When it comes to low food miles, you would struggle to find any producers that can beat the Cain family’s farms in Braddan because they’re only a mile and a half from the Meat Plant!
Frank Cain and his wife Sandra, son Paul – and Frank’s brother David who helps out part-time – have a fine herd of beef and dairy cross cattle at Camlork Farm and Ballacregga Farm.
The Cain family has a long history in Manx agriculture having been at Camlork since 1955, and prior to that at Trollaby. Over the years Camlork has been home to beef and dairy cattle, sheep and pigs. Today, the family has a beef herd made up of Limousin and Belgian Blue cross cows – and they grow their own feed (silage, hay, straw and barley). All beef cattle are sold to Isle of Man Meats.
A passion for rearing top quality livestock is already being passed on to the next generation. Frank’s granddaughter Jenny has taken on her own enterprise of pure-bred Limousins and reared calves which have had fantastic success at local agricultural shows. Paul’s two daughters, Isla and Ella, have recently been given a heifer each, which they hand-reared and hope to put into calf this year. For everyone involved, springtime is their favourite season because it’s when their calves are born, and the whole family enjoy seeing them quickly getting to their feet and bringing new life to the farm.
While the Cains have farms that are nearer to the Meat Plant than any of our other 200+ producers, food miles are low for them all because the Isle of Man is such a small place. That’s a great advantage compared to imported meat from the UK or further afield, and yet another good reason to #MakeSureItsManx.
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