51
Holstein sires, we are now able to select the best cows to breed from.”
And in terms of the best ones, currently the herd totals 52 Excellent cows including 31 multiple scoring Excellent, 154 VG, 129 GP and eight Good. “We are on Holstein Complete for recording, registrations and classifying, which is good value and hassle free.” Whitsand Myra Wade EX95- 7E is, according to Peter, the best cow he has ever bred. She produced 100 tonnes in nine lactations and gained six weeks in her calving time. She was flushed to Canyon Breeze Allen and Mr Sam and her grandson by Mr Sam, out of Whitsand Shottle Myra 4 VG88, is currently being used as the herd’s stock bull. The herd’s highest yielding cow in the herd now is Whitsand Weaver Lilac EX93-8E. Currently in her tenth lactation she has produced 115,600kg to date and is the first cow in the herd to score Excellent eight times. “She is my favourite at the moment, although past looking her best she is still going strong,” comments Peter. Whitsand Shottle Reba EX90- 3E is the herd’s milkiest cow having produced 92,963kg in five lactations. She is now fresh in her sixth lactation and a young bull from this family is being used to sweep up with in- calf heifers.
There are currently 21 milking daughters by Wyman, which
Peter thinks are impressive and has high hopes for, other heifers and second calvers that are catching their eye are by Asterix, Fever and Alliance. “There have been a number of bulls that have had an influence on the herd over the years including Aerostar who along with his sons left a good stamp in the early years. Valpas Arpagone, Juror Capri and Igniter progeny won the progeny group competition in the Cornwall Herd Competition and Shottle has left some super cows in the herd. Toystory’s have been milky, but lack a little style.
“Currently we have some great senior cows by Zenith and Design along with impressive junior cows by Colby and Durham Ross,” adds Peter. “I prefer to use proven bulls, although having been sceptical, I’m also using a few genomic bulls. I like to go back and use what has worked well and with the best bulls I’m happy to use them over three years.” Currently the bulls in the tank are Asterix, Twist, Atwood, McCutchen, Planet, Fever and Dempsey. Milk is sold to Trewithen Dairy, a small independent processer that is supplied by 27 local farms. “Our milk price has dropped drastically like everyone else. We are constantly looking to tighten up and improve our business model. Wihtout a doubt the current crisis has focussed my
mind on efficiency, but also I’m conscious we need to keep going forward and progressing.” This progression has also seen the herd feature in top accolades such as winning the best large herd in the Cornwall Herd Competition in 2014 and Jason also won the Perran Church Cup for the best young member in the Cornish Club. Local showing is undertaken with the second calved Whitsand Goldmine Flora taking interbreed dairy champion and reserve supreme of show at Yealmpton Show. Fresh in May, she is classified VG88 and is still giving 40kg. Meanwhile, at Liskeard Show Whitsand Twist Iris stood first prize heifer and reserve breed champion. Other show highlights include first heifer and senior cow at Yealmpton, first dry cow, production and inspection and group of three at Liskeard and at the Royal Cornwall Show the herd picked up third in the junior heifer class and fourth in the third calvers. “We tend to show regionally as a shop window to promote the herd, but also for our own pleasure. With so many pressures in the day to day running of a dairy herd, there has to be a little light relief away from the farm and showing provides this for us along with fishing, waterskiing in our speed boat and shooting when time allows,” adds Peter.
In-calf heifers are out all year round, strip grazing on hybrid kale and turnips.
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