Brookfield Farm on flagship BBC farm show

BBC’s Countryfile TV programme recently highlighted many of the issues surrounding home-produced rose veal and consumer perception of veal production – in their programme broadcast on January 22.

Presenter John Craven visited Freedom Food member David Tory’s Brookfield Farm in Dorset, reporting on the facts of higher welfare UK rose veal production, highlighting that male calves are slaughtered between 7 and 8-months-old for veal – similar to most pigs and lambs – with the wholesale price of veal somewhere between the price of beef and lamb, but with just a fraction of the sales. Currently, of the half-a-million bull calves born each year, less than 5,000 are reared for veal – with the majority shot or sold into more intensive European farm systems, many using standards illegal in the UK.

David’s willingness to highlight his farm and openness on how production is carried out led to the BBC’s visit and an informative and awareness-building feature on the popular BBC show.

“It’s a fabulous example of how our members can get involved with the media – both locally and wider – to spread the message of higher welfare and get some great publicity for their business at the same time,”

adds Freedom Food Senior Press Officer Rebecca Lenik.

“We’re always on the look-out for great examples of our farmers to showcase their work, so don’t be afraid to get in touch if you’ve a story to tell.” rlenik@freedomfood.co.uk

If you missed the programme, don’t worry, it is available online for a few weeks via BBC iPlayer. Simply click on this link to view (Hint: John Craven’s feature on veal production starts around 8 minutes into the programme) http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01bf4qy/Countryfile_22_01_2012/