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.

Or, better yet, sign up to the newsletter to get the best bits straight to your inbox

Posts in Cows

The cows are out

On Sunday 11th of April the milking cows were finally turned out to graze after living in the big barn for the winter.

Spring, Farm, CowsKitty M13 April 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

March 2021: Herdsman's Update

Robin and Maya went on an AI course recently which means they can now carry out this important work in-house.

Cows, Farm, MilkKitty M14 March 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

The novelty of raw milk

The story of how raw milk became a novel product reveals much about the evolution of our food systems. Robin Hall, Herdsman, tells the story of how processed milk came about. However, the advances in science of the 20th and 21st Centuries and rigorous hygiene and testing mean that raw milk is safe and arguably more nutritious than it’s processed counterpart.

Farm, Cows, MilkKitty M16 February 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Milk as seasonal

When we think of seasonal produce we tend to think of tomatoes, rather than milk. However, the amount of milk a cow produces is very dependent on the food they are eating; this is especially true for our Meuse-Rhine-Issel cows.

Farm, Cows, MilkKitty M10 February 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

January 2021: Herdsman's Update

Herdsman, Robin, reflects on last year and the upcoming developments for the herd breeding programme.

CowsKitty M12 January 2021plaw hatch farmComment

About our cows: Why MRI?

MRI cows are unusual breed to find here, in the UK. Robin Hall, Herdsman at Plaw Hatch Farm, explains why the choice of this dual-purpose sturdy breed suits the land and needs of Plaw Hatch.

CowsKitty M14 November 2020 Comments

Cows and mutual grooming

Grooming is universally recognised as a bonding experience. As well as seeing to personal hygiene, it helps to establish relationships between animals.

CowsKitty M14 July 2020Plaw Hatch Farmcows, grooming, herdsman, cow, farm, biodynamics, behaviour, healthy, natural, grass, blog, Farmer's Daybook, farming, Plaw Hatch FarmComment

9 Jan 2024

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.

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

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.

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.