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She lived to 17 year old and produced 150t, however, there is only one descendant in the herd.
Families that have come to the fore are ones that both William and Will feel offer an all round package. William says: “Both Will and I like a cow that is medium sized and combines production with longevity, while being trouble free. The Lorna and Jeanettes are families that are proving to be consistent performers and breeders in the herd.
“Alsopledale Dambuster Lorna and Alsopledale Loader Jeanette are examples of the solid cows these families produce. Functional long life cows are crucial to cementing a future in the industry.” Pandora is a family that was established from a Vanguard daughter purchased from the Farleton herd before the Alsopledale cows were sold in 2002. Alsopledale Shottle
Pandora EX90 is another cow that has bred well. She produced 60t and is also the dam of stock bull Alsopledale Phoenix.
Phoenix is a Buckeye son and his daughters are selling well at auction with heifers sold fresh at Leek Pedigree Sales, as well as a few sold privately. Another family descending from Farleton was the Alsopledale Myrose 22, classified EX90 she completed 10 lactations and produced over 100t. Sired by Kirkblythe Dazzler she won Cogent’s Best of Visions in 2013. She bred two Excellent and one VG daughter, with both Excellent daughters in turn breeding an Excellent daughter. “We’ve been fortunate to win the Derbyshire herd competition several times, including 1998 – 2000 consecutively and more latterly best medium herd in 2015. Following the initial run of success the milking herd
was sold in 2002 to Messrs Todhunter from Carlisle, who were restocking after FMD,” explains William.
“The sale coincided with Will’s study at Harper Adams and allowed easier management for me, with only 15 milkers left. With 50 in-calf heifers due to calve that year the herd was soon building up again and without buying anything in we were soon building the herd back up gradually.”
When it comes to breeding as well as using stock bulls on heifers the family prefer to use proven UK sires rather than genomic bulls. “Currently we’re using Seaver, Contrast and Woodmarsh Zoro. We have found that daughters of proven UK sires turn out the best,” explains Will.
“It is easier to use a stock bull on heifers while they are out at grass between May and December. Currently Dalbank Vala is the junior stock bull,
Alsopledale Loader Jeanette, pictured as a VG heifer she then scored VG88 as a second calver and gave 12,565kg in her second lactation.
Alsopledale Dambuster Lorna, classified VG85 as a heifer.
The Alsopledale herd is run over 220 acres in the Peak Park, running up to 1200ft.
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