Welfare is our top priority at Carr farm.

The welfare of our geese and cattle from birth to death is of paramount importance to us. In 2017 following independent inspection we received full certification to the Pasture for Life Farm Assurance Scheme (PFLA). As at June 2021 we are still the only certfied PFLA farm in Norfolk (or Suffolk). The certification relates to the Belted Galloways and is the highest welfare standard currently available, above organic and red tractor. The certification provides assurance that the animals are fed 100% grass (either by grazing or the feeding in winter of hay and silage) the beef that you buy will carry the PFLA certification mark which gives full traceability.

We are a small farm and welfare is at the heart of everything we do, although we strive to produce the highest quality product and try and retain competitive pricing we would never allow this to compromise the welfare of our birds and animals.

We always welcome visitors to the farm and are happy to show you how our livestock is reared and answer any questions you may have. We are always pleased to receive enquiries from our customers wanting to know specifics of the standards to which our livestock are reared, fed and slaughtered. Whilst other producers may shy away from some of these questions, we are always happy to discuss all aspects with our customers. Furthermore we are pleased that our customers are also putting the welfare of the animals and birds that provide food on the table at the top of their priority list as well.

Cattle

Our cattle graze the lush marshes of the River Waveney throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn months. These marshes are rich in biodiversity and the qualities of the varied herbage is reflected in the fine taste of the resulting product. In the winter months the cattle are moved onto higher ground and feed supplementary hay grown on the farm, our cattle are hardy, bred for the harsh winters of the Scottish Highlands and thrive with an outdoor life. Our cattle are well handled and we spend much time getting them used to and relaxed about human contact. We feel this is important as although the animals are born and raised here at Carr Farm at slaughter time they are transported to our local abbatoir by ourselves and we want to ensure that their final journey is as stress free and calm as possible.

Geese

Some of our geese are hatched here on the farm bu our breeding flock and some bought in as day old goslings in May from a local hatchery, the latter are up to a week old when they first arrive. They spend the first few weeks in our barn under heat and after a month move out onto the pasture with shade and splashing baths. Geese are creatures of habit they like to stay in their hatching groups and become attached to their handler. They can be easily startled so we try to create a calm environment and always spend time establishing contact and handling them, this is well rewarded as they become a tame flock and will calmly following their handler.

We hold Poultry Slaughter Licences and would not have embarked upon raising geese if we could not kill the birds on farm. Whilst other producers may be happy to crate up their birds and ship them off to a poultry processing plant – this route is not for us. We are often asked how we can deal with the slaughter of the birds if we are so attached to them and our response is always the same that we slaughter the birds ourselves because we are so attached to them.

We have spent a considerable amount of time in planning and organising the slaughter process for our geese, and all birds are humanely stunned. At slaugher time the birds are individually handled by the person who has cared for them throughout their whole life, in this way the stunning and slaughter can be dealt with quietly, calmly, quickly and without causing any stress for the individual birds.

If you have any questions about the way we rear any of our animals or birds or have specific welfare questions please contact us.

Our welfare ethos is simple we strive for all our animals and birds to have a happy, contented and stress free life, to be able to socialise within its herd or flock to be able to roam freely during the day, not to feel hunger or thirst and to grow at its natural pace on a predominantly grass based natural diet.