Page 98 - Britich Blue Year Book 2023

TWYNING ASH HERD BOASTS YEARS OF BREEDING
The Carter family have been farming at Twyning Ash near Dursley for more than 100 years, after Charles Carter's
great grandfather received an acre and a cow as part of the Government's efforts to kickstart farming after the First
World War.
Since then, the farm has grown to 263 hectares (650 acres)
and is now home to a commercial beef system, which runs
over three sites and is centered around the family's
Twyning Ash pedigree British Blue herd.
The herd was established in 1991 by Charles' father,
Richard, who passed away earlier this year after a battle
with cancer.
Charles says: "My father's aim was to breed high quality
beef genetics for the beef and dairy industry, focusing on
calving ease and high growth rates.
"From day one we have always seen the importance of
recorded figures and this philosophy has not changed,
making us the longest recording British Blue herd in the
UK and one of the five herds which are still recording in
the country."
The herd is made up of 40 pedigree cows, from which they
retain heifers for both pedigree and commercial use.
Genetic choices are made on visual assessment, but are
heavily influenced by figures, with a strong focus on
breeding bulls which will either be used at home, sold for
breeding, or to produce semen to be sold through the
family's own semen company, which trades using the herd
prefix.
This part of the business was established by Richard Carter
more than 30 years ago when he began selling semen
from a few home-bred bulls via Genus and BeefLink.
Today, the marketing and sales are completed directly from
the farm, via their website and distributed by a well-known
company.
Charles says: "There has always been an aim to supply
semen which delivers easy calving credentials."
His father was the first producer of mixed straw semen and
this has continued with the business still offering two triple
mixes of British Blues.
Charles says: "We have also looked to expand the breed
portfolio, taking the stock from 13 Blues, and adding
Hereford, Aberdeen-Angus and Limousin genetics."
Charles says: "Dad always bred cattle that were kinder on
the eye and less extreme than the traditional Belgian Blues
which were imported. He bred for longevity and for an
animal which was commercially viable."
96
Charles & Julia Carter
Heifers running with Hereford Bull