Yorkshire farmer says he’s buying ‘feed’ not ‘filler’’

Ian Kipling has been buying feed from Phil Metcalfe for his stock at Stone Close Farm for around 20 years. Farming 80 suckler cows plus followers and 560 ewes in the uplands near Scargill Moor in the Yorkshire Dales, he’s in no position to grow livestock feeds of his own. But any experience he’s had with compound rations has put him off buying from commercial feed companies.   

He says: “You know you are getting feed and not filler with Phil’s feed. If you buy bagged nuts and look at the feed ticket, although the overall analysis may be the same, the ingredients can change.

“I’ve seen the same 16% protein feed state 15-20% barley on one ticket and 15-40% wheat on the next.

“We feed our stores on Phil’s ration (see panel) to sell through Barnard Castle Auction Mart, and we find it to be completely consistent. The cattle put on a lot of condition and look more forward when we sell. They look fit – people often ask us what we’re using.

“I do remember one occasion when we started using cake and micronized barley instead of Phil’s ration and they didn’t grow as fast and there weren’t as many ready as we wanted.

“We also found they weren’t as content on the commercial nut – always looking for more when

you came in with more bags whereas with Phil’s, they’d had their fill with proper nutrition and were far more content.”

Ian’s most recent group of predominantly British Blue x Limousin stores just sold at Barnard Castle for an average of £1,490 for 26 head at 10-14 months (May 2024).

“We’re really happy with the quality of the feed from Phil and we know we’re getting better value, as the feed companies have higher overheads to cover with the reps on the road and wagons to run,” he says.