Kingsford Farm

Livestock details (2025)

• 80 Stabiliser cows
• Heifers begin calving at two years of age and youngstock are finished between 20 and 24 months on a grass-fed diet
• 530 ewes are spread over the two farms – 250 Highlanders and 280 Aberfield
• All ewes are tupped to Aberfield, Highlander and Primera rams
• This year, 250 ewes will lamb outdoors (2025)

Background

For the past 20 years, Rob and Liz have farmed organically in Devon. When Scadghill Farm was purchased at the beginning of the project, it was a conventionally managed beef and arable farm. It was awarded organic status in 2022.

At present, Rob and Liz also have 60 kW of solar panels, two biomass boilers and a rainwater-harvesting system to reduce input costs and provide additional income for the farm.

Scadghill Farm is under both mid-tier countryside stewardship and a current SFI agreement.

Grassland management

Repeatedly challenged by wet weather, utilising grass growth proves difficult. Having implemented rotational grazing in 2016, Rob and Liz wanted to take their grassland management a step further by attempting to outwinter their cattle.

Using a tried-and-tested system as a template, they were able to set up bale and rotational grazing on their new farm. Over time, the system has been adapted to the growth requirements of their cattle, and their enterprise has become more resilient.

Having struggled with cattle growth rates for ‘R1s’ – calves that are not yet 1 year old – during their first winter, the Priests took a step back to look at forage and soil health, with the aim of producing a higher-protein forage. Their goal is to move from a daily liveweight gain (DLWG) of 0.26 kg to 0.6 kg from forage, to meet the minimum weight requirement of 650 kg for leaving the farm.

To help achieve this, they led a trial with Terrafarmer (soil health specialists) to analyse the effects of applying a foliar fish waste hydrolysate and biofertiliser to plots of permanent pasture, herbal leys and arable ground.

They would also like to focus on improving the percentage of lambs and calves reared.

Driven by facts, figures and honesty, Rob and Liz like the idea of being accountable to an audience to encourage them to push their farm business to meet its full potential.