Croxteth Park Farm is a traditional working Victorian Farm set within the grounds of Croxteth Hall and Country Park and was formerly owned by the late Lord Sefton’s estate. Our Farm was recognised as a Rare Breeds Approved Conservation Centre in 1986 and since then has become one of the leading Conservation Farm Parks in the UK housing many different species and breeds of farm livestock.
Croxteth Park Farm is the only RBST approved conservation park within the North West of England. Breeding programmes are vital for the survival and sustainability of such rare livestock, and the animals at Croxteth play a significant role in this with offspring being sent to other farm parks to increase genetic diversity and develop new breeding programmes for their respected breeds.
Uniquely located for both local and regionally-based visitors, the Farm is situated only 2 miles from the region’s M57 Motorway that connects with the M62 and M58 to put some 5 million people within a 45 minutes drive of the Farm.
Many of our animals are included within the RBST breeding programme, and each year we welcome many new births. Our current breeding groups include our herd of Irish Moiled cattle. The herd at Croxteth was developed in 1984 and was the first Irish Moiled herd on mainland Britain. Since then, over 200 calves have been born with many being sent off to new breeding groups throughout the UK. All of our breeding females have been born at Croxteth, and are one of the most genetically important herds of Irish Moiled.
Our other rare breed cattle produce calves via artificial insemination as due to the rarity of each breed, it is impossible to keep a breeding bull for each cow. We work closely with the RBST to select the correct bulls to use on our cows in order to create a genetically diverse calf.
Our Pig breeds (Middle White, Tamworth, Gloucester Old Spot and Large White pigs); produce multiple litters of piglets per year. Each breed is carefully selected for their suitability at Croxteth. Piglets reared at Croxteth join existing breeding programmes, but also are used for meat to help promote and publicise the use of rare breeds, and their meat quality.
Our sheep and goat breeds produce offspring each year.