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bulls which are positive for the butterfat and protein components and this is where genomic bulls can be used to our advantage. Their DNA can tell us what components they transmit to their offspring. It is a much quicker and efficient way than waiting for a bull to become proven to find out how their daughters perform.
RESTRICTIONS I would like to see more
restrictions on larger units to stop them expanding as they are flooding the market place with milk. This allows the retailer to keep the milk price down and, therefore, forces smaller family-run farms out of business. On my agenda, the government could allow farms that have X amount of acres to milk X amount of cows, e.g. a farm with 100 acres can be limited to milking 100 cows. This would allow the farmer to produce enough forage to feed his herd and also would have enough area to get rid of the slurry. This would stop land from being over polluted with slurry.
MILK PRICING In order to keep things fair
between the larger and smaller dairy herds, I would want there to be a base price rather than having the vast variation in price that we see today. Milk prices are currently ranging from anything as low as 15p a litre to 30p a litre. It seems so absurd that farmers are getting paid different rates for exactly the same product. As of September 2015, Müller Booths are paying their suppliers 35p a litre whereas First Milk producers are receiving 16.62p a litre.
FORAGE
Farmers are going to need to focus on being more economical and producing
home-grown forages of greater quality to save having to buy in so many concentrates. This can be achieved by regularly reseeding pastures and cutting smaller grass yields more frequently throughout the summer. We can learn from other countries who use forage by taking more regular cuts. In Holland, a country with a similar climate to the UK, the grass is younger and the digestibility of dry matter (D value) is high. The average D value of silage in Holland is 10% higher than the UK, at 77% compared to about 68%.
BREEDING To be cost effective on the
farm, dairy farmers need manageable, long lasting cows that do not need a lot of attention and care and do not cost a lot to produce milk. Breeding this type of cow can be achieved by using high £PLI bulls. The UK’s main breeding index was revised in September 2014 to include a maintenance figure. “The £PLI, has an increased emphasis on health and fitness traits at about 68% of the total index (previously it was 55%) and a reduced emphasis on production at 32%. Within this shift there’s more emphasis on female fertility;
both direct and maternal calving ease have been introduced; and a new figure has been added to reflect the costs of maintaining the cow.” [AHDB]. Higher £PLI animals are not only more manageable, but they are also more profitable and cost- effective to a dairy farmer. In conclusion, my agenda is about the promotion of the dairy industry’s products and their corresponding health benefits. There is no better time to be endorsing milk as a protein fuelled recovery drink than today, in the current health and fitness craze. However, in order to keep dairy farms in business, farmers need to look at areas that can be improved on farm, so that a healthy herd and profitable income can be achieved. My agenda includes a fair and level playing field for all dairy farmers, big or small. It also comprises of observing other countries that have a more profitable dairy industry. “Dutch dairy farms are getting 1600 – 1700 litres/ cow more milk from forage than their UK counterparts” [AHDB]. In order for dairy farmers to be the best they can be, we must all “Adopt, Adapt, Improve.”
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