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Eastknook Stanleycup Gem 2 is from the herd’s most consistant families and is Richard’s favourite at the moment.
parlour. It was a major decision, we either had to give up or invest heavily in a new unit. “With three families now living on the farm, once we decided to keep going the decision was also made to increase numbers to help provide for us all.” Assisting them on the farm are three employees; Martin Bone, Neil Stauber and Simon Cuff, Simon’s wife Katherine and daughter Emily also help with relief milking, as well as five night milkers.
The farm now totals 750 acres with 450 acres and the steading tenanted, 200 acres owned and the rest on short term lets. There is also a further 500 acres 20 miles from the farm that is contract farmed. In addition to the cubicle shed already built on the new site for 90 cows, two more sheds were built adding an additional 215 cubicles, as well as a 30:30 GEA parlour.
Cows were previously housed on shallow sand beds and this changed to deep sand beds in the new system with sand purchased from Southampton. “The herd was averaging 10,200 litres sold on twice a day milking in the old system. Moving to the new system increased production to 11,400 litres, purely on better cow comfort, more space, more light and less bullying.”
The new shed has 15ft feed passages with Wilson 8.5ft head
Eastknook Galaxy Shaz is a daughter of Washfold Bolton Sharon with a gPLI of 430.
Eastknook Fever Raquel classified VG86 at 23 months old and she is a descendent of Boltonmanor Tab Raquel VG88.
to head cubicles and single 9ft cubicles, with the aim of having one cow per cubicle. Cows are run in three main groups; breeding, pregnant and late lactation, while there is also a fresh calved group.
“In July 2014 the decision was made to milk three times a day and this increased production to 12,500 litres sold,” explains Richard.
As well as keeping an eye on the herd’s commercial performance Richard is still interested in good pedigrees. In a group of heifers purchased from Germany he has members of the Redrose and Windsor-
The forage portion of the cow’s diet is made up of 60% maize and 40% grass.
Manor Zip families, which were purchased while restocking due to TB.
He has also purchased a half share in an Observer heifer out of Washfold Bolton Sharon which has subsequently been sold. She has two daughters in the herd, an Alta-Oak that has a gPLI of 470, that has Penly eggs and pregnancies and a Galaxy daughter with a gPLI of 430 has eggs and pregnancies by Supershot. Richard’s ideal cow is one that he hardly notices. “My ideal cow is one that takes care of herself in our system, is about 60 inches tall, correct
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