Ballylagan Organic Farm

Livestock

Cattle

Aberdeen Angus, renowned for their eating quality, is the main breed of cattle kept at Ballylagan. As with all the animals kept at Ballylagan the rationale is that long standing native British breeds are best suited to our climate, and less likely to become ill or require intervention during calving. The prolonged wet weather we have been suffering has led us to experiment with the much smaller native Irish Dexter cattle, which because of their size are less likely to damage the pastures during wet weather.

Sheep

At Ballylagan we keep a range of native British breeds which are crossed to a Welsh Black ram. We have found the eating quality of the Welsh Black is incomparable and at lambing time almost no intervention is required.

Pigs

During the last century, pig farming became very intensive and used almost exclusively continental breeds which could be reared quicky to slaughter weight and which were able to meet consumer demand for ever leaner (and apparently tasteless) pork. Not surprisingly, we chose a native British breed for our pork and currently rear pedigree Tamworth pigs. It takes a couple of months longer to bring them to weight and undoubtedly they're not the slimmest of animals - but the quality of the meat and bacon is second to none.

Poultry

The poultry at Ballylagan comprise two main groups of hens - the laying flock and the table birds. The laying birds are a commercial breed, kept for their consistent egg laying and adaptability to an outdoor system. The flock also includes a small number of Welsomer and Aracaunas, the latter of which lay green eggs! In the past we used a commercial breed of table bird, but whereas the eating quality of the birds was excellent they were not handsome birds when alive. The table birds are either Ross Cobs, not the most beautiful birds in the world to behold, nevertheless, when properly reared of excellent eating quality, or Dorking and Maran crosses. These are much older breeds, pleasing to the eye while alive and a delight to eat.