Vanha-Savela Organic Farm

The Savela Farm has been owned by Kimmo Ruusu’s family since the early 1900s. The farm operated as a small-scale dairy until 1965, after which beef cattle were intermittently raised on the farm. Kimmo and Annukka Ruusu have owned the farm since he purchased it from his parents in 2002, when its name was changed to Vanha-Savela Farm.

Turkeys, ducks and geese were raised on Vanha-Savela Farm as a hobby for a couple years, after which a few Hereford bulls were brought in for breeding. In 2007, when the farm began to cultivate its own fields, there was no animal husbandry being practised at all. The Highland cattle entered the picture when the Ruusus had to come up with some way to engage in grass cultivation without having to sell it. The Ruusus chose Highland cattle due to their feed production characteristics, their delicious meat and majestic appearance. The cattle on the Vanha-Savela Farm belong to the National Health Classification Registry for suckler beef, Naseva, and the farm observes the terms of animal welfare support.

The first heifers arrived at the farm at the beginning of 2009. Later, the farm also began breeding trotting horses for harness racing. The farm has 20 suckler beef heifers and a stud bull. With the exception of the horses, the farm is subject to organic supervision for its fields and other animals. Calves born on the farm in the spring are weaned after the turn of the year, at which time the heifer calves are ready to be transferred to a new farm after being trained for harnessing. Bull calves, some of which will be chosen as stud animals, are left to grow on their own farm, while the rest are used for various meat produce to be sold in the farm shop. Breeding animals are also sold each year.

The future goals of the Vanha-Savela Farm are to produce naturally-raised, healthy, delicious and high-quality Highland meat in accordance with the principle of local food as well as to sell meat raised on the farm in its own shop. Every effort is made to ensure the well-being of the animals and they are allowed to live as their individual species should. The cows should be fertile, give birth easily and have lively calves. Stud animals are chosen using precise criteria to ensure that they possess strong breeding characteristics. The farm wants to raise healthy, well-proportioned and robust calves.

There will be 50-60 cows on the current field area. The farm produce includes ground beef, roasts, fillets and innards. The farm website (in finnish) contains a list of Rose`s cattle, an extensive organic meat price list and information on the breed.