Former Accountant Transforms into Successful Dairy Farmer on the Isle of Man

Carl’s journey into farming began in 2006, shortly after completing his business degree. He acquired 34 hectares (85 acres) of land to raise a suckler herd while maintaining his accountancy career. By 2007, with the assistance of a £20,000 Young Farmers and New Entrants Start-Up Grant, Carl constructed the first shed on his property, laying the groundwork for what would become a fully operational dairy farm.

In 2012, Carl left his accounting job to focus entirely on his farming dream. He purchased a second-hand Fullwood milking setup, which included a 16-point parlour, a 1,600-litre bulk tank, and essential water heaters, all for £8,000. Over six months, he installed the system, eventually modifying it to an eight-point swingover parlour with Automatic Cluster Removers (ACRs) and milk meters.

With his infrastructure in place, Carl purchased 24 heifers and began milking, initially using the milk to feed calves. By 2014, Carl and his wife Sarah launched Aalin Dairy, a business that not only produced milk but also delivered it directly to customers' doorsteps.

The business started modestly, with Carl handling everything fr om milking cows to washing glass bottles, pasteurizing, bottling, and delivering the milk. Over the past decade, the operation has grown significantly, with milk rounds increasing to nine, now serviced by electric vans that cover the northern half of the Isle of Man. The farm itself has been built from the ground up over the last 18 years, including the completion of a farmhouse in 2015 and an indoor silage pit in 2022. Carl also expanded the farm's land by purchasing an additional 8 hectares (21 acres) from a neighbor in 2020.

Cronk Aalin Farm’s herd, which initially comprised mainly Holstein Friesians, has diversified to include Montbeliarde and Ayrshire breeds, chosen for their adaptability to the farm’s hilly terrain, which ranges from 480 to 900 feet above sea level. The herd’s average yield is between 6,000 and 7,000 litres per cow annually, with milk constituents averaging 4.8% butterfat and 3.4% protein. Carl prefers the Montbeliarde breed for their strength and durability, essential traits for cows grazing on challenging hill farm terrain.

The cows graze from March to November, supplemented with 2kg of a 17% concentrate feed in the parlour. During the winter, they are housed in cubicles bedded with straw and fed a mixed ration of grass silage, pea and barley wholecrop, rolled oats, and a 20% protein cake at 4kg per cow per day.

Carl is focused on maintaining simplicity and efficiency in farm operations. Despite the farm’s growth, he continues to prioritize straightforward practices. The farm's most significant investment has been in machinery, allowing them to independently harvest forage using a Lely Storm forager and two 8.5-tonne silage trailers. Looking ahead, Carl aims to enhance farm efficiency and reduce costs, a particular challenge on the Isle of Man, wh ere high shipping costs inflate input prices.

While the Isle of Man enjoys freedom from bovine tuberculosis (TB) and Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), export and import challenges due to geographic isolation and biosecurity concerns, such as the current ban on importing stock due to the UK’s bluetongue outbreak, present ongoing challenges for the farm.

Carl Huxham’s story is a testament to the power of determination and the ability to adapt, turning a passion for farming into a successful and sustainable business that continues to thrive on the Isle of Man.