At Old Hall, near Sarn in Powys, Tom and Danielle Hill are quietly building a future, one calf at a time.

Their 48-acre farm hums with purpose. Around 200 calves are reared there at any one time, each one part of a system the couple have carefully shaped to reflect both their experience and values.

Before joining Warrendale in 2022, Tom and Danielle had already spent years working with calves, rearing them through other schemes and raising replacement heifers for a local dairy farm. But something never quite seemed to fit. They knew how they wanted to work – with consistency, high welfare standards and a system that made sense both practically and financially.

“We wanted something that aligned with what we knew worked best,” Danielle explains. “A system that supports both efficiency and good animal care.”

Through Warrendale, they’ve built strong, reliable relationships with a small network of producers and growers. Calves arrive at around three weeks old, and from that point on, Tom and Danielle manage every stage of their development until they’re ready to move on.

There’s a rhythm to it now that brings both confidence and stability. It’s also given them the certainty to invest in their business in ways that once felt out of reach.

“The scheme has given us the confidence to invest in our future,” Danielle says. “From installing automatic milk feeders to recently gaining the tenancy of a larger farm.”

That next step is already underway. Soon, the couple will move to a nearby farm in Kerry, doubling their acreage and gaining larger buildings that will allow them to refine their system even further.

They’re not standing still. Their five-year plan is ambitious but grounded: to grow from rearing 500 calves a year to 1,000.

For Tom and Danielle, it’s not about rapid expansion. It’s about doing things properly, with care, clarity and a shared belief in what they’re building together.

Watch the video or see more case studies from Warrendale farmers.

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