Using the Limousin as a terminal sire over Holstein females to improve the quality and value of the progeny is providing a win win scenario for the Gould family, Grange Farm, Bomere Heath near Shrewsbury.

Having milked cows all their lives, the family of Mick and Jean Gould, son Mick and wife Katherine, were looking to a new venture to future proof the business which they run along with three members of staff.

The small herd of just 15 pedigree Limousin females plus young stock runs alongside 750 Holstein milkers and young stock.

“We believe the Limousin is the top beef breed to produce beef from dairy and suckler herds as they produce easy calving sires and they maximise the more expensive cuts of beef and for lean forequarter beef. The breed has excellent growth rates and food conversion figures,” said Mick, adding that the dairy will always remain the family’s primary focus.

The 320 dairy cow herd boasts a herd average of 12,920kg at 4.10%BF and 3.26%P, milked three times a day through a Westfalia 26/52 swing-over parlour. Housed all year round, the cows are split into three milking groups – high, medium and low – with a diet ration based around the same ingredients but varying levels depending on their yielding group.

Calving takes place all year round with an interval of 413 days. Cows are housed in cubicles bedded with sand, with milk sold through Muller on a Tesco contract.

Dairy being the primary focus in the business, Housed all year round, the cows are split into three milking groups – high, medium and low and calving all year round Ref:RH120421256 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Dairy being the primary focus in the business, Housed all year round, the cows are split into three milking groups – high, medium and low and calving all year round Ref:RH120421256 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

“I have no interest in stopping farming but there will be a day when we stop producing milk. Dairy farming has been a passion of mine for years, but the fact is, it is a hard and demanding way of life.

“We have to future proof our business, which is where the Limousin enterprise arose. We will continue dairying as long as we can as it enables us to protect our income and livelihoods as well as doing something we love,” said Mick, who also uses Limousin bulls over their dairy cows to enhance the sale value of surplus calves.

Being able to produce strong calves enables the team to keep all of their own heifers for replacements to help their herd numbers to rise Ref:RH120421246 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Being able to produce strong calves enables the team to keep all of their own heifers for replacements to help their herd numbers to rise Ref:RH120421246 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

The Woodmarsh Limousin herd was established in 2016 by purchasing female descendants from various top breeding lines to ensure the best quality foundation stock.

Some of the initial influencers that have made a stamp on the herd came from the following cows: Bankdale Alice, Glenrock Spangle, Goldies Vitality, Millington Highlight, Trueman Euphonium and Wilodge Diamante.

“Buying in the best female lines that are available is a huge part of our business and just proves you need two sides to the equation – the female and bull – to be correct to produce top end calves,” said Katherine.

Being able to produce strong calves enables the team to keep all of their own heifers for replacements to help their herd numbers to rise.

On the bull front, the team is very selective in what bulls are sold as future herd sires to ensure happy customers.

“We would never sell a bull we wouldn’t use ourself or we weren’t happy with, which is why we are very focused on herd health,” added Katherine, being members of CHeCS being accredited BVD and risk level one for johnes as well as routine vaccinating for BVD and IBR.

The beef herd is housed from October through to April, and fed a complete diet consisting of silage, maize silage and if suckling calves a blend is included to push them on that little further.

The first pedigree Limousin bull sale for the Woodmarsh herd was in May 2019 at Carlisle, when Woodmarsh Newsflash bagged a first prize ticket at the pre-sale show before selling for 5000gns – not a bad start for their new venture!

The success continued to follow in December 2020 at the Red Ladies Sale also staged at Carlisle when they achieved 10,000gns for Woodmarsh Opera, their top price to date, and who knows what next month’s bull sales at Carlisle will hold …

Woodmarsh bulls that are heading to Carlisle ,Prince, Pilot and Paramount Ref:RH120421239 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Woodmarsh bulls that are heading to Carlisle ,Prince, Pilot and Paramount Ref:RH120421239 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

This year’s sales team consists of three bulls and four females. The bulls – Woodmarsh Prince, Woodmarsh Paramount and Woodmarsh Pilot – are Autumn 2019-born and are all out of Foxhillfarm Nancy which is fast becoming a great breeding cow for the herd.

Prince and Paramount are both by Ampertaine Foreman and Pilot is by Wilodge Cerberus two very popular AI sires today.

The family also have six females – Woodmarsh Pinkgin, Woodmarsh Peachy, Woodmarsh Penni, Woodmarsh Poppy, Woodmarsh Pimms and Woodmarsh Primrose – entered, which are the result of ET work from their foundation females.

Woodmarsh heifer lineup heading for Carlisle in May, Penni, Peachy, Poppy, Pimms, Pinkgin and Primrose Ref:RH120421232 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Woodmarsh heifer lineup heading for Carlisle in May, Penni, Peachy, Poppy, Pimms, Pinkgin and Primrose Ref:RH120421232 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

“Bringing out livestock to a high quality standard requires a lot of time, effort and expertise, so we must mention Colin Lewis and family and Drew Hyslop for their enthusiasm and help given to us in the preparation of cattle for shows and sales. It really couldn’t be done without them,” added Mick.

A great shop window for the pedigree sales is the show ring, which the Gould family enjoy supporting, although this last year has been a different story as a result of the on-going pandemic but they do look forward to getting back out and about as soon as possible.

Being relatively new to the breed has certainly not curtailed their show ring success with Foxhillfarm Nancy taking breed champion at the Oswestry Show in 2018.

The exact same day Trueman Miranda bagged the reserve championship to produce a double victory.

There is still so much to come from the Goulds this is only just the beginning…

“We are very focused on the future of our herd and ensuring we are producing the best we can from the genetics we have. You have got to up your game to stay in the trade in the Limousin world!

“The future of the farming enterprise now is largely reliant on the labour situation, which at the moment is poor – no one wants to work in agriculture, and it is becoming a real problem. Farms are becoming bigger and need the staff to continue to expand.

“We wouldn’t change our way of living for anything. We absolutely love what we do and our new venture into the Limousin breed has created an exciting time for us all.

“Let’s see what the future holds…” concluded the Gould family.

two of the Woodmarsh heifers bound for Carlisle Penni and Peachy Ref:RH120421252 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

two of the Woodmarsh heifers bound for Carlisle Penni and Peachy Ref:RH120421252 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

On the spot questions

Best investment: Buying our own farm.

Best advice: Do your homework, use your stockmen’s eye and be brave and back your own judgement.

Best achievement: Winning the Makbar Trophy 10 years in succession from 1983 to 1994 - a record that has never been beaten it was for all dairy breeds production and inspection.

Favourite restaurant: All of them are closed because of covid! So we are looking forward to restrictions easing, getting to the shows and sales and getting back to normal with meeting new friends and clients.

Grange Farm, home to the Gould family and the Woodmarsh Limousin herd Ref:RH120421259 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Grange Farm, home to the Gould family and the Woodmarsh Limousin herd Ref:RH120421259 Rob Haining / The Scottish Farmer...

Farm Facts

Livestock: 750 Holstein milkers and young stock, along with a newly establish herd of 15 Limousin females and plus young stock

Farm acreage: 550 growing grass and forage maize

Involvement: Mick and his wife, Katherine undertake the majority of work, along with Mick senior and his wife, Jean who are semi-retired but still play a vital part in the business

History: Moved from Lancashire to Shrewsbury in 1995