Keeping Cow with Calf

 the farm

Rainton is an organic farm based in Southern Scotland and has been run by the Finlay family since 1928. The closed herd is made up of 125 crossbred dairy cows which are a mix of breeds, including Swedish Red, Montbéliarde and Holstein.

Since 2016, cows and calves have been kept together up to weaning at 5-6 months, with cows being milked once daily. Cows and calves are housed together in cubicle shed with flexible cubicles or outside.

As they approach weaning, calves are separated for increasing lengths of time. These calves join the herd again as breeding heifers, are sold as rose veal at 7-12 months old or are sold into the organic market at 16 months.

Milk produced through this cow-with-calf system is used for cheese and luxury ice cream production.