|
Rare-Breed Livestock | ||
|
We breed and produce small numbers of high quality animals to supply beef, pork and chicken to a small number of exclusive award-winning local food outlets, allowing their discerning clients to enjoy the benefits that low intensity, local produced food provides.
Berkshire Pigs "The breed originated in the Thames Valley, possibly around Wantage, circa 1790....Although primarily black in colour, the Berkshire carcass dresses out completely white, and has a high proportion of lean meat to fat. The flesh is fine in texture, and has a distinct flavour." berkshirepigs.org.uk  Two young Berkshire pigs ranging free in woodland at Cameron, Fife, Scotland. Copyright Dan Riach
Highland Cattle
"One of Britain's oldest, most distinctive, and best known breeds, with a long, thick, flowing coat of rich hair and majestic sweeping horns, the Highlander has remained largely unchanged over the centuries...The breed is exceptionally hardy with a natural and unique ability to convert poor grazing efficiently. They are remarkable for their longevity...an excellent modem beef carcass with the lean, well-marbled, flesh that ensures tenderness and succulence with a very distinctive flavour. Highland Beef is healthy and nutritious with lower levels of fat and cholesterol and a higher protein and iron content than other beef." highlandcattlesociety.com | ||
 Scottish Highland cow standing by a post and rail fence in winter at Cameron near St Andrews in Fife. Image copyright Sandy Riach.
Chickens Riach Contracting have Buff Rock, (Plymouth Rock), Poland, Welsummer, Silkie, Pekin and Australorp hens. Each breed has distinctive characteristics.
Plymouth Rock - a general purpose breed. The bird has graceful curves with a large compact body, broad back and breast, medium upright single comb, yellow legs and rich bay eyes. Quick maturing, the breed is used as the female line in 95% of the world's broiler breeding stocks also a very good layer of tinted eggs. Poland - a very old and popular breed. Similar type fowls are mentioned in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. The breed was established in Britain during the 1700s. There are many colour variants, large and bantam sizes and a frizzle-feathered form.
Welsummer - imported into the UK from Holland in the 1920s, at a time when dark brown coloured eggs were much in demand. The breed is hardy and thrives under free range conditions producing good numbers of its dark brown, 'terracotta flowerpot' coloured eggs. The bodies are fairly large and the birds quite docile, though active.
Silkie - fowls of this type have been noted for centuries. The breed is suggested as originating in China, Japan, or perhaps India. Silkies are are docile whilst being quite hardy and are well known for two endearing qualities - soft, silky feathering, and a persistent maternal instinct which makes a Silkie an excellent broody. Pekin - a charming breed with profuse plumage and fabulous temperament, the Pekin was introduced to Britain from Pekin, China, in about 1860 following the Anglo-French expedition. Black Australorp - long known for top performance laying the Australorp originates in Australia and lays brown eggs. They are a good winter layer.  Australorp poultry: cockerel in outdoor run, chicks and broody hen in nesting box.
Rain Harvesting | Rainwater Systems | Water Conservation | Water Recycling | Drainage | Consultancy and Advisory Service | Design | Installation Services | Maintenance Services | Commercial Systems | Agricultural Systems | Domestic Systems | Garden Rainwater | Tanks | Filters | Pumps | Environmental Issues | Environmental Services | Contamination | Clearing Pollution | Mobile Jetting | Mobile Separators | Sustainabilty Issues | Sustainable Farming | Rare Breeds Livestock | Rare Breeds Meat Supply | Wood Fuel Systems | Fencing Services | Portfolio | Testimonials | Legal | ||