Who lives at Dalditch Farm? Meet the animals who shape our landscape, enrich our soil, and make our meat so special. This month’s blog takes you into their world.
Animal welfare gets talked about a lot these days – on packaging, in adverts, on social media. But for us at Farm2Fork, it’s not a slogan. It’s a daily commitment to raising animals in a way that’s natural, respectful, and regenerative.
Nestled in Budleigh Salterton on the Jurassic Coast, Dalditch Farm is home to 100% grass-fed cows and sheep, alongside pasture-raised chickens, turkeys, and geese. All our animals are raised organically and to the highest farm animal welfare standards in the UK – not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because it leads to healthier animals, more flavourful meat, and a thriving ecosystem.
Sunrise: The Flerd Begin Their Day
As dawn breaks, our ‘flerd’ – a mixed group of cattle and sheep – begins to graze. These animals live outdoors all year round, moving across our carefully managed pasture as part of a rotational grazing system. This pasture-based livestock approach not only mimics nature, but also regenerates the soil, builds fertility, and increases biodiversity.
Because they live entirely on pasture, our cattle and sheep get all their nutrition from the land. Our diverse herbal leys – packed with grasses, legumes, and deep-rooted plants – deliver a rich array of minerals without the need for synthetic feeds. It’s slow-grown, sustainable nourishment from the ground up.
Poultry on the Move
From spring through to autumn, our chickens, turkeys, and geese are raised in small flocks and moved daily to fresh pasture. They roam, scratch, forage and dust-bathe – all natural behaviours that keep them healthy and content.
Their hand-built mobile shelters and roosts offer both shade and security, and our Maremma sheepdogs guard them night and day. With these protections in place, they live a stress-free life outdoors, safe from predators and the elements.
Daily Attention and Emotional Connection
We don’t just check boxes – we really know our animals. Each one is monitored every day for signs of change: a slight limp, a quiet mood, a missed feed. It’s this close observation and care that allows us to prevent problems early, and it’s why we never have to rely on routine antibiotics.
When you spend this much time with animals, a bond naturally forms. There’s a deep respect here – for the role they play in our farming system, and the trust they place in us to care for them well.
Evening Calm and a Quiet Satisfaction
As the sun sets over Dalditch, the flerd bed down in the open fields, while the poultry retreat to their shelters, guardian dogs at their side. The stillness of the evening says it all: this is how farm animals should live – content, well cared for, and in tune with the land.
By choosing Farm2Fork, you're not just buying meat – you’re supporting regenerative animal farming that puts welfare, sustainability, and flavour at its heart.
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