Birth of rare Dexter twins announced in The Times
5th June 2021
Announcing births in The Times newspaper is usually reserved for the more well to do members of British society. But this week a pair of very well bred cows had their moment of fame instead.
Farmison & Co, the sustainable online meat company, today announced in The Times, the birth of twin Dexter calves, Prince and Charles
The smallest breed of cattle in Europe, the Dexter was bred in Tipperary in the 1750s from descendants of the ancient black cattle kept by the early Celts. Dexters were endangered in the 1930s, but now thanks to their ability to mature early while feeding on grass and the impeccable eating quality of its neat, small cuts, the breed is bouncing back. This welcome resurgence has been aided hugely by frequent television appearances and chefs heralding the standout quality of its beef.
Using funding provided by Farmison & Co, Stuart Raw who farms in Castle Bolton in the Yorkshire Dales, has increased his rare breed Dexter herd from just eight cattle in 2018. The new arrivals take the size of the herd to more than 150.
Stuart’s grass-fed Dexter herd are part of the local ecology, maintaining a habitat which they share with ground-nesting birds, orchids, and other animals close to an ancient oak wood, several acres of scrubland, and, at the top of the vast field, glorious Yorkshire moorland.
Farmison & Co founder John Pallagi and Stuart Raw were present for the birth of the Dexter twins which were named in honour of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales for his steadfast support of heritage breeds and sustainable farming.
The announcement in The Times
Each weighing around 55 lbs, the calves and their mother are doing well. All pedigree Dexter born at Castle Bolton are registered with the Castle Bolton Dexter herd
The addition to the Dexter herd comes just a week after the Ripon, North Yorkshire-based company has bought a herd of White Park cattle – the symbol of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust with their distinctive wide horns.
The conservation grazing, which is the hallmark of meat reared for Farmison & Co, puts nutrients back into the soil and enhances biodiversity, while also enriching the nutritional profile of Dexter, known for its gamey, mellow and sweet taste.
Farmison has built up a nationwide customer base for its heritage breeds beef, including Red Poll, Aberdeen Angus, Shorthorn, Galloway, Dexter and Sussex.
Farmison & Co founder and CEO John Pallagi said: “It was an honour to be present at the birth of our new Dexter twins, and to support one of our British small-scale farmers who do right by the land.
“Farmers like Stuart who care for their animals properly are the cornerstone of the countryside.
“This kind of production, in balance with nature, stands in contrast to the impending Australia-UK trade deal which could leave our best farmers facing an existential threat because of the government’s apparent willingness to accept free access to cheap meat from Australia.
“Cheap meat is anything but, if it’s brought from halfway around the world.”
John Pallagi will appear next week (Wednesday 9 June, 2-3pm) at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Farming’s session, “In Defence of Red Meat”.
Earlier this year, Farmison reported that annual revenue for 2020 had more than doubled to £12.1 million, including sharp growth in e-commerce sales. As well as its own direct customers, it sells to wholesale customers including Harrods, The Ivy and the National Trust.
It now employs more than 100 people at its base in Ripon and supports up to 30 farms across Yorkshire and the north of England.
In-house Michelin starred chef Jeff Baker develops recipes for its range and in 2020 the company won Online Butcher of the Year award for the third time.
