About Pete & Carrie Best
Pete and Carrie started supplying Trewithen in 2018 when they moved to their council farm, having previously focused on beef and sheep. They are a first-generation, family run farm – Pete, Carrie and their two children, Tom and Zoe – all whom play their part in keeping things running, along with a couple of brilliant relief milkers who lend a hand.
Their farm covers 206 acres, a mix of grazing, silage fields, maize, and the occasional crop of spring barley. Some of the wetter ground is managed for environmental benefit, and they also keep a few beehives to help support pollination and boost crop yields.
Pete and Carrie aim to produce as much of their own forage as possible and currently produce just over a million litres of milk each year. They calve in two blocks, Autumn and Spring, and weather permitting, their cows graze from early spring right through to late autumn.
Why they like to work at Trewithen
Looking after their cows and keeping them healthy and happy is at the heart of what Peter & Carrie do. Their focus on high welfare and top quality milk fits perfectly with Trewithen’s standards. They love the feeling of supplying their milk to a local business and seeing it turn into delicious, Cornish products that they are proud to find in the shops.
Main Cow Breed
Peter and Carrie currently farm just over 300 head of cattle, comprising 150 milking cows and youngstock, mainly British Friesians, with some Montbeliarde and Norwegian Red crosses to improve herd health and milk quality.
Favourite Cow
Pete and Carrie have so many favourite cows! One who always stands out is Monty, their very wise, very clever old Montbeliarde cross who insists on standing in the same spot in the parlour every milking. Then there’s Patches, who demands cuddles whenever you see her. There is also the ‘Yummy’ family, with generations of them now in the herd. Because they breed their own replacements, they have been able to build up generations of cow families at East Nancemeer, something they love to see.