News:
| Official: Our Holstein Herds Are Top Class! |
 First Milk knows we’ve got lots of excellent herds across England, Scotland and Wales – but now it’s official. According to the latest Combined Fat and Protein (CFP) herd rankings from The Holstein Society, we’ve got some of the very best across the UK. The Annandale herd of W & J Armour at Dumfries topped the Scottish listings with 933kg of fat and protein from 123 cows, at an average yield of 12,387 kg. Butterfat levels were 4.31% fat and 3.22% protein. Although there is no combined UK listings, the farm eclipsed all other farms on the lists, with the next best herd producing 857 kgs of fat and protein. “Breeding and feeding are the secrets,” said Matthew Armour. “The farm has always put a strong emphasis on breeding – my great grandfather was one of the first to import Friesians into the UK from Holland during the First World War.” Unfortunately, the farm was taken out by Foot and Mouth Disease in 2001, but the herd was rebuilt again, specifically with cows capable of high fat and protein outputs. “They are extremely well fed, being on a TMR outside of the parlour using top quality ingredients, and a high performance compound feed in the parlour,” admitted Matthew. Average yields and quality (4% BF, 3.3% Protein and 7,000 litres) would produce around 510 kg CFP. The annual value of butterfat and protein payments per cow (excluding any other bonuses or adjustments) at that level would be around £1539. Matthew’s 933 kg CFP would net an income of £2,777, around 80% higher than the average. However it’s not all profit – there would naturally be higher costs associated with the additional yields. Ranked number seven for combined fat and protein for Scottish herds is the farm of Harry and James Walker, of Barwinnock Farm, Newton Stewart, Wigtonshire. The 200 milkers have an average yield of 10,534 litres, at 4.12% fat and 3.17% protein, giving an overall CFP of 768. Also making it into the top 10 is the farm of Robert and David Carruth of High Auchensale Farm, Renfrewshire – a mixed farm of 95 Black and Whites, yielding 10,500 litres, at 3.93% fat and 3.16% protein. For the third time, the farm of AH and FM Wilson at Tregibby, Cardigan in Ceredigion has topped the rankings for the highest yielding herd in Wales, at 828kgs. Milking 70 Holsteins and around 15 Jerseys, the average yields for the Black and Whites are 10,300 litres at a phenomenal 4.85% fat and 3.22% protein. The herd’s milk income is supplemented through not only heifer sales, but also through selling bulls. One of the up and coming sires at the moment, for example, is Tregibby Glen, who has already sold 14,000 doses. His heifers are calving down now for their first lactation, and some have already classified VG. |