The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60

60 GRANGE FARM DEC/JAN 2019 • farmers-mart.co.uk KEEPING THE MASHAM FLAG FLYING Chris Berry talks with David Verity in Bouthwaite. MASHAM sheep may not be the force Proud suppliers to David Verity wishing him continued success they once were in livestock markets due to the profusion of North of England Mules having taken their place but that hasn’t stopped people like David Veri- ty of Grange Farm in the tiny hamlet of Bouthwaite in Nidderdale from breeding them out of his 500-strong Dalesbred ewe flock. David is currently chairman of the Masham Sheep Breeders Association, a position he took up nearly a year ago and with just as much family breeding pedi- gree as you could have being steeped in the breed. David is involved with the running of two farms – Grange, that he tenants and Stean Farm that is at the head of the valley below Middlesmoor, which he runs in partnership with his cousin Keith, Keith’s father William, William’s father Doren and David’s mum Rose. His father Rowland, now passed away, was a partner too and the joint operation trades as J Verity & Sons with the J standing for Jinnie his grandmother’s name as his grandfather died early. Farmers Mart - David Verity.qxp_Layout 1 28/11/2018 09:31 Page 1 ‘We moved to Grange Farm in 1974, my- self, my sister Julie and mum and dad. So there are two operations that run sepa- rately and together.’ ‘My dad lived for Mashams, they were his life and at one time we would have been wholly Masham. In his earlier days he used Swaledales with the Teeswater tup to get them but he shifted away from them to Dalesbreds to get the better colour in the face that they bring.’ ‘The Masham Sheep Breeders Association was formed in 1986 to promote the breed’s qualities of longevity, hardiness, milking ability, prolificacy, supreme lamb carcase, great fleece and meat that is tender and has fabulous succulence.’ ‘Last spring was extremely harsh as we can all testify but the Masham came out on top, faring a lot better than the Mule. They have more hardiness than the Mule and their ability to survive and thrive in such poor weather is the reason why they often live a year or two longer than other breeds. Seven or eight shears of Mashams is not unusual as any of our association’s breed- ers will tell you. It’s where their extra wool helps too.’ W. E. JAMESON & SON LTD MASHAM HG4 4EL We are proud to supply DAVID VERITY at Grange Farm, Bouthwaite Bentham Auction Mart, High Bentham, Nr Lancaster, LA2 7HF SPECIALISTS IN SALES OF Breeding Sheep & Gimmer Lambs Also every Wednesday 6000 Prime Lambs & Cast Ewes Tel:- 015242 61444/61246 (Sale days) www.benthamauction.co.uk • Compound Feeds • Specialist Blends • Minerals, Blocks & Buckets • Milk Powders • Animal Health • Hardware • Grass seed • Forage seed • Environmental seed • Grassland herbicides • Fertilisers • Silage Additive Call us on 01765 689666 ANIMAL FEEDS • ANIMAL HEALTH • SEEDS • FERTILISERS ATV and ATV equipment specialists Main Dealers for Honda and Can Am, Logic, Chapman, C-DAX and Wessex Proud suppliers to David Verity Contact: Tom Taylor . York. 01904 758105

The Farmers Mart Dec-Jan 2019 - Issue 60 | Page 60