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We believe all year round housing is the best way forward for us


David Pullin


In 1974 the Pullin family returned to the family farm at Leonard Stanley, bringing with them their herd of Holstein Friesians and gradually phasing out the resident commercial herd which was mainly Dairy Shorthorn cross. “The herd has continued to expand from that day forward and we’re now targeting 250 cows which I believe will be maximum capacity for the farm, particularly bearing in mind our central village location. “We could probably manage more cows, but sat right in the middle of the village we have to think carefully about lorry movements and the impact a larger herd could have on our neighbours. We also have fi ve holiday cottages situated on the edge of the farmyard and have to bear that in mind too.” When it comes to breeding the Pullin family have a clear aim to keep type at the very forefront of their minds when selecting bulls, working closely with the World Wide Sires mating programme to select bulls carefully matched to individual cows. “We have always been careful to


pick bulls for each cow or heifer with the aim of improving the next generation, looking to correct faults and maximise the potential of every generation.





ABOVE RIGHT Primans Silver Artful VG88 is by Primans Silver and out of an EX90


scored dam by Toystory then an EX90 Duplex and an EX91 Inquire.


RIGHT Primans Duplex Twig is scored EX93 and has given 60 tonnes to date, she is backed by two generations of VG dams.


THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2015 57


COW HERD -TARGET IS


“And with inbreeding becoming more of a concern in the breed we felt the sensible approach was to utilise a mating programme to avoid it causing any issues for us,” he says. “Now every cow is scored and bulls picked to meet both the type requirements we’re after and also avoid the danger of breeding too closely down a particular line. We pick out a range of bulls we’d like to use and then a recommendation is given from that list for each cow,” explains David.


“Looking back there are a number of bulls which have been real herd builders for us through the years, each leaving a real stamp on the herd and ensuring the herd progressed. “Going back the bull with the biggest impact would undoubtedly have to be Plasnewydd Leo, he left


220 250


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