Mainly driven by pressure on our finances, we launched a process to consider whether we should continue to have livestock on our farm back in the autumn of 2024. This culminated in a members’ meeting at the end of February to reach a decision.
The core group is grateful to Nigel Westaway, who led a detailed process that involved all farm team and core team, some discussions at our AGM, and a survey of our members. We sent the report of this process to members ahead of the meeting.
We are also grateful to Emilija Legzdina, who has nurtured and cared for our herd for the past year. She has done an amazing job and was a great support through our process of making the decision.
This is an issue where our members hold a wide variety of views. Some members are vegans or vegetarians, while others believe strongly in the importance of us being a mixed farm. It was difficult to find a route through that would make everybody happy but we hope we have reached a decision that is in the best interests of the farm.
The following recommendation was adopted with some reservations but no votes against:
That the best option is for another party to graze cattle on SCA land to produce meat for SCA members.
We should say that we recognise a sense of sadness by many members that we will no longer have our own cows, but we are seeking a partner who will allow us to continue to interact with the animals on the farm, including singing to them at Christmas, and to use their valuable manure.