A HUNNINGTON dairy farmer who had to make the "heartbreaking" decision to to sell 20 of her prize-winning herd is appealing for the public to help safeguard its future.
Lisa Window-Walker runs Horsepool Farm in Bromsgrove Road, which now has 70 remaining Ayrshire cattle.
She was forced to sell 20 cows who are due to give birth after most of its clients, in the hospitality industry, closed.
Lisa's dad Chris Window (pictured above with Lisa) started the farm with her mum Hazel 47 years ago - sadly he died three years ago.
For the last six years Lisa has been running the farm - she has help from her mum who does the paperwork and her nephew Chris Window, aged 20 and niece Catherine Jennings, aged 16, who has been working in the shop.
Her sister Karen Window, who is a nurse in A&E at Russells Hall Hospital, has also been helping out.
The farm is selling its fresh unpasteurised milk to the public from 8am till 11am and 3pm till 7pm every day - with social distancing being observed - to keep things ticking over.
People can take their own containers or they can be provided.
Lisa, aged 50, said: "We had to sell all the cows that would be calving - 20 cows.
"It's usually a very busy time of year for us, but we had to sell them because we couldn't handle more milk
"It was a sad day - but luckily we found a farmer in Cheshire who was expanding to take over the farm next to him so they will be milking cows.
"The price was ridiculously low because the price of milk has dropped and the cattle markets are not open.
"To load them up for next to nothing was heartbreaking.
"Hopefully things will be opening up before the next calves are due, in June."
Lisa, who is married to Paul, aged 53, who is a lorry driver and shows cattle for other farmers, said the farm has had a great response from the public.
She said: "Ayrshire milk is proven to be very natural - it has a very nice taste.
"We have had a terrific response from Facebook and have lots of people buying the milk and are really grateful to everyone supporting us.
"We can't turn off production and have feeding costs.
"The cows and their welfare is my priority.
"I'm a fighter and I don't quit - I'm not afraid of hard work and as long as we can cover the bills until things re-open we will have to manage."
Lisa said the Sikh community in Birmingham has been buying milk at cost price, with volunteers cooking it and giving it to the homeless.
She said the dairy usually sells to large Sikh temples including one on Soho road, but these are now closed.
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