David & Helen with Emily, Elliot and Alfred Camp farm the Gerston herd of South Devon's at Daynes Farm in South Devon. This organic herd has been in the South Devon herd book since 1914. We have 150 cows, calving in two blocks March & August. The team of 5 bulls are just off to work on the Autumn herd.
All the youngstock are reared and finished on farm on a forage based diet, with only home grown spring barley fed during a winter finishing period, at an average of 24 months with weights between 300-340kg. Cattle are sold throughout the year.
Daynes farm sell the majority of their beef and lamb to Riverford organic, along with our organic veg. This is the first year of growing veg, harvesting courgettes, savoy cabbages, leeks, purple sprouting broccoli and kale. This goes along side our organic meat goat herd. The goat meat is sold direct to local consumers, pubs and restaurants.
Gerston simba has just returned from long term loan to the Horsehill herd. where he had an impeccable calving record with over 200 calves born, only 10 were assisted births and two of these were backwards calves. He is now hopefully going to continue this fantastic record back in his home herd.
The cows and calves are clearing up grass paddocks on a final round before moving onto fodder beet for the winter. The buck has just been put out with the goats, a total of 48 females are being mated this autumn as we try to increase the number of goats we produce. The finishing cattle are still all outside on grass being supplemented with 4kg of barley each day. The cattle aiming for slaughter around Christmas and beyond will soon be housed when ground conditions dictate.