MORE than 1,000 acres of prime Pembrokeshire grassland is for sale as a farming company puts two dairy farms on the market at a combined price of £10 million.

Frederick Hiam Ltd is selling Broadmoor Farm, near Talbenny and Corston Farm, near Hundleton, following a company restructure.

It is seen as one of Wales’s most important, high-quality sales for a number of years.

In May Suffolk-based Frederick Hiam Ltd, announced they would be closing the two farms and exiting dairy farming all together, resulting in the loss of eight jobs and sale of 700 dairy cattle.

A spokesman for the company said at the time: “Over the years the dairy herds have performed very well producing high milk yields at competitive cost but the downturn in farmgate prices over the past two years coupled with a depressing medium to long-term outlook for dairy farming forced the business to look very carefully at the prospects for the sector."

The farms are being sold separately with Broadmoor available in three lots and Corston in four. Broadmoor’s guide price is £6.2m for the whole, while Corston’s has been set at £3.8m.

Dan Rees of selling agent, Savills described Broadmoor Farm as one of the most important high quality farms to come onto the market in Wales for a number of years.

“The owners have run both Broadmoor and Corston as part of a wider business and there is potential for them to continue to operate in this way or for them to be sold as separate entities,’’ he said.

“Both farms have a considerable amount to offer in terms of land, buildings and machinery. As well as being set up for dairy farming there are a number of options for diversification of cropping and alternative use of buildings subject to planning.”

Broadmoor’s main operation is run from two farmsteads providing grazing and cubicle housing for the herd, plus a 40-point rotary parlour. The modern livestock buildings are portal framed and arranged around a collecting yard. Five houses are included too.

The ring-fenced land is put to pasture, maize and some wheat with about 500 acres capable of producing arable crops. The land is mainly level to gently sloping with good access and bordered to the north and west by coastline. Lot three – an old airfield strip and adjoining land – is about 127 acres.

Corston Farm, a 483 acre holding, has an extensive range of modern outbuildings include a 20:40 herringbone parlour, cubicle housing for around 300 cows, a covered collecting yard and feed and machinery stores.

There is an underground slurry system and five silage clamps. The farm also has two cottages and two bungalows.