Dairy Event 2010: Gold cup winners announced
Winner of the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup 2010 is Chris and Michael King from Kingspool Holsteins in Iron Acton, Bristol.
The fourth generation farmers have expanded gradually from 47 cows in 1990 to a herd of 314 Holsteins.
Production stands at 9843kg of milk at 3.85% fat and 3.15% protein on twice a day milking.
RABDF chairman and judge David Cotton praised the Kings for their professionalism and team work: “The Kings see their cows as a core part of their business – they manage first calvers as a separate group, and have installed new sand beds and Step Matrix, all while getting the most from grass.”
According to fellow RABDF’s judge Ian Macalpine the King’s had an excellent management plan, executed right through from calf to cow.
Winning the Gold cup had been the family’s long-term aim for some time, said Chris King. “All our team are cow lovers – our motto is look after the cows and they look after you and it has definitely paid off.”
Runner-up was Somerset organic dairy producer Mary Mead, Holt Farms, Blagdon. Her herd of 400 Friesians is yielding 7764kg at 4.08% fat and 3.32% protein.
The Chris May memorial award for the herd with the highest average lifetime daily yield went to D C and B Wilcox, Wall Farm, Aldworth. Their 120-cow Holstein herd achieved an average lifetime daily yield of 17.85kg.
Runner-up was Chris Simmonds, Folly Farm, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucester.