A Farm Walk with the Hartley Herd

Sunday 3rd October 2010

On the 3rd October North West Club members were invited to spend the day at Tim and Sara Mountford’s Hartley Herd at Wetmoor farm in Hartley Green, Gayton, Staffordshire. 50 club members and their friends arrived on a very wet morning with the optimistic outlook that the weather could only get better.

We were met with a very welcome coffee and generous spread of cakes, biscuits and a variety sweets that most of us could reminisce about from our childhood, delicious.

Wetmoor Farm extends to just under 200 acres of medium loams split between Gayton and land off the A51 between Weston and Hixon.

120 acres is run on a four year rotation of winter wheat/spring barley or maize/grass/grass with the remainder in permanent pasture, the whole farm is covered by an ELS / HLS agreement. The aim is to crop on average 4.1 tons for winter wheat, just over 2.5 tons for spring barley and 21 tons (fresh weight) for maize. This means that the farm is self sufficient for forage, straw and cereals only buying in specialist creep rations and protein.

The suckler herd runs between 40 to 50 head split into spring and autumn calving. Tim’s intention is to run half commercials and half pure blues all calving to the blue bull (eventually), together with selective embryo transfer work.

The foundation cow of the Blue herd commenced with the purchase of Tamhorn Sugar as an in-calf heifer. She carried the crossbred calf naturally and is still breeding naturally at 10 years of age with her daughters being retained to form the nucleus of the current herd.

The increase in female numbers convinced them to purchase their own stock bull and they were delighted to purchase Bringlee Derry a truly modern bull from two proven bloodlines at this years Carlisle Spring sale.


Undeterred by the weather	Tim identifies some of the cattle

As the weather cheered up we set about the walk amongst the cattle, however, the growing cloud cover proved an ominous sign and soon one of the most torrential downpours ever experienced in this area forced us to take cover back in the farm buildings. Nevertheless the cattle we had managed to see were very impressive and had calves on them that will be ones to watch out for in the future shows and sales.



Spot of rain didn’t spoil the view!

Back in the shelter of the buildings we were treated to a delicious hog roast and beef lunch with all the trimmings prepared and served by Tim and Sara’s Outback Hog Roast staff.

Following lunch we were treated to a most thought provoking presentation from Stuart Boothman of Cogent who spoke about the dangers of treating semen with scant regard. We were advised that allowing semen to experience fluctuating temperatures when preparing to inseminate the cow or heifer could cause the failure of the service. Holding the straw in your hand, not having the water at the correct temperature and delay in using the straw by not preparing your female before you begin to prepare the semen can all lead to reduced live and mobile sperm when it is inseminated. From the expressions of those present it seems most of us have been guilty of at least one of those instances.

Stuart Boothman demonstrates a point

Following Stuart’s presentation Jock Wyllie gave a clipping demonstration on a heifer that Tim intended to take to the upcoming Borders Show and Sale. Jock explained his technique as he went showing where he would normally clip the back up to and how he ensured that the sides were nicely ‘feathered’ in to the body. He also answered queries from the assembled audience and said how differently he clips pedigree show cattle against commercial show cattle. Like all experts at their craft he made it all look so easy! Even the heifer was very relaxed and cooperative with his touch.


Jock Wyllie makes it look easy!

Following the demonstration we had light refreshments and began our journey home, a little bedraggled from when we arrived but could reminisce on a truly great day out.

Thank you Tim, Sara, Charlotte and Henry.

Jackie Smith