Stehammar’s castle just outside Flen is owned by the state but leased by King Carl Gustaf. Almost 20 years ago, in 2005, the estate embarked on a new path and it was decided that the company would invest in meat animal production. Now the result is clearly visible both in the landscape and in the financial statements.
– This was completely overgrown before. There was forest all around the farm, says operations manager Per Rudengren and points to an oak hill.
Has affected the landscape
Above all, what has changed the landscape is the almost 300 meat animals that graze the land. They keep the landscape open but also get help from forest workers who every two years clear the sly that the cows don’t roam.
A look at Stenhammar’s estate administration’s financial statements for 2023 shows that the last few years have been successful. The company’s turnover has doubled in five years.
In 2019, the company had a turnover of SEK 4.9 million and made a profit of SEK 70,000. Five years later, in 2023, that number was 11.6 million and the profit was written at just under one million kroner.
Forced to large fellings
To some extent, rising turnover is due to the ravages of the spruce bark borer. The company has been forced to cut more forest than it had wanted.
– In principle, we have doubled the growth over three years, says Rudengren.
According to him, most of the farm’s firs are now gone, and thus also the unwanted borer.
The King’s Scottish Beauties
The financially good years have meant that the king has had room to invest in something that is not expected to give a major financial return – namely animals of the Scottish Belted Galloway breed.
For a few years now, a black and white cattle has been found on the land around Stenhammar. According to Per Rudengren, the breed is known for being easy to deal with, kind animals that are good at grazing both grass and slush.
– If you have a company that is doing well, you can treat yourself to this. I can agree with the king on that, says Rudengren.
In the video clip above, Per Rudengren tells more about the Belted Galloway and how he reacted when the king proposed that the breed be introduced at Stenhammar.