Modern Tech Meets Ancient Breeds: Introducing our English Longhorns
In November 2025, we were thrilled to welcome a long-awaited herd of twelve English Longhorns to the farm. These twelve heifers (young females who haven’t yet calved) have settled in beautifully. They are currently thriving on our nutritious herbal leys – a diverse ‘salad bar’ of herbs, grasses, and legumes, which provide minerals and medicinal benefits.
Adaptive Management Grazing
Cattle are powerful agents of change and, by using grazing techniques such as Adaptive Management Grazing, the cattle help to restore soil health. Adaptive Management Grazing is designed to mimic the natural movement of wild herds – moving frequently and then leaving the land to rest. This grazing technique helps to maximize the nutrients returned to the earth and boost local biodiversity.
Virtual Fence Technology
Moving a herd frequently can be time-consuming, but technology is lending a hand. Thanks to a FiPL (Farming in Protected Landscapes) grant, our cattle are wearing Monil virtual fencing collars. These collars allow us to manage the herd’s movements directly from our smartphones. The team is still out with them in the field daily, checking their wellbeing, moving the mobile water trough to avoid ground poaching, and to observe the grass length and amount of grazing.
How it Works
The collars use GPS to create ‘invisible’ boundaries. As the cattle approach the boundary, the collar emits a warning beep. The cattle are quick learners – most understand the sound within 24 hours and turn back before ever receiving the small pulse (similar to a standard electric fence). The app also enables the team to track the cattle’s movements and monitor their health.
Wildlife & The Big Picture
Virtual fencing isn’t just easier for us; it’s better for the landscape. By reducing the need for internal physical wire, we create a more open, ‘porous’ environment for wildlife. While our boundaries remain fenced to protect our young saplings from deer, the rest of the land remains accessible to other wildlife.
Beyond ecology, the cattle are central to our sustainable economic model, producing premium, slow-matured Longhorn beef, prized for its exceptional tenderness and flavour.