Farming
Birdsall, North Yorkshire
For generations, the family has been closely involved in agriculture and land stewardship at Birdsall Estate. Over the years this has included breeding working horses, pigs, poultry, dairy cattle and beef cattle, reflecting a long tradition of mixed and sustainable farming.
Landscape & Farming
Today, the estate encompasses a diverse landscape, from heavy clay soils on the lower ground to the Wold escarpment and dale sides, with large arable fields across the well drained yet shallow flint and chalk soils of the Yorkshire Wolds. This varied terrain supports a carefully managed farming system that works in harmony with the natural environment.
Birdsall Estate is actively involved in a range of environmental schemes and maintains approximately 800 acres of woodland. Our approach is based on allowing a natural balance to flourish, alongside responsible land management practices that protect crops, young trees and songbird populations. The estate regularly welcomes local interest groups who visit to study its rich biodiversity, from rare bat species to wild plants. One former quarry alone supports over 114 species of wild flowers and plants, and the estate includes four Sites of Special Scientific Interest, one of which is a designated nature reserve.
Large areas of permanent grassland receive little or no fertiliser and are grazed by single suckler beef cattle and their offspring. Grass grown on arable land is ensiled to provide winter feed, ensuring a forage based system throughout the year.
Arable crops grown at Birdsall include wheat, barley, vining peas and oilseed rape, with additional land let for the growing of seed potatoes. The mixed arable and livestock system requires a skilled and experienced team, including farm workers, a mechanic, woodmen and vermin controllers. The estate is largely self contained, owning most of its machinery and drying and storing its harvest on site in a controlled grain store.
Alongside the family farming operations, Birdsall Estate also has a portfolio of let farms. Many of these holdings have been occupied by the same families for generations and operate as independent businesses, contributing to the wider rural economy.
Birdsall Estate is actively involved in a range of environmental schemes and maintains approximately 800 acres of woodland. Our approach is based on allowing a natural balance to flourish, alongside responsible land management practices that protect crops, young trees and songbird populations. The estate regularly welcomes local interest groups who visit to study its rich biodiversity, from rare bat species to wild plants. One former quarry alone supports over 114 species of wild flowers and plants, and the estate includes four Sites of Special Scientific Interest, one of which is a designated nature reserve.
Large areas of permanent grassland receive little or no fertiliser and are grazed by single suckler beef cattle and their offspring. Grass grown on arable land is ensiled to provide winter feed, ensuring a forage based system throughout the year.
Arable crops grown at Birdsall include wheat, barley, vining peas and oilseed rape, with additional land let for the growing of seed potatoes. The mixed arable and livestock system requires a skilled and experienced team, including farm workers, a mechanic, woodmen and vermin controllers. The estate is largely self contained, owning most of its machinery and drying and storing its harvest on site in a controlled grain store.
Alongside the family farming operations, Birdsall Estate also has a portfolio of let farms. Many of these holdings have been occupied by the same families for generations and operate as independent businesses, contributing to the wider rural economy.
Cattle and Givendale Prime
Birdsall Estate played a key role in the establishment and development of the Stabiliser Beef Cattle programme in the United Kingdom. The programme began in 1996, led by five major East Yorkshire beef producers seeking to develop a more efficient suckler cow to replace less productive dairy bred cattle. Its focus is on improving economic efficiency while producing consistently high quality beef from forage based systems.
Following extensive research, the programme introduced carefully selected genetics from the United States, where detailed performance recording enabled the identification of highly efficient bloodlines. Stabiliser cattle are recognised for their ability to convert feed more efficiently than many other breeds, resulting in lower methane emissions and reduced forage requirements while maintaining excellent eating quality.
The current breeding programme is based on the Leachman Stabiliser, a composite breed comprising British and Continental maternal genetics. This breed offers some of the most cost effective suckler cow economics available and supports both environmental and commercial sustainability.
Birdsall Estate is now a UK leader in beef genetics and produces Stabiliser dam line breeding stock through Givendale Prime.
For further information on Stabiliser Cattle, please visit www.bigbeef.co.uk.
Following extensive research, the programme introduced carefully selected genetics from the United States, where detailed performance recording enabled the identification of highly efficient bloodlines. Stabiliser cattle are recognised for their ability to convert feed more efficiently than many other breeds, resulting in lower methane emissions and reduced forage requirements while maintaining excellent eating quality.
The current breeding programme is based on the Leachman Stabiliser, a composite breed comprising British and Continental maternal genetics. This breed offers some of the most cost effective suckler cow economics available and supports both environmental and commercial sustainability.
Birdsall Estate is now a UK leader in beef genetics and produces Stabiliser dam line breeding stock through Givendale Prime.
For further information on Stabiliser Cattle, please visit www.bigbeef.co.uk.
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