Richard Carruthers

Over the past four years Richard has been part of AHDB’s strategic farm business and set some rigorous targets to hit with the reduction of feed, fertiliser and fuel whilst maintaining and improving grass growth to support and maybe increase ewe numbers.

This has been a success on the dry matter (DM) volume of the grass – which is now a regular part of Richard’s routines to measure grass growth.

Richard has 900 ewes with a further 200 ewe lambs that are off farm nearly 12 months as a ewe replacement policy, and a 40 suckler cow herd with 30 to 40 bought in growing stores, along with a small livery system for 14 horses.

The farm is an 162ha upland unit with 84ha of this being improved land.