Geldard Open Day 26th August 2026

Meet Your Hosts: The Geldard Family

Charles and Richard Geldard farm 500 acres at Low Foulshaw Farm, Kendal in Cumbria, alongside their parents, John and Rachel. Their business is a true family enterprise, with wives Helen and Clare playing an integral role in the day-to-day running of the farm while raising the next generation.

Alongside a flock of 900 sheep, the family also runs a successful egg enterprise supplying around 150 customers, including supermarkets, food service businesses and independent retailers.

Like many farming businesses, the Geldards’ beef system has evolved over the years. Their original Limousin-derived suckler herd became increasingly intensive as Holstein influence within the dairy industry grew. Problems with mastitis, lameness and grass staggers became more common, while the use of terminal sires led to more difficult calvings, increased veterinary intervention and a system that no longer matched the family’s vision.

In 2003, they made the decision to change direction. The best of the older cows were retained as embryo recipients, while the remainder were bred up to Stabilisers. Embryo transfer gave the family access to some of the breed’s very best genetics, allowing them to make rapid genetic progress and build the herd they wanted.

Today, the Geldards run 150 pedigree Stabiliser cows alongside their sheep and egg enterprises. Operating a completely closed herd and flock, they place a strong emphasis on health, efficiency and longevity. The herd has a high health status and Johnes Level 1, with vaccination programmes in place for leptospirosis and BVD, and has been BVD accredited since 2012. Their cows are expected to work for themselves—requiring minimal intervention while consistently delivering maximum performance.

Potential breeding bulls are selected through a rigorous process, with only the very best retained. Those that don’t meet the breeding standard are finished for bull beef, ensuring every animal has a profitable purpose within the system.

The family is also a highly respected multiplier within the Stabiliser breed, with many farmers returning year after year to purchase breeding stock—testament to the consistency, performance and reliability of their cattle.

“The Stabiliser breed is in a prominent position for the future. They’re highly efficient suckler cows that can thrive and perform under a wide range of conditions. They’re miles ahead of any other breed,” says Charles.

Joining the Geldard family on the day will be special guest Lee Leachman, a globally recognised leader in beef genetics and performance breeding. His insights into efficiency, profitability and the future direction of the beef industry will add further value to what promises to be an informative and inspiring event.

Join us at our Open Day and see first-hand how the Geldard family has built a profitable, low-input suckler enterprise. Hear their story, view the cattle and discover why the Stabiliser has become the foundation of their farming business.

Event Details :

📅 Date: Wednesday 26^th August 2026 1:30pm for 2pm Start

📍Location: Low Foulshaw Farm Gilpin Bridge Levens Kendal, Cumbria LA8 8ET

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To register your interest, please fill in the form below. We will be in touch in due course but if you have any questions in the meantime, please get in touch via our contact page

What our farmers say…

We are trying to produce beef that meets market specification and make the most profit possible. Using Stabilisers we are achieving our objectives, we have a low cost, low labour cow and good quality finishing cattle that meet the needs of the market.
- Mel and Pete Momber, Hampshire
I’m excited by the prospects the Stabiliser can deliver for us. The proof was there based on scientific research, backed up by a large gene pool and precise management systems. It seemed the perfect breed for our farming system.
- Will Evans, Machynlleth
On weaning in May at 10 mths old the Stabiliser calves were on par with the Blue and Angus calves. These were turned out to grass until early September then housed. This is when I was surprised by the differences between the breeds, the Angus averaged 480kg, the Blues 490kg but the Stabilisers were 530kg.
- Robin Talbot, Laois – Ireland
In 2011 we bought 46 Stabiliser heifers plus 3 bulls and sold our 3 Belgium Blue bulls. The results were clear to see, by the time we pregnancy tested our 100 cows later that year. We went from historically having 15% barren cows to only 3% barren in a 9 week mating period.
- Jeremy Iles, Gloucester
I have found Stabiliser cows to be very forage efficient. Their ability to put weight on in the summer months means I can save on winter feed costs. This has allowed me to keep more cows on the same resources.
- Jono Cole, Cornwall
We have an easy-care system that is as profitable as any other beef enterprise. We benchmark our herd against the AHDB industry figure and we sit comfortably ahead of the top third performers. I believe we are now producing a carcass with the conformation and eating quality consistency that the market wants.
- Dan Burling, Cambridgeshire
Docility, feed efficiency tested, easy calving, hybrid vigour, fertility, growth AND carcass traits from highly maternal cattle, what’s not like?
- Robin Norrie, Fife
We aim to get most out of grass as possible. The hardy nature of the cattle seems to suit this system very well. Hardly any assistance is required during calving, combined with the excellent calf vigour produce healthy and strong calves which further reduces labour costs.
- Llion and Sian Jones, Conwy
We’re over 10 years into our Stabiliser journey, we’re reaping the rewards. Moving to the Stabiliser has been a game changer for efficiency and job satisfaction, allowing us to increase cow numbers on the same area and finishing bulls averaging over 380kgs at 13 months. Our only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner!
- Peter and Jackie Storrow, Pembrokeshire
Stabiliser cattle are a specialised suckler beef breed with the added bonus of hybrid vigour. The cattle are multi-trait performance recorded to produce EBV’s, this has a huge positive economical effect on our business. All of this is crucial for us to have a financially improving suckler herd on the farm.
- Harri Parri, Llyn Peninsula
We chose the Stabiliser breed for their docility and easy calving traits, but with the added benefit of turning grass into meat. We soon saw all of these traits were true. Our first home bred steers were finished off grass at an average age of 19 months.
- Dyfed Roberts, Anglesey
Despite our rainfall, we outwinter our cows on kale, the stabiliser cow will lay down excess fat, and successfully rear her calf. During the winter considerable cost savings are made. By changing to Stabiliser cattle I keep approximately 50% more cows as they only weigh 650Kgs, which meant more beef being produced.
- Matthew Cooke, North Devon
We started using Stabiliser bulls 20 years ago. The fertility of the breed has enabled us to calve our own heifers at 24 months and reduce our calving period to nine weeks. This together with their good temperament has encouraged us to increase cow numbers. Consequently, the farm is now producing a lot more kilos of beef.
- Edward and Ellis Griffith, Pwllheli
Minimal labour is required at calving time, with easy calving cows and calves up and suckling in no time at all. This gave us the ability to increase our cow numbers with no extra labour. The growth rate of Stabiliser cattle is exceptional, producing high weaning weights whilst converting feed efficiently.
- John and Ianto Pari, Gwynedd
We started using stabiliser genetics in 2016, we have not looked back since, they exceeded all our expectations. Changing to stabilisers has enabled us to calve heifers at 2years old with no problems, cows wean a higher percentage of their body weight, we have increased cow numbers without any need for extra labour.
- Carys Jones, Camarthenshire

Geldard Open Day 26th August 2026

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