A Month of Calm on the Farm: The Cows of Goodwood

01st June 2026

June brings a quieter rhythm to life at Goodwood Home Farm.

After winter months indoors and spring calving, the estate’s cattle settle into the calm of early summer, grazing across the rolling hills of the South Downs.

Across the estate, nearly 950 head of cattle, from dairy cows and beef herds to young calves, are carefully managed with animal welfare and organic farming at the heart of every decision. By June, all the cattle are out in the fields and the farm briefly settles into one of its most peaceful seasons.

  • Home Farm

  • Farm Shop

FBC-Portraits_Bradley_Basten_001.jpg

The Team Behind the Herd

Leading the cattle operation is Farm Foreman and Herd Manager Ian Fermor, alongside Issy Dommett and Rosie Brown who each play a vital role in caring for the herd.

“The team are amazing,” says Ian. “They do a fantastic job… their attention to detail is incredible.”

Ian oversees the day-to-day management of both the dairy and beef herds, leading the team and ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare and performance across the farm. He coordinates grazing management, monitors cattle across the estate and works closely with the team to support the smooth running of all cattle operations.

Issy focuses on the dairy herd throughout their lactation while maintaining and monitoring the milking robots. Using the data generated by the robotic system, she helps keep a close eye on cow behaviour, health and performance, ensuring any issues are identified quickly.

Meanwhile, Rosie focuses on calf rearing, caring for the next generation of cattle, and coordinates the grazing system in conjunction with weekly grass measuring to help make the most of the estate's organic pastures.

HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-21.jpg
HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-20.jpg

Day-to-Day Life on the Farm

Although June brings a calmer rhythm to the farm, there is still constant work happening behind the scenes. Each day, Ian will feed, carry out health checks and monitor cattle grazing across the estate.

The cattle graze on 2500 acres of the estates farm fields, including Church Farm, Manor Farm, Charlton Barns, New House Farm, Hat Hill and the dairy unit.

Technology now plays an important role in supporting welfare too. Digital monitoring systems allow the team to track each animal individually, helping them quickly respond to changes in behaviour, health or feeding patterns.

For the team at Goodwood Home Farm, caring for cattle is about far more than routine, and in June, with cattle grazing peacefully across the South Downs, that connection between people, animals and the land feels at its strongest.

“Working in farming is a way of life, it’s not a job,” Ian reflects.

Website-HomeFarmCows_MaxCarter_2024_001.jpg

The Robotic Dairy

At the centre of the dairy operation is Goodwood’s robotic milking system, designed to give our Dairy Shorthorn cows more freedom and reduce stress. The cows can move independently between grazing fields and the dairy barn choosing when they want to be milked, fed or rested.

“Let them do what they want - that’s the key,” says Ian.

Recent additions to the dairy include robotic sorting gates, which guide cows back to be milked if needed, cattle grids on the farm roads allowing the cows to access the fields freely, alongside large cooling fans installed to keep the cows comfortable during warmer weather. Cows produce heat up to nine times faster than humans and dissipate it far more slowly, making temperature management especially important during summer.

The result is a calmer, low-stress environment that prioritises welfare while producing high quality organic milk.

HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-11.jpg
HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-22.jpg
HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-10.jpg

The Sussex Herd

Alongside the dairy herd, Goodwood’s pedigree Sussex cattle play an important role in the estate’s regenerative farming system. Known for their calm and friendly temperament, the Sussex cattle are particularly well suited to life on the South Downs.

“Sussex are brilliant mothers,” says Ian. “They’re a fantastic breed…they thrive off grassland and work fantastically on the estate.”

The beef cattle are carefully managed in age groups, allowing the team to cater to the needs of each animal at every stage of life. Thriving on the South Downs grassland, the Sussex cattle have the space and freedom to graze naturally across the estate.

HomeFarmCows_JimHolden_2022_001.jpg
HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-09.jpg
HomeFarmDairy_KirstyJayneRussell_2026_-06.jpg

Grazing for Regeneration

By June, almost all of Goodwood’s cattle are grazing across the estate’s grasslands, following a carefully managed regenerative system designed to support both the animals and the land.

The fields are divided into smaller grazing areas so cattle can graze one section before being moved quickly onto fresh pasture.

Ian says, “Hit a small area with a big number, let them graze it, then move them onto the next.”

This rotational system allows grassland to recover naturally while cattle manure improves soil health without artificial inputs. Ian also works closely with estate shepherd Nick Page to balance grazing between sheep and cattle.

“Sheep and cattle graze differently,” Ian explains. “Together they help us manage the land.”

Combined with careful land management and high welfare standards, the system reflects Goodwood’s commitment to sustainable organic farming.

Large-HomeFarmCows_MikeCaldwell_001.jpg

From Farm to Fork

The cattle raised at Goodwood eventually become part of the estate’s farm-to-fork story, supplying the Goodwood Farm Shop and the estate’s restaurants with organic meat, dairy products and raw milk. With cattle grazing peacefully across the South Downs, that connection between land, animals and food is at its clearest.

From carefully reared beef to our award-winning cheese, every product reflects the same attention to welfare, sustainability and quality seen out in the fields every day.

Visit the Goodwood Farm Shop to explore our range of organic produce. While you’re there, stop by the Milk Vending Machine to enjoy fresh Goodwood organic whole milk, with a selection of flavours available to create your own milkshake.

  • Home Farm

  • Farm Shop