The Country Smallholder - Spring 2024

In this issue

A vet’s guide to kidding
Start early to give your new kids the best chance in life.

From farm to feed bag
The processes behind making a balanced, palatable ration for your livestock.

Life on Pig Row
Thoughts turn to planning the veg patch...

Exceptional growth in organic poultry feed from company dating back to 1675

HJ Lea Oakes is one of the longest established independent animal feed manufacturers in Britain with a history dating back to 1675. Centuries later, they are still independent, family run and extremely proud to be part of the country’s rich agricultural heritage.

1 min

Vet Attestations for livestock owners

New rules came into force in Great Britain on the 13th of December regarding exports of meat and some animal by-products to the EU. The British Pig Association offers advice on your next steps

4 mins

What you need to know about Schmallenberg Virus (also known as SBV)

Dr Ami Sawran BVSc CertAVP CP) PGCertVPS PhD MRCVS from Westpoint vets shares the advice given to worried owners

1 min

The tasty tomato, simple to grow if you protect them from frost

Lee Senior says getting an early start to growing this rewarding crop is easier than you think

3 mins

How a farmer followed his dream to rewilding his acres

Susie Kearley talks to a man who delights in his new lifestyle and explains how it is sustainable in every sense of the word

5 mins

Balancing Pellets, Treats and Nutrition

Most of us with chickens aren’t experts in nutritional needs for ourselves, let alone for our chickens. Fiona and Hugh Osborne explain how they balance the nutritional needs of their breeding flock of Orpingtons.

6 mins

Five tips for merging flocks

The BHWT says respect the social groups hens form and work with their natural behaviour

6 mins

The National Poultry Show is back!!

Grant Brereton says save the date for a magical day out for all poultry owners

5 mins

How a forced change of direction flowered into an income - and a passion

This month we meet Dawn Pearse whose need to avoid sunlight due to developing Lupus) led to a quite different way of managing her smallholding...

5 mins

A new way with spring lamb for Easter and rhubarb fool

Henrietta Balcon makes the most of seasonal spring produce

3 mins

Agricultural vehicle users being urged to comply with lighting rules

Agricultural journalist, smallholder and Editor of the Ferguson Heritage Magazine Jane Brooks, joins us for her regular look at the world of agricultural machinery.

4 mins

These structurally beautiful shrubs and trees can provide shelter and privacy for your house

Jo Carter of English Woodlands looks at some options

4 mins

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The Country Smallholder Magazine Description:

The Country Smallholder is aimed at the ever-increasing UK audience interested in living a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable way of life. From people already living on a smallholding, to allotment owners; from those with a couple of acres of land, to those aspiring to get more out of their garden or even window box. With 73% of UK residents claiming to want to live more sustainably post Covid, The Country Smallholder has something for everyone.

Every issue will carry; free vet advice; helpful practical features on all aspects of smallholding, from keeping chickens to crop rotation; information on poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, and alpacas; rural crafts; property; small tractors and machinery, as well as keeping readers up to date with all the latest news and innovations.