FAQs

is raw milk safe to drink?

Raw milk is regulated by law in order to make sure it is safe to drink. This means that we adhere to rigorous testing; both implemented by the Food Standards Agency and ourselves to maintain the best hygiene. Produced by a herd free from disease and fed a healthy natural diet, and processed through clean equipment, raw milk can be a delicious addition to a healthy diet. For more information on raw milk, visit our Raw Milk page.

Do you deliver?

We currently do not have the capacity to deliver our produce and sell a majority of what we produce through our Farm Shop near Sharpthorne. However we do supply other outlets in the South East with our dairy products such as cheeses and yoghurts. Visit our Stockists page to find the closest outlet. Raw milk is regulated by law and can only be sold on the farm of production.

when do you separate the calves from their mothers?

It’s an emotional question. We care deeply about the health of our animals, both physical and mental. We separate cow and calf at an absolute minimum of two weeks (often it’s much longer). In conventional dairy it’s common practice to remove the calf within an hour of birth. Our calves are then kept in a pen right next to the cow yard, and when they are old enough we will either move them to our beef herd or they will go back into the dairy herd. We have trialled leaving calves with their mothers for longer, however this increases the risk of mastitis in the cow (a very painful and potentially fatal infection in her udder) and also means the cow and calf form a very strong bond, so when they are eventually moved it is much more stressful. Farming the way we do reduces this stress for both cow and calf and means we can run an efficient, hygienic dairy whilst producing top quality milk.

Is your milk A1/A2?

Almost all milk will contain a mix of A1 and A2 beta casein (a protein). Traditional breeds such as ours have a tendency to produce milk containing more of the A2 protein, but this is entirely down to an individual cow’s genetic make-up. There is some suggestion that A2 milk has several health benefits and is easier for people with milk intolerance to digest. We have anecdotal reports that people with mild intolerances have been able to drink our milk. However, we believe that the research currently available does not sufficiently prove any beneficial qualities of predominantly A2 milk to justify the extreme logistical challenges of altering our herd in order to affect the proportion of A1 and A2 proteins in the milk. Therefore, we have not found it necessary to invest in testing the genetic status of each of our animals. However, we aim to keep abreast of any new research that may give reason to re-evaluate our position.

We believe that keeping our cows as healthy and stress-free as possible on their natural grass-based diet, whilst nurturing the soil and the diversity that produces their feed is the way to produce the tastiest and most nutritious milk. See our Raw Milk page for more information.

Why are dogs not allowed on the farm?

We love animals. However, dogs present a risk to livestock in several forms, partly due to zoonotic diseases that can be passed onto our animals (pregnant ewes are at particular risk and can abort their lambs) but also due to them being a predatory species. Dogs, although loving family pets, are capable of doing fatal damage to livestock, and we have had several dog attacks on our sheep, having lost fifteen pregnant Romney ewes on a different site in early 2019. Our livestock are our top priority; their health, wellbeing, and safety being of utmost importance. So long as dogs are on a lead and under proper control, they are allowed in the carpark outside the Shop.

Can I bring my school group/ club/ company for a visit?

Yes! We love having visitors to the farm and actively encourage you to learn more about what we do here. We host tours for school groups throughout the year and will show you the land and animals as well as our cheese-making process in the Dairy. If you would like to arrange a visit, get in touch. For more information on our initiatives, visit our Community and Education page.

Can I volunteer?

Yes! We take volunteers of all shapes and sizes on the farm throughout the year, and there are many ways you can help. Visit our Community and Education page for ways to get involved.