Farmer Focus: Shed build on hold as milk price drops further

What a difference a month makes. Michael definitely picked the busiest week to go on holiday. While he was away, we got the whole-crop harvested, third-cut silage was gathered in and we even got one field ploughed and grass seeded.

The dung and slurry was all spread and the sheds were cleared out. We hadn’t finished ploughing our second field, so we left the stone picking job for Michael’s return.

Another drop in milk price last month means the shed I was hoping to be finished by now is at a standstill. It is a shell at the moment – the internal building needs completing. It will stay that way until there is a sign of milk price improvement.

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Sheila finally got the milk shuttle we bought a few months ago. Although it takes off and crashes into the wall when she uses it and a few cross words are shouted, the learning period will hopefully be over by next month and she will have learned how to manoeuvre it properly as we have 45 cows due to calve.

It is great for consistent feeding and making sure the temperature of milk is correct. We are hoping this little machine will make life easier in the long run.

We were busy with preparation for UK Dairy Day in Telford on 17 September. It was a fantastic show and the standard was exceptionally high.

We watched a video of the Holstein classes on the internet a few days later – it really is a great advert for the day. Who said Holsteins don’t last? The line-up of cows in the classes was quality from the top end to the bottom end. I just hope the standard doesn’t put off any future exhibitors.

The Scottish Calf Show was held in Ayr on 27 September, so Michael was busy preparing the seven animals we took to the show. We managed to get three first prizes with a Holstein, a red-and-white and Sheila’s Jersey, which was also crowned champion. Looks as if we are off to nationals later this month.

Brian Yates milks 250 pedigree Holsteins in partnership with his wife Sheila, son Michael and daughter Anna. Surplus heifers are sold for breeding.