Cattle

The farm has 150 beef cows which are kept to high organic animal welfare rules.

These rules help to ensure that the needs of animals are met.

These needs can be called 'animal rights'.

Read the details below and see if you can answer the questions in the box on the left.

Food and water

• Cows are grass eaters and so graze the pastures at Sheepdrove Farm. In the winter, they are fed with silage - this is grass that is cut (harvested) in the summer and 'pickled' for winter feed

• Large water troughs are provided in the fields – cows can drink over 150 litres of water a day – that’s about the same as a bath tub full!

Space and shelter

• The cows are given plenty of space to help prevent stress and the spread of disease

• They are housed in the winter so that they do not damage the grassland when it gets wet

• Each cow has seven square metres of bedding space in the barn, allowing them plenty of space to move and lie down.

Freedom to behave naturally

• Cattle naturally live in herds. Their wild relatives include bison and wildebeest that roam large distances on the plains of America and Africa

• Organic rules encourage cattle to be kept in herds, both in the field and when they are housed during the winter

• Organic rules aim to allow cows the opportunity to eat, drink, move and lie down when they wish.

Care for the cattle

Donald looks after the cows at Sheepdrove and is responsible for their welfare. During the winter, his daily work involves:

• Feeding the cattle silage

• Bedding them up with fresh straw

• Checking the animal health

• Checking that they have got enough water.

All the stock, summer and winter, are checked up to three times a day, seven days a week. Donald also checks the cows three times a night during the calving period!

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