Harlesford Farm Organic Beef and Lamb
T: 01844 281514
Harlesford Farm, Tetsworth
Thame, Oxfordshire, OX9 7BX
Harlesford Beef
At Harlesford farm we run a pedigree herd of 40 Limousin cows which are put to an Aberdeen Angus bull. The cattle are all born and bred on the farm and develop slowly on species rich pastures. All Harlesford farm beef is grass fed.
We have recently decided to cross our Limousin cows with the Aberdeen Angus because there is good evidence to suggest that this cross will produce a very well-marbled carcass, and as a result more tender and even better eating beef.
The Aberdeen Angus is renowned for a high proportion of intramuscular fat or marbling which during the cooking of the beef continually bastes the meat therefore making it juicy, full of flavour and melt in the mouth!
Calving takes place from April for around 8 weeks at Harlesford farm. Once a cow has calved she and the baby calf are turned out onto the lush spring grass and then graze outside usually until November or when the fields are too wet to carry them. The cattle are then brought inside where they have continual access to silage (fermented grass) cut from the grass at Harlesford in the spring. The cattle are loose housed in a big open covered yard on a deep straw bedding.
Cattle at Harlesford farm are slowly reared on grass and unlike supermarket beef not pushed by excessive amounts of concentrate. Reared slowly, it will normally take between 20 – 30 months for an animal to mature. The animals are carefully selected by Colin to maintain quality. The natural slow rearing system employed by Harlesford farm reduces stress on the animals and helps give our beef its fabulous taste.
