The not-for-profit Ahimsa Dairy is a pioneering and unique farm that is entirely slaughter-free. Our much loved cows retire when their milking days are over and the bull calves are raised to be magnificent working oxen. All will live out their days with us until their natural end. Ahimsa calves remain with their mothers and the milking herd and we do not use artificial insemination. Instead we have a big Swiss Brown bull called Superhero whose job is to please the ladies. The cows graze on organic pasture and we milk by hand.

We began with six milking cows in partnership with an organic farm in Kent. We soon realised we had to be independent if we were to farm to our own standards. After many trials and tribulations we finally bought 48 acres of organic land in Rutland last year with an option to buy a further 24. Today we have eleven milking cows in a herd of 32. All are individuals with names.