Thursday, March 28, 2024
8 C
Galway
HomeBeefOwn your own abattoir and farm for €4.5m
Catherina Cunnane
Catherina Cunnanehttps://www.thatsfarming.com/
Catherina Cunnane hails from a sixth-generation drystock and specialised pedigree suckler enterprise in Co. Mayo. She currently holds the positions of editor and general manager at That's Farming, having joined the firm during its start-up phase in 2015.
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Own your own abattoir and farm for €4.5m

If you desire to open the doors of your own abattoir, then this opportunity could lie inside the gates of Downfield Farm in Scotland.

The property has hit the market through Galbraith with a guide price of over £3,900,000, equating to over €4.5m.

The farm is home to the award-winning farmed deer, a micro-abattoir and custom butchery operation that the current occupiers established in recent years.

According to the selling agent, this is now Scotland’s only field to fork venison farm, handling, and meat processing facility, which also processes sheep and goats and butchering cattle and pigs.

The wide-ranging property portfolio contains a purpose-built abattoir and butchery, a modern 5-bed farmhouse with three public rooms, a traditional 3-bed cottage with one public room & sunroom and a range of adaptable farm buildings.

An award-winning rural business, providing an average annual turnover in the region of £325,000, is available in addition.

Meanwhile, a row of 3-terraced modern cottages providing additional rental income are also available in addition.

Fertile land 

Traditionally, this area of Fife is known for its fertile land, capable of producing high yields of an extensive range of crops.

In the agent’s view, this presents a “rare” opportunity to acquire a renowned and diversified organic mixed farming unit in an easily accessible location within rural Fife.

Downfield has an attractive modern farmhouse, modern cottage, a range of useful and adaptable farm buildings and c. 406.73-acres of farmland and woodland.

The modern farmhouse, cottage and buildings are located centrally within the holding, with the purpose-built abattoir adjacent to the farm buildings.

Suckler farm 

The holding benefits from an “excellent” range of modern and traditional farm buildings with capacity for up to 150 suckler cows plus followers. Besides, there are additional buildings for fodder, straw, and grain storage.

The landholding is principally in one block and has ease of to all fields from a network of internal farm tracks.

According to the agents, the farmland is “well suited” to growing a wide range of arable crops, including barley and wheat, and veg such as shopping turnips, carrots, and potatoes.

Productive pasture and grazing ground makes up the remainder of the holding.

The ground is “well suited” to outwintering cattle late into the season, while several areas of amenity woodland throughout the holding provide overall shelter and amenity.

Downfield Farmhouse

The modern farmhouse is located to the east of the farm steading in an elevated position and benefits from “panoramic” views over the surrounding countryside to the north and west.

The property was built in 2012 of rendered block construction under a pitched slate roof.

The building provides accommodation set over two floors with four bedrooms on the upper level with a further 5th bedroom, three spacious public rooms, utility room and office all on the ground floor.

Downfield Cottage

Located to the south of farm buildings and a short distance to the west of the farmhouse is Downfield Cottage.

This is a traditional 3-bedroom property of stone and brick construction set under a pitched tiled roof.

The cottage benefits from an area of garden ground which is mostly laid to lawn and surrounds the house to the north and east.

There is a small patio area which is enclosed by an area of hedging to the front of the property.

Farm buildings
  • Grain Shed;
  • Dryer Shed;
  • Hay/straw shed;
  • Two cattle courts;
  • Lean-to/feed passage shed;
  • Store shed;
  • Silage pit;
  • Traditional store;
  • Third cattle court;
  • Tannery;
  • Stable block (9.4m x 6.36m);
  • Garage/store (36.6m x 4.2m);
  • Cattle handling shed;
  • Stack Yard.
Abattoir buildings

Located adjacent to the range of farm buildings is a purpose-built abattoir and meat processing plant.

Downfield Limited own and run the abattoir and meat processing business.

The business and all the abattoir and meat processing equipment are available to purchase in addition to the heritable property by separate negotiation.

The following buildings are used as part of the abattoir and meat processing plant:

  • Waste area/hide room;
  • Slaughter hall;
  • Intake chill unit;
  • Internal lairage;
  • Chill 1;
  • Chill 2;
  • Cutting room;
  • Staff area & office;
  • Loading-bay/production room;
  • Office container;
  • Generators.
Agricultural land

Lands extend to approximately 164.60 Ha (406.73-acres) and the current owners are farming them organically.

The farm is in its second year of the current organic maintenance period.

The James Hutton Institute has classified some of the arable land as Grade 3.1 and 3.2. Besides, there are some smaller areas of Grade 5.2 and 5.3 grazing land.

The land has benefited from a temporary grassland rotation within the arable ground and regular applications of farmyard manure generated from the livestock enterprise.

According to the agent, the purchaser can farm the arable land to a good depth. The owners have carried out regular soil and lime tests over the last 20 years, along with ditching and drainage works.

Other articles on That’s Farming:

- Advertisment -

Most Popular