2023 Limousin Annual Journal

FEATURE
BEEF EXPANSIONS
AND RETAILER
PARTNERSHIPS
at Graig Olway Farm
In 2020, with some trepidation for the unknown, Russell Morgan
from Graig Olway Farm, Usk, entered his first retailer aligned contract
supplying milk for M&S via Muller. Since then the farm has gone from
strength to strength with his milking herd growing by a third and the
stability of the aligned retailer contract giving him the confidence to
expand and invest.
Russell’s focus has been
on expansion, breeding
replacements to achieve a
milking herd of 300, averaging 11,500
litres/ cow/ year. Now, having nearly
achieved his heifer replacement
numbers and weighing up the
ongoing challenges TB restrictions
places on movements, he is
considering how best to optimise his
beef cheque.
The farm is set up to finish all beef
crosses and send direct to St Merryn
Meats when under TB restriction,
but recently clear tests have allowed
him to return to the livemarket,
selling 20-month-old stores. Going
to market, Russell had a selection
of Charolais, Belgium Blue and Limousin sired
calves but was hugely encouraged by the trade
the Limousin stores achieved. Despite the same
age, the Limousin were consistently £60/ head
more than the other breeds. This pleasing trade
and his fondness for the breed has convinced
him to move all his beef inseminations to
Limousin.
Russell now plans to put 50% of his herd to
Limousin, aiming to produce 150 – 180 beef
calves a year.. He comments, “There’s a lot
of retailer focus on Angus, but without the
premium it wouldn’t wash its face. We’ve some
Blues and Charolais crosses but the calves are
too big at birth and don’t make the return the
Lims do.”
132 | BRITISH LIMOUSIN CATTLE SOCIETY www.limousin.co.uk