The Rare Dairy is the UK’s only organic, rare breed, cow-with-calf microdairy.

We’re based at Abbey Farm in Ash, near Whitchurch, Shropshire. Unlike traditional dairies our herd of rare breed Shetland cows and calves are kept together until the calves are ready to wean naturally. This allows the cow and calf to form a strong bond, increasing health benefits for both animals, and producing a better quality of milk.

Our farm is wildlife-friendly meaning our beautiful Shetland cattle graze organic wild flower meadows, enabling them to provide us with raw milk as nature intended, unprocessed, pure and fresh from happy, healthy cows.

The Rare Dairy was set up in 2021 by dairy vet, traditional herbalist and farmers daughter Becky Bain. Becky is the third generation to farm the land and it was her dream to set up a new sustainable micro-dairy that supports rare breeds and cares for the farm’s wildlife.

Raw milk from our cow-with-calf dairy is sold to the local community within a five mile radius of Abbey Farm. Our intention is to expand our offering over the coming months and years to include low-temperature pasteurised milk, rare breed eggs, herbal remedies and other naturally-derived products, as well as a Herb & Nature School.

At the end of Becky’s life Abbey Farm will be left to the Soil Association Land Trust so that it can serve as the local community dairy in perpetuity.