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Situated
at 1000 feet (300m) in a secluded
valley in Mid-Wales, but only 8
miles from the famous Royal Welsh
Showground at Builth Wells, living
here can be tough and the hardy
Dexter cattle are ideal. They come
originally from the West of Ireland
and have always been known as the
"smallholder's cow" since
they are thrifty, easy to look
after, and provide exceptional
quantities of high quality beef and
milk from a proportionally lower
input than other breeds of cattle.
Dexters can be black, red or dun and
come in a short or medium-legged
type. Here at Cwmchwefru we
concentrate on the medium-legged,
producing quiet, well-handled
pedigree heifers to supply an
increasing demand. The Dexter, after
nearly becoming extinct in the
1960s, is now no longer classed as a
Rare Breed, having found its niche
on commercial farms as well as
amongst smallholders.
Those who have only seen Dexters in
the show ring will be familiar with
the short-legged type but there are
several breeders who now concentrate
on the medium-legged type: they are
still full-pedigree animals, the
only difference being that they do
not carry the gene which causes the
dwarfing of the skeleton, so that
the proportion of leg to body is
different. In our experience they
are hardier, live longer, and are
more practical, being easier to milk
with the udder carried higher above
the ground, and also better for
suckling large commercial calves for
the same reason. Calves are handled
from birth and we usually have quiet
stock of all ages for sale.
The sheep flock was started to
produce wool for home use. No single
breed of sheep seemed to have all
the qualities we needed, so we
decided to breed our own. Results
are good and, with the mingling of
Icelandic, Shetland, Cotswold,
Jacob, Corriedale, Ryeland,
Southdown and Suffolk breeds we get
a hardy, prolific, friendly ewe with
a heavy long-stapled fleece in
various natural colours, and one
which is also able to throw a
good-sized meaty lamb. A few ewes
and lambs are for sale each year.
Boer Goats
help us with weeding on the farm:
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| Chobi, Dani
and Esme |
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New Kids on
the Block |
One-day courses on
"Starting in Smallholding" are run
regularly during summer and autumn,
providing practical experience in
handling farm animals and
encouragement for beginners.
The farm is run in a traditional way
with the least possible input of
chemicals and a concern for the
welfare of the animals. Any medicine
used is homoeopathic whenever
possible. This means that the wool
produced from the coloured sheep is
chemical-free - and the range of
colours means that it does not even
need dyeing.
With
the help of a local butcher, packs
of home-produced meat can be
supplied bagged and labelled ready
for the freezer.
| We
are pleased to be members of The
Wholesome Food Association: for more
information Click
Here |
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VISITORS ARE WELCOME by prior
arrangement. They can also see our
CRAFT GALLERY where chunky rugs
woven from our own fleeces are on
display together with items made
from hand-spun wool, and STONEWARE
POTTERY also made on the farm (you
may try your hand at throwing too!).
For a longer stay there is sometimes
a four-berth caravan available (with
gas/electric/TV and adjacent
toilet/shower facilities) or you can
bring your own tent and enjoy
camping in the beautiful
surroundings of rural Powys.
We
are also a host farm for WWOOF UK
(World-Wide Opportunities on Organic
Farms) – for more information
visit www.wwoof.org
All of these activities are run by
LESLEY WICKHAM. For more information
about any aspect of our activities
please feel free to make contact:
Send an e-mail now
lesley@lesleywickham.co.uk
Telephone or fax (UK 01597 860244,
International +44 1597 860244), or
write to:
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