A parade of stallions at an innovative farm site
The buildings of a mid-nineteenth century model farm which deployed radical new ideas in livestock husbandry are the perfect partner for one of the UK’s fastest growing stud farms, Montgomery and Meirionnydd (M&M) branch members saw recently.
The buildings of a mid-nineteenth century model farm which deployed radical new ideas in livestock husbandry are the perfect partner for one of the UK’s fastest growing stud farms, Montgomery and Meirionnydd (M&M) branch members saw recently. The visit to Yorton Stud, near Welshpool was linked to the branch AGM.
This year Yorton Stud achieved record sales in its 3 year history achieving an aggregate of over £1 million from the sale of over 40 horses. A family business, David Futter provided an equine feast for the M&M members’ eyes, as he described the development and vision of his enterprise, and then the history and relative merits of the stud’s stallions. Members learned about the nature of the hunt-racing breeding business. Intensely glamourous on the surface, businesses like this still have the mucking-out to do and, of course, the work of managing brood mares and vulnerable foals. We are very grateful to Mr Futter for a most memorable and informative day.
Former local authority land agent, John Markwick provided a fascinating tour of the wider farm. Here members learned how a former Liverpool financier sponsored the creation of the model farm, which included circular buildings for managing livestock including an innovative system to manage and use waste. The farm today is owned by Mr James Potter, who joined our tour, and whom we are very grateful for the insightful event.