Milk yield decline continues

Annual milk yields are falling, according to the latest annual production results from NMR.

Average production across all NMR-recorded herds has dropped by 56kg and is now 8020kg of milk. But fat and protein have increased from 3.91% to 3.95% and 3.22% to 3.24%, respectively.

Average calving intervals have risen by five days to 424 days and somatic cell counts are 202,000/ml, up 2000/ml on the previous year.

These results follow the trend seen in the Holstein breed, where the average yield has dropped by 45kg to 8219kg and fats and proteins have increased from 3.88% and 3.21% to 3.91% and 3.22%, respectively. Average calving interval has also increased by two days to 426 and cell counts are up by 3000 to 204,000/ml.

Holsteins represent 91% of NMR recorded herds, but the proportion of Jersey and British Fresian-recorded lactations has increased. Alongside Ayrshires, they each represent more than 1% of the total NMR database.

The top Holstein herd, ranked on fat and protein production, is the Morrow family from Treveale Farm Truro, Cornwall. They produce 11,258 kg of milk on twice-a-day milking, with 851kg of fat and protein. This moves them up from 24th spot in 2007.

Second place is shared by the Higgins family from Wilderley Hall Farms, Shropshire, and Graham and Amy Harrison from Cumbria. Both are on three-times-a-day milking and produce 845kg of fat and protein and 12,272kg and 12,245kg of milk, respectively.