Farmer Stories - Tom and Danielle Hill, Old Hall Farm

Prior to working with Warrendale, Tom and Danielle were rearing calves through alternative schemes and raising replacement heifers for a local dairy farm. But they were looking for a programme that was more aligned with what they knew to be the best way to raise calves. Danielle said: “We wanted to find a programme that aligned with the key principles that our experience had shown us were the most efficient and conducive to high welfare standards.” They also like the structure of Warrendale’s supply chain. The relationships they have built with their few producers and growers means they have reliable sources of calves (from around 21 days old) plus consistent destinations for their batches when they are ready to move on (at approximately 150kg). The Hills will shortly be moving to a larger farm in nearby Kerry. Their new home will be twice the size in terms of acreage and larger buildings will allow them to further optimise efficiency within their rearing system. Danielle said: “The scheme has given us the confidence to invest in our future farming system, from installing automatic milk feeders to, recently, gaining the tenancy of a larger farm. “We couldn’t have done this if we weren’t part of Warrendale.” Their five-year plan is to increase calve numbers from 500 to 1,000 per year. For more information about the Warrendale Wagyu scheme, visit wagyufarmers.co.uk