REARSBY HERD FEATURE
The Rearsby herd is a blend of Friesian and Holstein that works well on a grazing system where cows are out for nine months of the year
grassland and another 50 acres are rented for growing maize.
Most of the milk is sold to the local Long Clawson dairy to be made into Stilton cheese, with the remainder used by Peter and his wife, Cheryl, in their successful yogurt business which has won awards at the Nantwich Show. They sell their ‘Manor Farm’ yogurts through many local shops, including 14 Waitrose stores. High milk quality is, therefore, a high priority when selecting sires.
ith a history dating back more than 60 years the Holmes family are dedicated Friesian breeders, although the current herd only dates back to the 1970s due to farm fire which resulted in the original herd being sold. Based at Thrussington, Leicester, Peter Holmes’ father registered the Rearsby prefix in the 1950s with the current herd bred up from a group of non pedigree stock purchased to replace the herd sold after the fire.
W
The herd totals 320 cows, averaging 6300kg at 4.6% fat and 3.6% protein on a grassland paddock system. About 220 animals calve in spring and 100 in the autumn and cows are outside at grass from early February to November. The farm includes 180 acres of
Although Peter owns the farm, the herd is now managed by Will Armitage and Tony Evans and the three of them make an impressive team. Most cows are about 50% Friesian and 50% Holstein although a few key families have been kept pure Friesian.
Will and Peter are looking for a medium sized cow with the ability to milk well and get in-calf quickly, they find this mix of Friesian and Holstein has worked well in achieving an easily managed trouble free cow.
All the bull calves are sold to a local famer and the heifer calves are reared
LEFT Peter and Cheryl Holmes.
BELOW LEFT Peter Holmes with the Rearsby herd.
78 THE JOURNAL JUNE 2015
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