Our Pasture for Life certified Beltie Beef is back for the Autumn!

We've picked up this months beef from the butcher, which looks lovely - beautiful marbling! Thanks to those that have already pre-ordered - we have approx half left and will be doing local deliveries from this week onwards and possibly Norwich and Ipswich next week (depending on order numbers), plus as always happy to drop off to anyone en-route  (subject to £40 min. order). Next Beef will be available in November.

"NEW SPECIAL OFFER JOINT BOX"

It's that time of year to enjoy some slow roast Brisket, Rolled Rib or Top Rump or traditional Topside and Silversides. We've added a box of joints to our box selection - 4 mixed joints (you choose) totalling 6kg works out at a great price of just over £13/kg.

THE PIES ARE BACK & WE HAVE STOCKED UP TWO LOCAL FARM SHOPS!

The Pulled Beltie Beef and Adnams Broadside Ale Pies are back in stock on the website, and we have fully stocked the beef freezers at Clinks Farm Shop at Toft Monks and Hillfield Farm Shop at Haddiscoe.

The website shop has now been restocked, please order online at www.carrfarm.org. If you have any special orders or don't see what you want please email me directly on nicola@carrfarm.org

The last of our "Spring" calves was born this week - a black and white bull calf to Majestic (fondly known as Madge), a lively fella he's already had a swim in the ditch! Ideally we calve in April and May but with the Blue Tongue last year we were anticipating some "issues". The good news is everyone bar one calved with no issues and all calves are healthy and lively. The less good news is that they should have calved in the Spring not the Autumn, so either the bull was infertile for a few months last summer or the cows had early gestation abortions then got back in calf...most likely due to Blue Tongue. We leave the bull in with the cows all summer as we would rather have calves in the Autumn than no calves, but it will make managing next years calving a challenge!

It's also been the year of the bull calf - less than a quarter heifers, on the plus side some of the boys look quite promising so may have a future with other herds. Two of last years bull calves have grown on to be handsome chaps and having passed Society inspection and genetic tests have gone off to new homes.

I'm sure it hasn't passed anyone by that it's been a very dry Spring and Summer this year! Keeping the cattle moving around to sites where there has been sufficient grass has been a challenge but so far we have not had to feed any hay.

This is just as well as despite adding a new 18 acre marsh to our hay fields we are still 25% down on our usual crop of hay and what we need going into the winter. Any livestock farmer will tell you that going into the winter with a barn full of hay is a lovely feeling...the opposite is true this year we now have to keep everything crossed that the weather is kind. We aren't totally gambling on the weather we have also taken the tough decision to sell some cattle for others with more feed to finish.

On a positive note the rain in the past few weeks has given our winter grazing a boost it really looks very lush now. We have a few jobs to get done before the winter including putting some sides on one of our barns, carrying out soil tests, installing some new water tanks and replacing some gates and fencing...there is always plenty to keep us busy! Over the winter months we are also hoping to carry out some more hedge laying on the farm.

Our swallows this week have been lining up on the phone lines a sure sign of a change in season, they have raised three broods this year in the old stables we pray they have a safe journey south and back to us next year.

As always thank you for your support !
Nicola & David Chapman…and the Belties!