Family reaping the rewards of switching to low-cost system

UST off the North Devon Link Road, the choice of venue for this year's NSA Sheep South West was the 69-hectare (170-acre) Weston Farm, bought in 2013 and home to Richard and Laura Stanbury and their children George and Oliver.

- by REBECCA JORDAN

They farm in partnership with Richard's parents, John and Rosemary, who live at The Barton, which has been in the family for 93 years and extends to 81 hectares (200 acres).

The two farms are linked by 53 hectares (130 acres) purchased in 2005.

As a family, the Stanburys run 1,200 ewes and 145 suckler cows across these 202 hectares (500 acres), plus 146 hectares (360 acres) common grazing, 61 hectares (150 acres) summer grazing and 146 hectares (360 acres) recently secured on two farm business tenancies. The latter will allow the family to increase sheep numbers to 1,800 next year.

In the past decade, the farming system has seen a dramatic change in management style. This has steadily evolved since 2001 when the Stanburys lost all livestock owing to the foot and mouth epidemic.

Originally, North Country Mules were the work horse here but, as Richard's focus on cutting costs and improving efficiency in terms of return per hectare took centre stage, the optimal selection of cattle and sheep breeds evolved until stock dovetailed with a grazing system that has, over the past four years, shown to improve soil condition, reduce costs as well as increase weight gain in terms of kg/ha (kg/acre).

After an initial foray with Romneys, then Highlanders, Richard found Easy Care and Exlana sheep the game changer in a rotational grazing system based on herbal leys and permanent pasture.