Agricology Blog

A pioneering on-farm conference focusing on soil health is gearing up for its launch on a Cumbrian farm this summer (June 25th-26th). Carbon Calling is a knowledge exchange initiative created by farmers to promote discussion among livestock and food producers, and help them address climate, biodiversity, societal and food security issues.

A survey of over 220 livestock farms (80% commercial) in the UK and Ireland has reported up to 69% reduction in antibiotic use, up to 70% reduction in vet costs, significant reduction in disease frequency and severity, and 84% overall improvement in livestock health through the use of Complementary and Alternative Methods (CAMs).

For organic pig and poultry farmers, living up to the ideal of feeding 100% regional and organic feed is difficult and especially for protein that fulfils amino acid requirements (cysteine, lysine and methionine most notably). Balanced diets are important, not just for healthy growth and production, but also for animal welfare where, for example, an imbalance can lead to feather pecking and cannibalism in poultry.

Helen Browning, Chief Executive of the Soil Association and farmer at Eastbrook Farm in North Wiltshire introduces the farming enterprise which includes their 200 saddleback sows.

Would you eat an endangered species? For most people the answer would be a horrified “no!” but in my work with the UK’s endangered farm livestock that’s exactly what I spend my time encouraging people to do.

As the days lengthen and the skylarks rise and sing over the farm’s wildflower meadows, herb rich leys and wild bird cover, we will be lambing our pedigree Cotswold sheep, tending Old Spot piglets and watching over our small herd of rare Traditional Hereford suckler cows.