Boltons Park Farm
Based on the Royal Veterinary College’s Hawkshead Estate in Hertfordshire, Boltons Park Farm has been an essential part of college activities for over 25 years.
The farm consists of 200 ha of mainly grazing grass. We have 20 ha of ancient mixed woodland along with the younger woods since planted by the college.
We have 100 Holstein Friesian cows milking at the farm and a further 60 heifers which will join the herd as milking cows after their first calf at around 2.5 years old. For most of the year the herd grazes outside day and night but come in during the autumn and winter.
Our 200 sheep are of mixed breeds. For most of the year they graze in the fields adjacent to the Potters Bar golf club.
The Norfolk Bronze turkey flock are reared in environmentally enhanced conditions, the breed is ideal as it suits our rearing system well. The birds are outside in the elements with the ability to take cover if they need to. They grow very slowly and the finished article is fantastic.
Why are we here?
The farm is the college’s farm animal practical teaching facility. Our animals are very used to being handled and take it all in their stride. We host a wide range of student practical tasks and demonstrations.
Last year students spent over 12,000 hrs at Boltons Park. Year on year this figure increases.
Typical Student Activities at the Farm
- Weekly herd health visits
- Lambing practicals and night watch
- Lameness scoring
- Emergency vet visits
- Rectal classes
- Elective projects and presentations
- Feeding and nutrition classes
- Routine testing
- Animal handling practicals
- California milk testing
- Extra Mural Studies
- Cattle and Sheep foot trimming
- Animal welfare sessions
- Poultry handling and management
