Livestock Event 2016: Somerset dairy pips 600 to manager award

Somerset farmers WA Salvidge and Son beat more than 600 other dairy businesses to be named Promar Milkminder Manager of the Year at the Livestock Event.

Simon Salvidge, who runs Moat Farm in Frome, Somerset with his brother Philip and father William, accepted the national award on behalf of his family at the event at the NEC in Birmingham on Wednesday (6 July).

Their herd of just over 150 Holsteins, which average 9,600 litres/year, is managed on a low-cost, grass-based system.

Last year, more than 3,500 litres – 36% of total production – came from forage.

At the moment it is easy to blame all your problems on milk price, but that’s not good enough Richard Bell, Promar International

See also: Six reasons not to miss the Livestock Event

The Salvidges – Promar’s regional champion for the South – finished ahead of northern champions, Harry and Anne Hiddleston, Park Farm, Dumfries, and Midlands champions, Michael and Mary Davenport, Cote Hill Farm, Osgoodby, Lincolnshire.

Judge, Richard Bell, senior consultant at Promar International, told Farmers Weekly their attitude set them apart from the other regional winners

“They get all the basics right, but they’re also challenging their cows and setting themselves targets,” he said.

“At the moment it is easy to blame all your problems on milk price, but that’s not good enough.”