Farm of the Week: A dairy operation near Skipton where the cows have special diets and sleep on mattresses

Breeding and showing pedigree sheep has become the hobby that got out of hand, according to one North Yorkshire dairy farming family.
The Shuttleworths are dairy farmers but also breed Beltex sheepThe Shuttleworths are dairy farmers but also breed Beltex sheep
The Shuttleworths are dairy farmers but also breed Beltex sheep
By Chris Berry
Published 31st Jul 2021, 06:00 BST
Updated 31st Jul 2021, 07:28 BST

David and Karen Shuttleworth and their two young sons, Henry and Robert, picked up a couple of rosettes with their Beltex sheep at the Great Yorkshire Show earlier this month but David said he took greater pride in having bred the overall breed champion, a tup lamb, which had come from an in-lamb ewe they sold in January.

It has been a momentous year for David and Karen of Home Farm in Gargrave as from April 1 they now run their own 430-acre farm with an additional 40 rented acres, milking 525 cows as their primary income. For many years David had been in a farming partnership with his brother John and parents Tommy and Vera.

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David said that while he has always been a dairy farmer the breeding of pedigree sheep is a family affair.

'Cow comfort' is a key priority for David Shuttleworth'Cow comfort' is a key priority for David Shuttleworth
'Cow comfort' is a key priority for David Shuttleworth

“The thing with milking cows is that it can get very monotonous. Showing sheep is hard work but is something we all enjoy. Our boys, Henry and Robert, take part in the young handlers’ competitions and at Harrogate they both showed lambs in the main Beltex classes. They asked whether they could take part, which was really encouraging.

“I remember going to the Great Yorkshire Show just to be there and enjoy it, but the boys are now growing up getting interested in breeding sheep, going to young farmers’ club activities and meeting other young boys and girls that are also involved.”

Karen said the inspiration for the move towards pedigree sheep came from her background.

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“My dad is John Bradley who is well known for his Dalesbreds and Swaledales. My mum and dad have also kept Beltex. Our grass here at Home Farm would be too rich and fancy for the Dalesbreds, so David and I agreed on trying our hand at Beltex about 14 years ago and we have bred up from the three we bought in Lanark auction mart.

Henry, 11, and Robert, nine, now enter young handler classes at the Great Yorkshire ShowHenry, 11, and Robert, nine, now enter young handler classes at the Great Yorkshire Show
Henry, 11, and Robert, nine, now enter young handler classes at the Great Yorkshire Show