DOWNSVIEW FARM

a family business started by John Farnes over 50 years ago, with the help of wife Gillian. The are now joined by son Ralph and daughter Sarah. The secret behind their delicious rich milk is their own herd of dairy cows and their own dairy on the farm.  The cows graze at pasture for the spring and summer months, and are housed in an open-sided building during the winter when the pasture land is too wet to carry cattle. While housed, the cows eat a diet based on grass and maize silage (ensiling is the process of preserving harvested forage crops naturally).  All the grass and maize destined for silage is grown on the farm. The herd of 150 dairy cows is made up mainly of the British Friesian and Dairy Shorthorn breeds, with a small number of the Jersey breed.