Posts in Cows

Why cows have horns

It has long been a policy of Biodynamic husbandry to keep cattle with horns. As well as the aesthetic value, the horns have an important function in the life of the cow.

Farm, Cows, Dairy, JanuaryKitty M9 January 2024Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Supply and demand

Recently we’ve seen a real surge in new customers and have also noticed that existing customers are coming much more frequently and seem to be doing the majority of their food shopping with us. These changes are rarely down to one thing, and I believe at the moment there are several reasons.

Sustainability, Autumn, Butchery, Cheese, Cows, Dairy, Meat, Milk, October, ShopKitty M24 October 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

In the parlour

The milking parlour is like a bridge between the farm and the dairy. Connecting the pasture and the daily life of the herd to the bottling of milk, cheese and yoghurt making; the parlour is that transition point of receiving this gift from the land and from the cows.

Cows, June, Dairy, Farm, MilkKitty M26 June 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

Raising calves

For every bottle of cows’ milk there is a story of a cow and a calf.

Cows, June, Dairy, FarmKitty M22 June 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Holistic Land Management

This February, all the members of the Plaw Hatch management group took part in a 3-day Holistic Management Course. Holistic Management, like biodynamics, is about working with the whole farm organism and with, rather than against, ecosystem processes.

Farm, Arable, Cows, Environment, June, Sheep, SustainabilityKitty M19 June 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

Our longest serving volunteer

Michael Moon has been working as a volunteer at Plaw Hatch Farm since 2009.

January, Farm, Cows, Milk, VolunteersKitty M10 January 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Combining 2022

is probably one of the most dusty, itchy, and sweaty jobs we do, as oats are an incredibly dusty grain. Yet the satisfaction of seeing a full trailer of homegrown oats to feed our pigs and chickens and give milking parlour snacks to our cows throughout the next year makes it totally worth it and we have a lot of fun doing it too!

Farm, Arable, Chickens, Cows, Pigs, AugustKitty M23 August 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Plaw Hatch cows

The prolonged dry conditions and intense heat have had a significant effect on everyone at the farm.

Summer, August, Cows, Dairy, MilkKitty M15 August 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Meet Clementine

Visitors to the farm recently may have noticed that one of our cows only has one eye.

Farm, July, Cows, DairyKitty M16 July 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Building a dairy herd

Changes to the dairy herd can takes years to take effect. Herdsman, Robin, discusses the results of decisions made a number of years ago.

Farm, July, Cows, DairyKitty M2 July 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Grass fed Sussex beef

Winston, our Sussex bull, will be 10 years old in August this year. During his time here he has sired nearly 200 calves, many of which have been raised here on the farm.

Farm, Spring, April, Cows, Dairy, Meat, MilkKitty M19 April 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

New Danish Red calves

Over the years, there have been a number of Danish Red cows in the herd. Robin and Maya intend to increase the numbers of these lovely animals.

Farm, Cows, MarchKitty M21 March 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Dry cows

With the autumn calving almost finished, newly calved cows are coming back into the milking herd.

Cows, Dairy, MilkKitty M10 November 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Freemartin heifers

We are currently raising three calves in the pen by the cow yard. They receive fresh warm milk twice daily and they are always excited to see the milk bucket arrive. The group consists of one dairy heifer (future milking cow) and male/female twins.

Cows, Dairy, MilkKitty M17 October 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Early autumn calves

Although there are two main calving groups for spring and autumn, having a few cows calving between these periods can help to maintain milk supplies at an adequate level.

Cows, Dairy, MilkKitty M23 September 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Raw Milk Producers Association AGM

On Wednesday 8th September, Plaw Hatch hosted the RMPA AGM for members to learn about all things milk.

Cows, Cheese, Dairy, Milk, SustainabilityKitty M11 September 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Eating trees

Cows don’t only naturally eat grass, they’ll often snack on hedges, trees and other shrubs that they can get to as well.

Dairy, Cows, Farm, MilkKitty M17 August 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Bull calves

Bull calves are a contentious issue in the dairy industry. Herdsman, Robin Hall, explains how keeping dual purpose breeds gives value to these animals’ lives.

Farm, Cows, Meat, Milk, SustainabilityKitty M18 July 2021Plaw Hatch Farm Comments

From dust to mud

We are increasingly talk about the weather becoming unpredictable, but Robin wonders if it always has been.

Farm, Cows, MilkKitty M20 June 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Cicely and Eliza

With the grazing season well underway, milk production is picking up.

Spring, Cows, MilkKitty M18 May 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

9 Jan 2024

23 Nov 2023

A year as a farm Apprentice

Approaching the halfway mark in my 2-year placement here at Old Plaw Hatch Farm, the coming of the shorter days has allowed me to reflect on what has been one hell of a ride this past year.

27 Oct 2023

The realities of a garden

Growing vegetables in a political climate that has very little understanding of how food actually gets from the producer to anyone’s kitchen table (let alone the unpredictability of that same climate) means we are very grateful to the crops that have been successes, and we move on quickly from those that were or are, to put it bluntly, failures. Let me briefly talk you through our growing year so far…

24 Oct 2023

24 Aug 2023

Why should I go to the AGM?

Firstly, because we would really love you to. Of course, at an AGM there is the dry procedural stuff, it’s a legal requirement, but there is so much more. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the people who grow your food.

15 Aug 2023

The garden this summer

The summer is flying by and we have already started to get the first harvests off the fields like onions, potatoes and squash. The Spring was very late this year, however, Summer is not over yet.

4 Aug 2023

Woodland update

THE Farmer’s daybook

a farmer’s daybook is where they note everything going on with their herd; milk yields, health, behaviours, emotional states. our online daybook is where you can keep up to date with the latest goings-on on the farm.

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PLAW HATCH FARM, Plawhatch Lane, Sharpthorne, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4JL

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