About Strefford Hall Farm
Strefford Hall Farm has been farmed by the Morgan family since 1934. Leonard Morgan and his son Richard (Dick) moved to Strefford in 1934, and farmed as tenants on the Grove Estate until they had the chance to purchase the farm in 1954. The Farm is now run by the next generations, John, his wife Caroline and their son David.
We are located in the heart of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the footholds of the Shropshire hills just nine miles from Ludlow, the rural food capital of Britain. Our farm conprises 146 hectares (350 acres) of cattle, sheep, outdoor pigs, free range laying hens, geese and arable farming. In our Farm Shop we offer meat from our own traditionally farmed animals, which has been traditionally hung to produce tender eating.
Our animals are raised in a completely natural environment and fed on grass with home-grown cereals to supplement their diets without the use of modern additives (except where the need arises). We have combined the use of old fashioned values and breeds together with modern farming methods. Our emphasis is on stringent welfare codes of practice.
Our Cattle
Our 42 Cows are mainly South Devon crossbred. These were born at Strefford and their breeding has been carefully considered so that we can offer meat that will be of a consistent high quality. They calf from March through until July. We use a high quality beef breed bull (stabiliser) on our cows. This complements the conformation and vigour of the South Devon crossbred and adds extra succulent and eating quality.
South Devon cattle, known for their good confirmation, are long lived milky cows with excellent mothering qualities. The breed has a quiet, docile temperament. They are hardy and adaptable to conditions, and have a rapid growth rate. They convert natural feed resources well and finish early producing a top grade carcass with marbled, well grained meat.
Our Sheep
We have 300 North Country Mule ewes that lamb mid March through to May. The North Country mule is a cross between a Swaledale ewe and a Blue Faced Leicester ram. We have decided to replace these ewes over the next few years with Lleyn ewes and lambed the first of these in 2008. Our customers were pleased with the Lleyn cross bred lamb joints that they purchased this year so we decided to replace all the North Country Mule ewes with the Lleyn.
We use Texel rams on our ewes, producing a well conformed carcase that is much sought after by the local butchers and proving popular with our customers. We used a Lleyn ram on some of the Lleyn ewes so that we will have some home grown replacement ewes.
For husbandry reasons the ewes are housed during lambing ensuring constant care and attention. The lambs are grown on natural grass species and are only treated if a specific medical reason arises.
Our Outdoor Pigs
We purchase weanling pigs at about 7 to 10 weeks of age and rear them outdoors and in straw yards on to cutter weight.
Tamworth, Large Black and Welsh are some of the recent traditional breeds we have finished.
Our Free Range Hens
We have 400 outdoor laying hens (Happy Hens) that produce the fresh eggs we sell through the farm shop and markets. Mother is also kept busy baking cakes with them for the farm shop.
Our Free Range Geese
Following the success of Christmas 2008 we are now planning for 2009's flock of goslings. These can be ordered from the farm shop from October onwards.
