This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Colin adds: “Probably the best cow in the herd at the moment is Highoaks Lauthority Joan 8, a cow that my wife Yvonne can take credit for. She cost 4800gns at the Highoaks dispersal and I stopped bidding at 3500gns, but Yvonne decided to take over bidding! Classified EX93 in her fourth lactation she is milking well and has bred a heifer by Jordan so far.”


“It is equally important to select bulls that will do the right job, this is something we enjoy with our focus on type, milk and health traits. Current proven sires are Sid, Contrast, Jordan, Lionheart, Fever, Lavanguard and Brawler,” explains Mark. Colin adds: “We use about 99.9% Semex bulls and are running about 50% genomics, however, genomics is moving so fast you can’t get a feel for what you are going to get.” “Genomics is moving too fast to mention bulls because we will likely have moved on before this goes to print,” say Mark. “That said we always like to use the best bulls.” “Talent is a sire that has been influential in the herd breeding super udders in his daughters. At the moment Jordan daughters are really pleasing us, they have good


ABOVE LEFT Two Atwood daughters out of Posh Flo and a Sunrise Smoothie in the middle.


ABOVE RIGHT Highoaks Lauthority Joan EX93, milking in her fourth lactation.


BELOW RIGHT Talent has been an influential sire in the herd with four typical daughters photographed.


udders, legs and rumps and are the most consistent heifers coming through, so we are using him again.


“Due to the strong pedigrees we have in the herd classifying is very important to make sure pedigrees aren’t broken. The herd currently has 78 EX and 380 VG cows and heifers”


As well as being a cow man Colin also likes to grow grass and with 1800 head of cattle to feed it is highly sought after and getting enough acres to cover the cow numbers is always something to watch. There are 850 acres grown in grass and 250 acres in wheat and barley, 700 acres are taken as first cut silage. After first cut 220 low yielders are turned out on 80 acres during the day, the remaining 620 acres is taken as second cut and 550 acres third cut, 100 acres of wheat and barley is also taken as whole-crop.


“Each year I like to reseed 150 acres to keep the leys young, there are no sheep taken on wintering anymore to allow grass to carry over the winter. It is vital to get slurry on at the right time and with five million gallons of storage in two lagoons it doesn’t force spreading, but the farm is in an NVZ which also restricts when slurry


THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2015 39


78 EX AND


380 VG COWS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132