Category: Dartmoor Born and Bred

Our delicious ewes milk is now produced with zero emissions.

We have installed a 35,000 kw solar pv system on the roofs of the barns and two whopping big batteries which power our compressors, water heaters and refrigeration. Also this year we completed digging a small lake for water storage and installed a spring water system with purification to save water when we pressure wash the parlour after milking, next year we will be looking forward to the sunshine in the knowledge that all those solar panels will be working their socks off! (Bet it we have the wettest summer on record in 2027!)

Well it’s been a difficult year with monsoons in the winter and early spring and then in May it just stopped raining! Having spent months wading through flood waters we then had to contend with the driest summer on record. I think it rained every day from around October 1^st to April , then someone turned the tap off. We expect bad weather on Dartmoor in the winter what we don’t expect is Lawrence of Arabia appearing out of the swirling dust pursued by 100 sword wheedling Arabs (OK that probably didn’t happen).

But you get the picture, it was very dry.

So we produced just 50% of the hay we need for the coming winter and the ground is only just recovering, in fact we still have had very little rain even as I write in October.

The sheep preferred sitting under the trees gossiping than wandering around the field in the baking sun eating so we had a shorter season than planned and yield did drop off. They are now enjoying a well earned break in the barn as they dry off and prepare for the rams.

I think we all now recognise that global warming is a big problem, unless you are the swivel eyed President of the United States, but then again he thinks drinking bleach is a good idea. This year we overseeded our fields with a deep rooting herbal ley even with the drought conditions the herbal ley has improved our permanent pasture and done exceptionally well, the sheep seem to love the new tasty mix. We can’t wait until next year when it gets even more established.

Planning for extreme weather is now at the forefront of many farmers thinking, the wet weather can cause problems with erosion, saturated ground and poor access but drought is a real problem. Planning for drought is very expensive, this year we installed a very large pond on our farm that we can use for irrigation, however there is practically no funding for this type of work, even though putting in ponds has multiple benefits for farming and the environment, ponds slow water movement in the winter, and of course store water thus taking the strain off our overburdened mains supplies. As drought is just declared in Devon in October (!) it is amazing that water companies are not building capacity, but farmers are.

They’ve done it! It’s been a busy year on the farm, but our wonderful ladies have taken well to their new milking parlour and we’re delighted to announce that the first sheep dairy on Dartmoor is now in production.

We’re incredibly lucky to have our shepherd manager Jess with her milking expertise and we can see our vision for the farm coming to life. Whilst it’s been a lot of work, with a great deal to consider, we continue to maintain our ethos of keeping things simple. Focusing on what’s best for our animals and the natural resources around us, the addition of sheep milk to our repertoire means we can potentially reduce our animal stock and do more to support local businesses.

Not only will we initially be providing all of our milk to Westcountry cheese makers, but we’ll be employing local people to work with us in the parlour and also in the new dairy, where eventually we’ll be making our own cheese.

What’s so special about sheep milk?

Demand is increasing for sheep milk due to its higher levels of protein, vitamins and minerals, compared to cow’s milk. It’s particularly rich in vitamins A, B2, B12 and D, and calcium, magnesium and zinc – all essential for maintaining strong bones, energy and a healthy immune system. So, it’s a product that’s good for you and it is delicious! Sheep’s milk tastes like a really nice creamy cow’s milk, it is much milder than goat’s milk and suitable for those that are lactose intolerant.

Thanks again to the Farming in Protected Landscape programme for recognising our commitment to sustainable farming and for awarding us a grant to help fund building our milking parlour.

Currently our sheep milk is unpasteurised so initially it will be used to create delicious cheeses. To begin with we’ll just be supplying other dairies, and we’re really pleased to have had a lot of interest so far. In fact, our milk is now being used to make cheeses at Curworthy Dairy, Somerset Cheese Company and White Lake Cheese!

If you are interested in buying our milk to make your own cheese or yoghurt  find out more here and, if you haven’t already, Join Us at Dartmoor Born and Bred and we’ll let you know when our own sheep milk products are ready.