Following the announcement of our transition to regenerative farming last September, we’re pleased to share the next exciting development in our journey toward full organic conversion within the next five years.
As part of this process, we are introducing pedigree cattle to graze our natural grasslands and herbal leys — a key element in restoring soil health, supporting biodiversity, and improving overall land resilience. The herd has been bred by Shropshire farmer Archie Corrie of Leighton Farm, where a long tradition of pedigree breeding means each registered animal is named in strict alphabetical order. It’s a little like naming hurricanes… only much calmer and with considerably more grass.
Following a visit to Archie’s renowned dairy farm, our first small herd was carefully selected by Emma, the Estate owner, her son James, and Paddy, Alscot’s regenerative farming expert. During their visit, they were able to get up close and personal with the cattle, which were remarkably calm and content in their natural surroundings — happily coming into contact with their prospective new owners, accompanied by Archie, who has been breeding these Longhorns since he was a boy.
Joining us soon are Unity, a mature cow with her heifer calf Zabrina, along with three in-calf heifers — Xola, Xeronema, and Ximena — all aged between 26 and 28 months. The herd is expected to arrive at Alscot between mid and late September.
These pedigree cattle will not only play an important ecological role on the land but will also form part of our longer-term ambition to produce organic food, grown and reared in harmony with nature.
Longhorns use their tongues and horns to graze, which creates a coppicing effect on trees and shrubs, promoting plant diversity and managing scrub. As a primitive breed, they are known for their ability to thrive on low-input, grass-fed diets and adapt to naturalistic living. By grazing and consuming plants, Longhorns help build soil carbon levels, while their manure acts as a natural fertilizer, enriching the soil. Their docile nature makes them people-friendly, a key consideration for farmers and conservationists. They are also important vectors of seed dispersal, transporting seeds on their hooves and fur and through their gut, which increases plant diversity in a landscape.
The breed's historical ties to the region are significant. In 1791, a legendary Longhorn cow known as "The Brindle Beauty" was sold at auction in Little Rollright, near Stratford-upon-Avon, for a significant sum. We’re incredibly excited to welcome them to the Estate and look forward to sharing more updates — and perhaps some more quirky, easy-to-use pet names — as this regenerative journey continues to grow.
