Name: Susie   Ear tag: 704227   Breed: Dairy Shorthorn x Swedish Red Cross   Likes: Time to herself, a quiet walk around her field   Dislikes: When the herd gets too noisy, dogs   This is Susie, and she’s a bit of an introvert.   Don’t get us wrong, her herd-mates are lovely cows, but Susie likes to be able to get away and spend a bit of time with her own thoughts.   Luckily, our cows have so much room in our field that it’s easy to find a quiet spot when they need a bit of alone time.   And although Susie sometimes needs space away from the herd, she do ..read more

When you see or hear the word Valentine, romance may be the first thing that comes to mind. For us, it’s Valentine the calf, who has just celebrated her first birthday on – you guessed it – 14th February!   Welcoming new calves is a special time at Acorn Dairy and so we wanted to share with you the process of a birth on our farm, and the care that follows for our lovely ladies and their young.   As is typical for us, Valentine was an unassisted birth (this is, in fact, one of the many advantages of our cross-breed herd: small calves and an easy birth) and she was born indoors rather ..read more

Name: Jarko Ear tag: 304561 Age: 3 years, 10 months Breed: Mostly Holstein MRI Likes: Jumping in the fresh straw during ‘bedding up time’ each day and the automatic back brushes – happy to queue and wait her turn, however Dislikes: Our pet Labrador (for no good reason)   Moo, I’m Jarko!   I am a mostly a Holstein MRI cow, and you can tell me apart from the rest of the herd by my hairy ears and little tufts on top of my head. Some members of the farm team like to pat me on the head when they greet me and tell me how lovely I am.   You will often find me frolicking with my friends ..read more

Another year has flown by and as the temperatures dropped significantly, our farm team began transitioning the cows to indoor life. Whilst we try to keep them out on the pasture for as long as possible, part of the annual cycle includes bringing them in for a few months, when it is cold and there is nothing for them to eat.   Slower grass growth rates in winter mean there isn’t enough forage to sustain the herd through this season: by moving the cows indoors, our team can feed them better by making sure they are enjoying nutritious meals each day. This includes eating the silage and hay t ..read more

Wholesale is at the heart of our business and so we were over to moo-n to win Best Wholesaler at the recent Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards.   The awards, which are now in their 18th year, celebrate the best of Yorkshire food and drink, and we’re delighted to be in such illustrious company.   We’re particularly proud to have been recognised for the growth of our wholesale business, which has developed over the past three years as we focus on building relationships with a wider range of commercial customers, without compromising our values.   The judges highlighted our commitmen ..read more

This month is Organic September, but at Acorn Dairy, a commitment to organic farming is not just for one month – it’s for life. But why are we so dedicated to producing our award-winning milk and butter organically, without the use of harmful chemicals? In short, health of humans, animals and soil.   Customers often tell us that they can taste the difference in our dairy products, which we know is testament to the way we run our farm and, crucially, treat our 500-strong herd of Dairy Shorthorn cows. In practice, this means we farm at nature’s pace and have to adapt quickly when she doesn ..read more

A North East dairy has the best butter in the UK, according to a consumer organisation.   Acorn Dairy creates its own products from its low-carbon, organic farm in Archdeacon Newton, near Darlington.   The family business, run by directors Caroline Bell and her brother Graham Tweddle, has been farming since 1928 and converted to organic status in 1998.   Its own brand butter was recently named the ‘Best Dairy Butter’ option in the UK by Ethical Consumer Magazine, a publication which ranks consumer products based on factors including environmental impact, animals, politics, produ ..read more

Name: Two Face Number: 602975 Age: 8 years old Breed: Shorthorn Cross Breed Likes: Spending time with friends Dislikes: New people   Moo, I’m Two Face!   No prizes for guessing why I have my name!   My face is two different colours, meaning I have a distinctive look and I’m easy to spot. Barry says there has not been another cow who looks like me in his 36 years of looking after the herd. My daughter Eve is a lovely cow but does not have my ‘look twice’ face.   I tend to hang around at the rear of the herd as I prefer to be milked last, once rush hour has happened!   B ..read more

Name: Lucy Age: 4.5 years old Breed: MRI – Meuse-Rhine-Ijssel Likes: A pat every evening Dislikes: No one   Moo, I’m Lucy!   I like to think of myself as being different to the herd as I’m a distinct breed from the East and South-East of the Netherlands, in an area bordered by the rivers from which my breed takes its name. The ancestry of the MRI breed includes the indigenous cattle of the Netherlands and the red-and-white cattle breeds found in nearby Germany and Belgium.   My daughter Lucy-Wark is also in the herd and also has my sassy personality, which isn’t hard to spot! I ..read more

Name: Dolly Ear tag: 604116 Age: 5.5 years old Breed: Norwegian Red Cross Likes: An ear rub and back scratch Dislikes: Being alone   Moo, I’m Dolly!   I am a Norwegian Red Cross cow and am quite easy to spot with my huge hairy ears. My daughter, Jarko, has not inherited my extra large ears!   My favourite time of day is when Tom and Barry from the farm team come to see us. You’ll find me standing close by to the two of them, as they give superb ear rubs.   Crowds aren’t my thing, so whenever I enter the parlour I like to be at the front of the herd, so I can be milked first ..read more