PCHS Member Profile: Hilfield Herefords
When Mike Harris established the Hilfield Herefords herd in 2010, he wasn't following a family farming tradition. Instead, the herd represented an ambition to build something of his own: a pedigree beef enterprise founded on careful breeding, practical management and, from the very beginning, a strong focus on herd health.
Starting with just 10 heifers, the Dorset-based herd has steadily grown to around 35 breeding cows, alongside followers and stock bulls. While the enterprise began as a sideline to farming and contracting work, it has evolved into a respected pedigree operation with customers stretching across Southern England.
Mike, assisted by his wife Kate during busy periods such as calving and herd testing, runs the herd with a clear objective: producing functional, easy-calving cattle that work for commercial farmers.
"We identified a gap in the market locally for easy-calving bulls suitable for dairy farmers," explains Mike. "That remains an important part of what we do today."
The herd's reputation has been built around that practical approach. Bulls are now sold throughout southern England, and in recent years Mike has expanded the offering further by introducing Beef Shorthorn and Aberdeen Angus genetics to meet demand for both premium beef production and future suckler replacements.
Health Has Always Been Part of the Plan
Long before joining any formal health scheme, Mike recognised the importance of protecting the herd from disease challenges.
When sourcing the original foundation stock, cattle were carefully selected from the Suffolk coastline, helping reduce the risk of introducing bovine tuberculosis and giving the young herd the best possible start.
That mindset has continued as the business has developed. In 2017, Mike and Kate took on the tenancy of a Dorset Council farm, providing opportunities to expand while maintaining a strong focus on herd health and biosecurity.
It's a philosophy that influences decisions across the farm. Although many pedigree breeders enjoy the show circuit, Hilfield Herefords has largely chosen a different route.
"We don't show our cattle, mainly because we don't want to compromise the herd's health status," says Mike.
Instead, the focus remains firmly on producing healthy, reliable cattle for customers and protecting the standards the herd has worked hard to achieve.
The Value of Independent Health Monitoring
In 2020/21, Hilfield Herefords joined the Premium Cattle Health Scheme (PCHS) as another step in that ongoing commitment to herd health.
For Mike, the decision was driven by the needs of customers purchasing breeding stock.
"We wanted to provide our customers with extra reassurance that they were buying cattle with the best possible health status."
Supported by Kingston Veterinary Group and farm vets Gemma and Jenny, the scheme has helped provide independent verification of the herd's health credentials while complementing the management practices already in place.
Mike believes good herd health underpins everything else.
"If you start with a healthy core to a herd, other health and welfare aspects such as fertility and growth become much easier to manage."
Building a Reputation That Lasts
While awards have included multiple successes in the South West Hereford Association medium-sized herd competition, Mike is equally proud of something less tangible: customer loyalty.
Many sales are generated through repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations, demonstrating the confidence customers place in the cattle and the breeding programme behind them.
Looking ahead, maintaining that trust remains a priority. Alongside the challenges of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns on the Dorset coast, Mike sees continued herd health improvement as central to the future of the business.
"Our aim is to maintain the health status of the herd while continuing to serve both pedigree and commercial customers."
For Hilfield Herefords, herd health is woven into everyday decision-making and remains central to the herd's continued progress.
Posted by SRUC Veterinary Services on 21/08/2026
