ABOVE LEFT Purchased for 2800gns Sahara Goldwyn Sara 2 had a VG87 Windbrook daughter sold at the Black and White 2014 for 3500gns.


ABOVE RIGHT Bridge End Sid Sheer VG88 2yr, second at AgriScot 2013.


LEFT Three heifer calves by Goldwyn have been born out of Shylane Jasper Harriet EX95.


can be spread. I also only use nitrogen on the fields, this is cheaper than 20:10:10 and


works well for us.”


The herd has been on a complete diet for 20 years, but that is going to change in the new parlour when cows will be fed to yield in the parlour to encourage them on to the rotary. On top of grass silage and whole-crop the diet consists of draff, soya, rape, soda grain, mega lac, distillers, soya hulls, crimped barley and wheat syrup. Two rations are mixed with one for high yielders and one for lows, it is a job that takes four hours each day just to feed everything. However, Colin and Mark plan to zero graze in 2015 with an aim to reduce costs. Most young stock are reared on the farm with 100 heifers contract reared at Ulverston to ease management, they go at four months old and return as in-calf heifers having been served with sexed semen.


HERD FACTS


Cow numbers: 950 total with 850 milking Average lactation: 9700kg 3.7%bf and 3.2%p Milk buyer: Payne Dairies, white water contract Classification: 78 EX and 380 VG Sires: Sid, Contrast, Jordan, Lionheart, Fever, Lavanguard, Brawler and the latest and best genomic sires.


40 THE JOURNAL FEBRUARY 2015


Other heifers are reared at Powis House, a neighbouring steading the Dent’s own. All maiden heifers are served with sexed semen up to three times and are served on size rather than age, with an average calving age of 26 months. Colin and Mark’s laid back attitude means they don’t get too stressed over management and with 10 staff including five Polish and one man who is capable of day to day running they are able to take care of the overall management and are also able to enjoy holidays and cow related trips throughout the year. “We are lucky to have a local man who can be left in charge and manage the day to day running of the farm. Most of the milking is carried out by the Polish staff and they organise their shifts which is hassle free for us, however, Mark and I do enjoy milking and like to be involved – it allows us to keep an eye on what is happening and is also a good chance to admire


cows when they come in with full udders,” says Colin.


“As the numbers have increased I’ve had to delegate more and to be honest once we got over 500 cows the extra numbers haven’t made much difference to us, but we have been very lucky with staff.”


Also assisting the running of the herd are routine weekly visits from Westpoint Vets to carry out fertility work, which is made easier with an automatic shedding and handling system on the exit from the parlour – this will be moved to the new parlour. David Jacklin takes care of Nutrition and running the Semex Mating Programme looks after inbreeding in the herd which is an on-going concern.


Cost of production is something that is readily talked about and is a major focus considering the current drop in milk price. “Our total production for the last quota year was 8.7 million litres which means a milk price below the cost of production can escalate losses rapidly. Our milk is sold to Payne Dairies on a white water contract and the herd average is 9700kg at 3.7%bf and 3.2%p. “We are always looking at ways of improving herd health and fertility and it is something we need to focus on more going forward, which will be helped by the new computer system in the new parlour. In theory we should be more efficient being a larger herd, but it is an economy of scale – with bigger gains there are also larger losses.”


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