Our Farm and Our Philosophy

At the heart of our farm is a simple belief: healthy animals, healthy land, healthy future.

Cadzow Croft is home to our family and our fold. Like a traditional croft, it’s a smallholding — just the right size for raising well-tempered, healthy animals. From our home on the ridge, we can watch over the cattle each day and stay closely connected to the land and herd.

We take animal welfare seriously, and it shows in how we care for our Highland cattle — from regular brushing, drenching, and hoof trimming, to gentle, hands-on handling. Our Highlands are calm, well looked after, and part of the daily rhythm of our lives.

We also manage our land with care, using cell grazing to regenerate pasture, support soil health, and give our herd fresh, nutritious forage year-round. It’s a system that benefits the animals, the environment, and the long-term health of the croft.

To us, good farming means respecting the animals, the land, and the future — and we’re proud to live that philosophy every day.

Shelters & Shade

The cool winters on the croft bring the occasional dusting of snow, but our Highlands are well adapted to the changing seasons. In summer, they retreat to the natural shade of old gum trees that ring their paddocks, finding comfort beneath their broad canopies. Toward the back of the property, a pocket of native woodland — made up of remnant candlebark gums and regrowth blackwoods — offers a peaceful, shaded refuge for the cattle and local wildlife alike.

In addition to natural shade, every paddock on the farm is equipped with a purpose-built shelter, providing the cattle with year-round protection from wind, rain, and harsh sun. Whether it’s winter drizzle or the peak of summer heat, our fold always has a dry, sheltered spot to retreat to.

Pasture & Grazing

Our cattle graze on a diverse, nutrient-rich mix of pasture plants. Traditional improved varieties like perennial rye, clover, and cocksfoot grow alongside native grasses such as wallaby grass, valued for their resilience and protein-rich seed heads. We’ve also sown paddocks with nutrient-dense legumes like vetch and oats, and deep-rooted herbs such as plantain and chicory, which help draw minerals up from deep in the soil.

We use a cell grazing approach, rotating the fold regularly through small sections of fresh pasture. This gives each area time to rest and regenerate, resulting in healthier soils, stronger pastures, and a vibrant underground ecosystem nourished by natural manure. It’s a system that supports both the land and the livestock — creating balance and resilience from the ground up.

Water & Wildlife

Our water supply is drawn from two reliable, spring-fed dams, supported by large rainwater reserves that fill the cattle’s troughs. These clean, consistent sources ensure our fold always has access to fresh water, no matter the season.

Beyond their practical role, the dams also support a thriving habitat for native wildlife. On any given day, you might spot cormorants, blue herons, grebes, ducks, swans, and moorhens, all sharing the water’s edge. At dusk, the pobblebonk frogs begin their evening chorus — a cheerful soundtrack to life on the croft.