Welcome To devonroseveal.co.uk

Lydford Station Farm

We are a small family run farm on the edge of Dartmoor.

The farm is on the site of the old Lydford railway station and junction.  

On the farm we have high welfare rosé  veal calves, chickens, ducks and prize winning rare breed Cotswold sheep.

What is rosé veal?

Dairy cows have to give birth once a year in order to continuously produce milk for human consumption. Female calves join the dairy herd, but male dairy calves are not so lucky as they cannot produce milk.

Male dairy calves are therefore often considered a waste product. Thousands of calves are shot at birth; many others are transported from the UK to veal farms on the continent – some on journeys lasting 50 hours or more.  On the continent these calves are intensively reared on bare slatted floors; conditions which would be illegal in the UK. 

We want UK male dairy calves to be reared under the highest welfare systems possible.

Unlike continental veal calves, British calves are fed a more natural diet – with more fibre – and are group housed with straw bedding in larger well lit barns throughout the rearing period. 

At Lydford Station Farm we purchase all the male calves from our local Jersey dairy farm in Brentor only half a mile from our farm. 

We buy the calves at between 7 and 10 days old and bottle feed them until they are between 3 and 4 months old.  During this period they are fed ad-lib haylage and are bedded on straw in groups of similar aged calves.  From a week of age we introduce specialised calf feed, sugar beet and fruit and vegetables (supplied by our local greengrocer).

All our calves are fed  individually by bottle so that we know exactly what each calf has had to ensure that they all receive the correct amount to eat.  We do not wean our calves until they are sufficiently physically developed to obtain all their nutrients from solid feed.

Once the calves are old enough and the weather is suitable they are allowed outside in paddocks to romp and play. 

We raise our calves under organic principles using Duchy Brand calf products and only use veterinary medications when necessary.  Our animal welfare standards are much higher than those required by EU legislation.

We use a small local family run abattoir so in their lifetime the calves travel not much more than 30 miles.

We are very hands-on when it comes to raising the calves, handling them every day and training them to lead by halter.  If the calves are comfortable around people there is less stress in their lives which adds to the flavour of the meat. 

• Rosé veal has a good level of Omega 3 and is low in fat
• Rosé veal is raised to the highest welfare standards
• Rosé  veal's delicate flavour makes it popular with all the family
• Rosé veal is value for money