Margins boosted 168pc– thanks to improved milk price and overhaul of diets
UK - Margins have been boosted by 168 per cent over the past year mainly attributable to the combined effects of improved milk price and an overhaul of the diets for the dairy herd at Bridgend Farm Kirkby Thore, Cumbria, visitors to a Keenan open day were told on Friday.
17 November 2006
1 minute read
They heard it was estimated that about 23 per cent of the benefit came from better milk prices following a change of milk buyer, and the remainder from greater efficiency and improvements in feeding regimes.
Very much a family farm run by Colin and Yvonne Dent and their son Mark, the Bridgend business takes in about 900 acres including 100 acres maize and about 130 acres of cereals – 90 acres wheat and 40 acres barley – mostly for home feeding.
Until the loss of the existing dairy herd in the 2001 foot-and-mouth epidemic the farm ran a dairy herd of about 250 cows. On restocking it was decided to double cow numbers and the farm currently has about 510 cows, of which some 460 are milking. There are also about 500 youngstock.
Mr Dent said the farm had used a Total Mixed Ration feeding system for about 13 years and had recently replaced their existing machine with a model capable of incorporating straw into the diet.
Source: farmersguardian.com
