East

Inside Out spends the last days on a Suffolk Dairy Farm as it prepares to say goodbye to its herd. 

Dairy farmer Brian Hull is featured in the programme.

Selling the herd

The three months from August to November 2007 were very stressful for Brian Hull and his family as they prepared to switch from dairy to arable farming.

Brian Hull: getting out of dairy farming

Their dairy farm at Occold in Suffolk had been a part of their family for over 30 years.

They brought in a team of professionals several days before the sale to start washing and preparing all the animals.

Then the auctioneers and sale secretary arrived the afternoon before the sale to sort out the final details.

'Goodbye' to looking after livestock

For Brian and his family the day of the sale was an unsettling experience:

"The sale was successful although very emotional and this was tempered by the complimentary praise by some of the buyers and staff on how well the cows and heifers looked, how quiet they all were and how well everything had been run.

"The last of the animals were taken within the next few days, the last lorry full of cows that left caused a lot of sadness."

'Hello' to looking after fields of crops

Life after cows

In the first couple of weeks after the sale Brian had mixed feelings about the sale and wondered if he'd made the right decision, especially as in recent months the price of milk has actually risen.

The farm was eerie with no stock and the empty buildings but on the other hand he was relieved that after months of worry and work he could see what life was like without livestock.

"...it's good...We still talk about cows but we now know it was the right decision for us."

"Although there has been a big increase in the price paid for milk, the price of feed rising has not made a great difference along with the trade already talking about price cuts we are happy now."

The family's lives have changed dramatically, with no more 4am starts, no checking the animals late every night and no more working seven days a week. It's meant that Brian can spend more time with his family.

"Arable farming is much more seasonal than dairy farming which makes it a lot less stressful."

Also featured

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Toads 

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