
Richard Hudd © 2008
Animal health & welfare
We know every animal
in our small flock and care for them every day in accordance
to strict Soil Association organic standards.
All the sheep enjoy the space and environment in which to
express their natural behaviour. They graze naturally on our
own organic pasture and organic hay produced on the farm.
Organically approved sheep feed is available as and when required.
The lambs are reared slowly and without the pressure of trying
to achieve weights by set dates. This means they stay at grass
maturing slowly and naturally taking anywhere between seven
to 14 months for lamb and from three years for mutton to reach
their full weight.
This natural and
slow rearing system reduces the stress on each animal and
all helps to give our lambs their fabulous taste. We choose
each animal depending on what each customer wants and take
all our animals to slaughter ourselves.
If any animal is ill or needs treatment, we call a qualified
vet. Animal health medicines are only used in accordance with
Soil Association protocol and a vet's advice.
Under Soil Association
the following rules apply:
The
routine use of drugs or growth promoters are banned
Non-organic
feed is banned
Containing
GM material is banned
Hormone treatments
of any sort are banned
Organophosphate
sheep dips are banned
The routine
use of chemical wormers is banned and are only used with the
permission of the Soil Association
Lambs never
have their tails docked
Find out More:
Overview
of Soil Association Certification Standards and Soil Association
Contacts
Lamb
finishing - how our lambs reach their slaughter weight
Tupping
- how our sheep breed naturally
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