The cows who supply Tom Parker Creamery milk are all part of mixed breed herds. These herds are made up of Swedish Reds, Jersey, British Friesian and Holstein cows and this is what makes our milk taste as delicious and creamy as it is.

It is now estimated that 20% of dairy cows in the UK are confined indoors all year round with this figure increasing all the time.
Our farmers are committed to giving their cows freedom to graze naturally in fields. The girls enjoy at least 180 days and nights outdoors a year, usually more depending on the weather. This is their natural habitat and where both the cows and the farmers are happiest.
When it’s too muddy, the cows won’t enjoy the grass as it gets tainted with mud so they tend to go hungry.

During the spring, summer and early autumn when the cows tend to be outside, they are free to chew on the fresh luscious pastures to their hearts content.
When the cows come indoors during the colder and wetter weather, grass is still the main component (no less than 60%) of a cow’s diet but this time in the form of silage or hay. Because silage doesn’t have quite as much nutrients as fresh grass, ours cows often enjoy cereals such a crimped maize for sugars and starches, and bought in cow cake and rape meal to ensure they get a balanced diet.

Like us, cows don’t like wet weather and mud so in the winter months, when the grass stops growing, they are brought indoors to be housed in warm and dry sheds.
The sheds are pretty luxurious where cows are concerned though and each cow has an individual well bedded cubicle to lie down in. Did you know that cows spend around 14 hours a day lying down resting and ruminating? These cubicles have mattresses and sawdust to keep the cows as comfy as possible and are changed daily as well as being sanitised with lime.

Routine use of medicines isn’t used on any of our herds as we believe that a good diet, plenty of space to roam and socialise are all key to healthy and happy cows.
Every morning and evening our cows naturally queue up for milking in the same order, so if one is behaving differently our farmers notice straight away and can take necessary action if required.

Cows are very social animals and when they’re out in the fields, you can often see them gathering in groups. This doesn’t change in the winter months when they’re indoors as we make sure they have a communal area to get together, a loafing area. This is a light open space where they can gather when they’re not lying down. These spaces are often by open doors so the cows can venture outside for a bit if it’s not too cold and wet for them.

When our cows are indoors during the winter months, we have brushes in all of the light and airy sheds in various places as our girls love nothing more than a good scratch. As well as helping to keep themselves clean, this also helps ward off any potential mites and is pretty relaxing for them too. They also have salt licks as an extra stimulant as well.

It is well known in farming circles across the world that cows are drawn to music. We like to play our cows music when they come in for milk, as like humans, it helps them to relax and has a calming influence on them.

We are an artisan brand produced in Britain (dedicated glass production site in the UK) and proud to support the British dairy and farming industry (using only British milk).

We pride ourselves in meeting modern day challenges (e.g. Brexit, Covid) and providing customers with products that are relevant to them and their families needs by sourcing quality ingredients for all our products.

We are respectful to our environment, our animals (cows), our staff, our customers, our suppliers and our ‘family’ (consumers).

We are resourceful, innovative, creative and imaginative which has helped get Tom Parker Creamery to where it is today and continues to drive it forward.