WHEN in 2001 foot-and-mouth struck the farm of Cumbrian farming couple Steven and Claire Bland near Ullswater, Mr Bland was asked to shoot his own herd – the authorities were too busy to spare a marksman.

He was unable to do so, and asked a friend, who initially refused but then did so with great reluctance. Mr Bland sat indoors, listening to the shots as his herd was slaughtered one by one.

He spoke at the International Conference of the World Jersey Cattle Bureau, his voice still catching slightly with emotion as he recounted this lowest point in his farming career.

He described how in the year 2000 the couple had taken on the tenancy of the Lowther Estate farm, Abbott Lodge, at Clifton, near Penrith, attracted by the farm’s excellent grass growing ability.

They were milking 140 black and white cows when foot-and-mouth struck. After foot-and-mouth, they decided to make a new start, and restocked with Jersey cattle, buying a herd from Cornwall.

They decided to add value to the product by making and selling their own ice cream off the farm. It was a decision that transformed their farm: seven years later they now sell 40 flavours of ice-cream made with their own Jersey milk at the tea rooms they have created on their farm Since the day that they sold their first ice-cream, not one day has passed that they haven’t sold at least one scoop – even during blizzard snow storms.

They bottle some of their own milk and sell it at the tea-rooms and farm shop, and have also created a pedal-tractor play area for children.

Their present ambition is to increase their Jersey herd to 260 milkers. Their cows recently won the inter-breed competition at the Royal Highland Show – the first time Ayrshire cows have not won the competition (and it was judged by an Ayrshire producer). ‘The future for us is the Jersey cow,’ he said.