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52


L to R: Shottle Lynda VG89, Shottle Willow VG88, Shottle Hyphen VG89, Shottle Snowdrop VG85.


Portway Matson Willow EX92 gave 11,081kg at 3.29%bf and 3.01%p in her third lactation.


The fresh group is currently being converted from a straw yard to sand, which will be the same as the far off dries who are currently housed on sand. For four weeks, pre calving cows are housed on a straw court.


“One of the biggest


improvements we have noticed since moving to the Greenfield site in 2009 has been that more space has resulted in less lameness. Advice was taken from Ian Ohnstad from The Dairy Group in the South West on the design of the shed and with completely open sides there is plenty of ventilation. Cows are now averaging 10,500kg at 3.8%bf and 3.25%p


Portway Dorcy Celia VG86 calved in February at 23 months old.


with a calving interval of 386 days,” he adds.


Mark has been classifying at Portway for about six years and feels it helps to build up pedigrees. The herd consists of 20 EX and 81 VG cows and heifers, with the highest classified cow in the herd being Portway Lucente Supreme EX94 who has produced 97t lifetime. “Although I enjoy getting a VG heifer or an EX cow, I’m looking for productive cows and have started to genomic test heifer calves which gives me a good picture of their make up before breeding them.”


As well as classifying Mark has also entered the Oxfordshire NMR Herd Competition for the


Portway Farm was built on a Greenfield site in 2009.


past four years and has won the large herd section three out of the four years. The herd has also won the individual cow, individual heifer and progeny group on three occasions. Among the herd, prominent families include the Willow family with Portway Bolton Willow EX91-2E being one that stands out having given 12,499kg at 4.05%bf and 3.1%p in her third lactation. Other family members include sisters Portway Matson Willow EX92 and the three year old Portway Shotttle Willow VG88. The Matson calved in to her third lactation at four years one month and produced 11,081kg at 3.29%bf and 3.01%p, while


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