Our Animals

At Unthank Hall Farm our animals are treated with care and respect. We do not apply intensive farming practices, but prefer our animals to have the freedom to roam and a happy life.

The farm is not organic but we use traditional farming methods and avoid using chemicals, pesticides and artificial fertilizers if possible. At Unthank Hall Farm we consider the wellbeing and happiness of our animals to be more important that anything else.
 
Happy animals are less likely to suffer from stress and disease and produce quality meat with lots of flavour.

We do not feed steroids or chemicals to our animals and only give them antibiotics when absolutely necessary.

Unthank animals are thankful animals that have enjoyed a good life!

PIGS

Our pigs are Large Whites crossed with Landrace and Saddlebacks.

We currently have 8 breeding sows which live outdoors in modern corrugated Arks and are free to roam and forage. They are fed on a commercial mix and given lots of treats.

Mandy, May, Katie, Priscilla, Marilyn, Sarah and two as yet unnamed sows produce two litters a year. They farrow outside with no bars, no crates and as natural and friendly an environment as possible.

The piglets stay with their mothers for about 5 weeks in family groups until they are weaned. They are slaughtered at around 6-months old at an abattoir in Calow, so facing a final journey that is as short as possible.

We are currently looking for a new boar to keep our sows happy!

As stated by Winston Churchill: “A dog looks up at you. A cat looks down on you, but a pig thinks it’s your equal”

CATTLE

Our herd currently consists of 26 Hereford cross and Limousin cattle which were bought when 6-8 weeks old from ‘farm assured’ Derbyshire stock. At Unthank Hall Farm we consider it important to be able to track an animal’s history and pedigree.

Our cattle graze in fields of rich pasture during the spring, summer and autumn months and spend winter in sheds and barns where they shelter from the cold.

Their diet is supplemented by barley, silage and natural proteins.

At 2 years of age, the beasts are taken for slaughter at Calow. They have only been transported twice in their lives and travelled only a few miles therefore reducing any stress and limiting their ‘carbon footprint’.

After slaughter the carcasses are taken to our dedicated butcher in Stonebroom where they are jointed, packed and collected by ourselves, ready for sale or storage in our cold store on the farm.

CHICKENS

The new additions have finally made it to Unthank!  Our Free-Range Chickens are available to buy every month from the farmers market and also for delivery.