MEET THE NEW CHAIRMAN ANDREW DUTTON
For incoming Holstein UK chairman Andrew Dutton, it is very much a case of openness and inclusiveness, as he leads the organisation forward through what look to be diffi cult times for the dairy sector
W
ithout a doubt the dairy industry and by its nature Holstein UK is going through and facing some tough times, but new chairman Andrew Dutton is very much focussed on evolution within the organisation and it’s subsidiary companies rather than revolution. “Our members and staff are our greatest strength and everyone should feel they are an important part of Holstein UK. The organisation has a big role to play in ensuring the future profi tability and sustainability of its members’ businesses,” says Andrew. Back at home Andrew and his brother Roy milk 160 cows at Brookley Meadows Farm, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with an average yield of 9500kg at 4.10% butterfat and 3.15% protein run on a total of 350 acres, 100 of which is arable, with a further 40 acres of maize grown on contract.
“The herd has been pedigree since the 1980s, but the family has been milking since 1957 when my mother and father fi rst moved here. I was interested in pedigrees, so we graded up the original herd and have built it up from there,” he explains.
And like many breeders, Andrew is focussed on ensuring his herd is
fi t for the future as much as for today. “Type is the focus for us at the moment, we’re aiming for good locomotion and capacity which in turn lead to longevity and fi tness throughout the herd. “We’re not a show herd, but I want our cows to be functional and suited to the modern dairy industry, particularly as we have in the past sold good numbers of fresh calved heifers and surplus cows through Leek market.”
Leading families in the herd now include the Solitaire, Daisy, Molly and Josepha lines, he explains. The Solitaire family originates from a
12 THE JOURNAL DECEMBER 2014
cow bought from the Newroddige herd in 1992, with descendants of this line winning in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire herd competitions.
Meanwhile, the Josephas come from a batch of 25 heifers imported from France in 1996 having lost a number of animals to a BSE Cohort cull. And, the Daisies and Molly’s come from original lines which were graded up from when the herd started down the pedigree route.
Currently 70 of the herd are classifi ed VG or Excellent, with a calving index of 409 and cows offered a TMR all year round as well as grazing during the day in summer. Sires such as Shottle, Toy Story, Final Cut, Outbound, Talent, Buckeye and Million have all had a positive impact, with several
TOP Andrew Dutton milks 160 cows at Brookley Meadows Farm, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, with an average yield of 9500kg.
RIGHT Andrew says he has great family and staff support, such as herdsperson Kate Weston, allowing him to take on the chairmanship role, where he hopes to further make Holstein UK an open and inclusive organisation.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AGRIPHOTO
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