Apley Estate to sell commercial suckler herd

The estate,  at Norton, near Shifnal, has engaged Shrewsbury-based Halls auctioneers to hold the dispersal sale at Apley Home Farm on Saturday, January 18 at 11am

 The difficult decision to sell the herd, which has been part of the estate for around 25 years, was taken because the current farming system is incompatible with Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme restrictions.

 Apley Estate joined the Higher Tier scheme at the start of the year and one of the restrictions, as part of the restoration of 300 acres of parkland, forbids supplementary feeding of the cattle whilst they are grazing. The restriction aims to stop grassland damage around feeders.

 The scheme pays landowners to protect and enhance the natural environment of land that requires complex management. The main priorities are to increase biodiversity, improve habitats, water and air quality, manage woodland areas and improve natural flood management.

 Apley Estate’s suckler herd was reduced by 10 per cent this spring and now the remaining 160 in-calf cows, two cows and calves and four stock bulls will be sold

 The  well managed herd comprises British Blue, Limousin, Simmental and Hereford crossbred cows calving from March 1 next year within 12 weeks to British Blue and Limousin cross bulls. 

The cattle are fully vaccinated, Farm Assured and have been TB free since 2021, with only six assisted calvings this year.

 “This sale represents a fantastic opportunity to purchase well managed, mainly continental cross, suckler cows,” said Jonny Dymond, Halls’ senior auctioneer and Shrewsbury Livestock Centre manager.

 “The 2023 born bull calves averaged 613kg liveweight at 431 days, yielding a 392kg carcass which represents a killing out percentage of 63.6%, with 14% E grades, 62% U grade and 24% R grades.

 “This profitable herd is for sale through no fault of its own, as the estate has entered into the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme with parkland restoration which restricts supplementary feeding.

 “As a result, the herd cannot operate efficiently within the new farming system and the tough decision has been made to disperse.”

 Apley Estate farm manager Adrian Joynt said: “The main focus of the Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier scheme is to restore 300 acres of parkland. 

"We are now unable to give the cattle supplementary feed whilst they are grazing, at certain times of the year, because they damage the grass around the feeders.

 “We cannot see how we can make the current farming system work under the new restrictions without investing in expensive buildings to house the cattle.

 “We shall all be sorry to see the herd go because they have been part of the estate for a long time and we have achieved good growth rates. We shall still have cattle to finish on the estate and sheep in the winter.”

 Apley Estate says it’s committed to managing the land in an environmentally sustainable way, benefiting both current and future generations. 

The estate actively farms 3,200 acres of land, which produces wheat, barley, oilseed rape, potatoes, salad crops and grass.