Penlan Farm is actually an amalgam of the major part of two farms, Penlan Isaf [lower] and Penlan Uchaf [upper]. Around 330 acres of former dairy farmland has been acquired by John and Tegwen Burns and is now being developed to include sustainable rotational farming methods, high standards of animal welfare, wildlife conservation and to ensure reasonable access by the public.

The ultimate objective is to produce the raw materials which can be utilised to produce a new generation of pet food using locally produced ingredients.

The product will be manufactured from raw materials produced mainly on the farm i.e. free range eggs, vegetables and spring water with bough-in brown rice. The finished product would be moved to our main site for distribution.

Wheat and oats to feed the chickens will also be grown on the farm.

The land will be farmed with minimal external inputs. The farm produce will be manufactured into a high value end product. Animal welfare standards will be paramount. (Most free-range and certified organic farms fall short of what most people would expect from free range, organic farming.) Burns is a corporate donor to the farm animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming.

Chicken Flock

The core of the farm will be the flock of free range chickens. Unlike many modern free-range and organic chicken farms, which house chickens in very large numbers in a giant shed, the Burns flock will be kept non-intensively in small groups. This is less stressful for the birds but more labour intensive. The plan is to keep 3000 chickens in groups of 150 or fewer. This will involve the construction of 20 sheds which will be distributed over some 20-30 acres. The chicken sheds were designed by John Burns and are being built on site to a high standard of insulation.

A pilot scheme with 2 sheds housing 300 chickens has been in progress since March of this year. The remainder of the chickens are due between July and October.

Grain Production

The grain to feed the chickens is being grown on the farm. One hundred and forty acres of winter and spring wheat have been sown and should be ready for harvesting by September –October.

Vegetables

Some 10 acres each of carrots and swedes are being grown for use in our new moist food. There are also smaller areas of kale and potatoes.

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Penlan Isaf Farm

Chicken Flock

Grain Production

Vegetables