive on.
“The focus here has always been on breeding Original Population Herefords that can be profitable for pasture-based beef raising. We calve in late March and April with a mixture of indoor or outdoor calving, depending on the weather, and 90% of the cows calve in a six-week period. Efficiency in managing the grazing and the cows is important to us. Every cow must be productive, producing a calf each year and weaning a calf at 9 months old that is 50% of her own bodyweight. Cows with poor udder conformation were bred out of the herd in the first few years.
“After weaning, calves are grown on in their second grazing season and sold as Organic beef via a processor to M&S or Tesco at between 24 and 26 months of age. Purebred steers are usually around 280kg deadweight with purebred heifers between 240-250kg. An experiment with an easy-calving Angus bull has been used in the past to achieve hybrid growth rate, which added an uplift of 50-60kg on a carcass.
“I find that the Traditional Hereford cow is a long-lived, economic, hardy animal producing a good beef animal from forage alone. The cows are scanned at housing at the end of November, with in-calf rates between 90 and 100% in-calf from natural service by two stock bulls.”
Incorporating agroforestry
Explaining how agroforestry has been added to enrich the management of the farm, Jack says: “In 2022, we planted 4,000 trees as new hedgerows between fields, with a particular emphasis on species that are good for pollinators, and fast-growing willow to provide browse for the cattle. Other areas of the farm were planted with trees 15 to 20 years ago, and I manage this for wildlife and as coppice wood to feed the holiday accommodation with firewood. I am also starting to use agroforestry grazing techniques to provide the cows with browse and high mineral and vitamin fodder, plus as extra shade and shelter at certain times of the year.
“Hedgerow management is carried out with a weatherproof farming and nature friendly mindset. I have recently started a three-year hedge cutting rotation to allow more berries and cover for birds and insects, but also more leaves for the cattle to browse and increased shade in the summer, or shelter from the strong westerly winds.”
You can learn more about Treberfedd Farm on their website and keep up to date via Facebook and Instagram!
Comments