cow sale
By Alison Park, 02 March 2011 –
A few cows are for sale as we are changing the timing of calving so that all 170 cows calve between September and November. This cow was spruced up before going to Bentham Auction, well known for its new-calved cow trade. She was sold on to a farmer in Gretna because her calving pattern was too far removed from the new system.
Grass makes up most of the cows' diet in summer and winter. The plan is to get the most nutrition out of every blade and reduce the use of expensive supplementary feed. If the cows have all calved by the time they are turned out onto the fields in late spring, then a grass-only diet will suffice.
At the auction the farmer walks around the ring with his stock. It is customary to ‘give luck;’ 5p in the pound is returned to the buyer who will always ask “is there any luck?”