ABOUT US
Rich Creek Farm is a family owned & run farm established in 2013 in Koppies, in the northern Free State of South Africa, Approximately 120kms south of Johannesburg. Our main projects are free range chicken, dairy goats and cattle, vegetable market gardening. We are passionate about farming sustainably and are geared towards producing food that appeals to the health conscious individual.
The farm is 72.7 Hectares in extent (approx. 180 acres), near Koppies dam. Koppies dam, fed by the Renoster river, is part of the Vaal river system.
WHAT WE DO
Fundamentally, Rich Creek Farm, is a family farm. We strongly believe in living sustainably, in harmony with nature to preserve the world for generations to come. We strive to produce natural, fresh, healthy, organic food, free from genetic modification.
These values are amongst some of the reasons that got us into farming. Great care is taken into avoiding careless use of antibiotics. Use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, hormones and steroids are strictly prohibited on our farm.
If its not good enough for our consumption, it should not be good enough for our customers
Dairy is the mainstay activity of the farm. Born out of a family’s love of cattle. The Jersey breed was initially chosen from the beginning as it is smaller and thus easier to work with. Guernseys were added to the operation later, as the general focus was on producing high quality milk naturally from the grass produced by these Channel Island breeds. The milk has higher levels of minerals, fat, and protein that make it easier to value-add the milk by producing Amasi (Sour Milk), Yoghurt and Cheese. Studies have shown grass-fed milk to have a higher content of vitamins A and E and carotenoid antioxidants like beta c-carotene. Jerseys and Guernsey breeds also have a high feed to milk conversion ratio with lower feed requirements well suited to smaller farms such as Rich Creek. These breeds mature early and are hardier than other dairy breeds. They also have a lot of personality and are very intelligent.
Some 10,000 years ago, a mutation occurred that affected most European cattle. This mutation causes some Bos taurus cattle to produce milk with a 67th protein peptide that is dissimilar to that produced by other mammals. This milk is called A1 milk. All other mammals (people, monkeys, goats, mice, etc.) produce A2 milk. A2 milk is thus a more natural and ultimately healthier protein for humans. It is further suggested that people who experience dietary discomfort when drinking cow's milk may experience relief when they switch to A2 milk, as they may be reacting to the A1 protein.
The Rich-Creek farm dairy cattle are being bred, using technologies such as Artificial Insemination, DNA testing, and synchronization, towards being a 100% A2-A2 herd. We believe this is the most natural and healthiest type of milk to supply the health-conscious niche market. We are among the first in South Africa to breed our animals exclusively for A2 Genetics.
This project is relatively small but growing in leaps and bounds at Rich-Creek Farm. The breed which we rear is Saanen. Saanen goats are goats that originate from the Saanen region in Western Switzerland. This large frame milk goat breed produces higher volumes of milk (Averaging 3L per ewe per day). The idea with the goats is to have a herd of 40-50 dedicated to cheese production. We would also like to produce milk for neonatal babies who react to their mother’s milk, Orphaned babies or children with malnutrition as Goat Milk is the closest alternative to human milk.
Health conscious mothers or crèche (Child care organisations) who would like to order natural pasteurised goat milk from us can contact us directly.
We only milk for 200-210days instead of 240days to give the ewes a longer rest period.
We try gear the production of free range chicken for the health conscious individual. We try provide our clients chicken that has been produced at a natural rate, do not use unnecessary antibiotics, growth hormones or specialised feed. Farm fresh, tasty, juicy chicken as nature intended. We do keep a mixed flock to keep a health mixture of genetic variation but they are more Rhode Island Red and Boschvelder type. We do produce very tasty eggs and chicken. To order organic chicken from us can contact us directly.
Eight Hectares of the new site has been left exclusively for vegetable production under borehole irrigation. This includes cabbage, spinach, carrots, onions, rape, pumpkins and other brachia’s
There are no chemical fertilisers used. Great care is taken into production of healthy naturally grown vegetables. We go to great length to desist from “factory farming” approach. Anyone interested in our products, please do not hesitate to contact us directly
Fish, Geese and Rabbits as well as our trusty team of rottweilers that keep guard and sound the alarm when something, anything or sometimes even when nothing is wrong!!
Products
- Amasi
- Fresh Milk
- Yoghurt
- Goat Cheese
- Free Range Chicken and Eggs
- Vegetables (Depending on season)
CONTACT US
Orders must placed before Friday and will be delivered on Sunday if you stay in the Johannesburg area.
Our contact number is 084 455 2477 or email on marcus@richcreekfarm.co.za