28
THE HODGSON’S – A FAMILY OF SHARED
EXPERTISE Taking time to discuss ideas and seek out information from as many sources as possible is helping the Carlisle-based Hodgson family and recent winners of the Holstein UK Premier Herd award drive their dairy businesses forward.
or the Hodgson family, which is heavily involved in both the dairy sector and the Holstein breed, sharing knowledge and experience across the generations is vital to their success and with two different businesses run by brothers John and Harry, there is also some healthy competition too.
F
The brothers farmed in partnership until 1988 when John milked 70 cows at Holmes Mill and Harry 80 cows at Wormanby. Since then the businesses have taken different directions with a pedigree focus at Wormanby and in recent years Holmes Mill has increased numbers.
Now in the hands of the next generation, Harry’s son, David comments: “Growing up surrounded by six cousins of a similar age it has been the survival of the fittest. Social
The Holmeden and Wormanby herds are at the heart of the Cumbrian-based Hodgson family’s link to the dairy industry.
gatherings are filled with friendly banter.” Ian, John’s son, adds: “There is a healthy competitiveness within the family, we all want to achieve a high standard of what we do and be successful. Although in the past seven years I’ve turned the focus to numbers it is still interesting to follow what Harry and David are doing and keep an eye on their breeding. They have built up one of the best herds in the country and although we are doing things differently I’m still interested.”
John and Harry’s sister Marion Holliday has been helpful to both families through her role
at CIS. David benefitted from her expertise when he moved to online registrations combined with passport applications. “Marion was helpful at showing me how to use the online system. I have saved so much time now by combining all the paperwork.”
At Holmes Mill Ian has found Marion’s knowledge of the CIS system helpful as well as being kept up to date on the latest services and testing. “I like protocols that are taken out of my hands and running health tests alongside the milk testing is one example of this,” says Ian.
Marion is also playing a major
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