Cuttlebrook Farm is owned and run by Mark Davis, co-author of the Interpet Encyclopaedia of Koi, and his wife Lisa.  The site was chosen by Mark some years ago as an ideal location mainly due to the abundant supply of chalk stream water and good quality clay soil which would hold water once the ponds were dug and enable the Koi to develop their colours to the full by making use of all the nutrients and minerals within them.  None of the Koi on the farm have been imported but have all been bred on site by Mark and Lisa.

The visit started with a tour of the mud ponds where Mark explained the day-to-day running of the farm.  Mark has 6 natural mud nursery ponds each of approximately 300 square metres giving a gallonage of some 77,000 which hold the current year's fry and Koi in their 2nd year.  The larger Koi live in 2 lakes which have a surface area of 2,000 square feet, are 1.5 metres deep and hold approx 660,000 gallons each! 

The Farm produces Koi of various varieties including; Shusui, Yamabuki Harawake, Chagoi, Soragoi, Ochiba Shigure, Shiro Utsuri, Sanke and Kohaku. A sight to behold was when Mark removed the lid of a big metal bin next to the pond and clanged it like a gong calling the fish to dinner!  The frenzy on the surface of the water when fighting for food was a foaming riot of colour and Mark proudly put paid to the theory that UK bred Koi never achieve a true red!

The next highlight of the day was the start of the club's annual "Growing-on Competition" where members were to choose their fish for this event.  Mark had chosen this year's breed as Shiro Utsuri and had a selection of 6" fish ready for us in a display tank.  Each member wishing to take part purchased a raffle ticket for £25.00; the tickets were then pulled from a hat to determine the order in which the fish were to be chosen. Embarrassingly enough I was the last to arrive and the first ticket to be drawn and so I had to choose too much catcalling and jeering by the rest of the club!  Once selected each fish was moved to a smaller tank to be photographed, each fish will then photographed in 18 months time and the two photos compared to assist in the judging.  Other factors used when judging the competition includes the type of pond in which each fish is kept i.e.; indoor/outdoor and whether it is heated or not.

Simon Law
Chairman/PRO
BKKS Northants Section