Baylham House Farm - Rare Breeds Farm Suffolk

Your Questions Answered

Quite a lot of questions about livestock are received by e-mail and we thought that these, together with our answers, might be of interest to others. If you have a question that you would like answered, just click the Ask a Question button, fill in the e-mail form and send it. We will e-mail a response to you and, if the subject has not been covered before, will put it onto these web pages.

If you want to see the answers to the questions listed below just click the appropriate answer button.

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Message:
We want to draw back from farming commercially and keeping a few rare breed cattle seems a sensible move. What would a couple, three, four Old Gloucester females cost us?

Regards,
William

Message:

I am starting up in the small holding business at ******** with a view to supplying local product for local consumption (15 mile radius from source) and as part of the lifestyle, I would like to build up both sheep and cattle stock with a view them becoming edible product. I have identified the Red Poll as good suffolk Cattle for both beef and milk and would like to find a traditional Suffolk sheep.

If you can help out with some advice and guidance it would be much appreciated

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards

Ian ****

To Baylham House Farm

I would like to buy a goat to keep as a pet. Can you advise me on how I can do this.

Regards Sue

Message:

Hi. We want two baby pigmy goats for our farm in kent. We have stables and approx 18 acres of grazing land. We also have 8 sheep all of whom are much loved pets. We would like a female and male if possible but not from the same parents.

Thankyou Ann

To Baylham House Farm

We are thinking of breeding Kune Kunes in order to sell the meat. We would be very grateful for any helpful advice you can give us.

Regards
Peter

To Baylham House Farm

I want to buy a pot bellied pig as a pet. How much would it be and where would I get one ? We have a garden and I would take it for walks in the local area.

Regards
Jo

Message:

I am interested in purchasing some Herdwick sheep. Can you advise?

To Baylham House Farm

We have just moved into the country and have some pasture which we would like to graze. We thought that some ewes would be a good idea and wondered if you had any which were ready to breed.

Regards

Nicola

1 November 2005

Message:
I have worked with sheep in the past and now have the opportunity to rent aprox 20 acres of good grassland in ********** and would be grateful if you could send me some information eg what papers I would need to keep sheep, a suitable rare breed for my area and any other information that yo feel appropriate. Also, could you please include a price guide for a ram and about 12 breeding ewes etc

Many thanks . John***

Message:
I am currently looking to take on a small number of sheep, to act as 'mowers' and companions to the horses. We have ample grazing (about 11 acres) but we are on heavy clay, so am looking for sheep that would be tolerant of muddy conditions, so any sugggestions in terms of suitable breeds would be gratefully received. Ideally I would be looking to take some on this Autumn (as one of the horses will be leaving) and we already have a holding number.

Many thanks in advance.

Charlotte

Message:

I live in France and have 3 Ouessant sheep & would like to breed from my one year olds, my friend has the rams. Can you direct us to information also general care,[which differs from normal sheep.]

A local French shepherd tells us that Ouessants will survive just on rough grazing and that they will end up with digestive problems if given concentrate food. He also says that they only need to be wormed once a year, that they don't need to have their feet trimmed and that you need to watch out for enzoitic abortion and Vibriosis.

We are trying to save the breed as well as mow my 4 acres ! and of course enjoy these delightful creatures all of whom answer to name. I understand they come into season in the autumm. At what point should we introduce the ram & being black can we easily mark the ram to check progres

Regards
Suzie

Message:

Message: I have a small piece of meadow at the bottom of my garden (fully stock-proof fenced)of about 20 metres by 40 metres. I had been interested in keeping a couple of sheep as pets / land management animals. I have been told that sheep must be kept in flocks of at least 6 animals and that my piece of land is too small for that number. What is your opinion? Do you sell animals into smaller flocks than that? Are there any legislative restrictions?

Regards
Richard