Former NFU dairy chair Michael Oakes switches from dairy to beef after a clear TB test and worries over succession, losing FBT land and a recent health scare

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<p>After 40 years, West Midlands dairy farmer and former NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes decided to quit milking, sold his 200 holstein dairy herd and started a new venture rearing 200 plus beef cattle on his Bournville Village Trust tenant farm on the southern outskirts of Birmingham. A decision which he described as ‘really tough&apos; and initially something he was reluctant to share with anyone else, over concerns people would think he had &apos;failed&apos;.  <br/><br/>Mr Oakes said there was not one single factor which led to his decision to quit, but a combination of factors including going clear of TB after being shut down for many years, the lack of succession with both his two sons pursuing other careers, a health scare after having a mini stroke, and his landlord wanting to take FBT land back in hand. He has since started a new venture, looking after 200 plus beef herd, which he will take to finish as part of a bed and breakfast scheme run by Buitelaar. He said, he still found it &apos;difficult&apos; not milking every morning, but it was easier now there was cattle back on the farm.</p><p><a target="_blank" href="https://www.buzzsprout.com/2206410/fan_mail/new">Message us</a></p>