Archive Article: 2000/09/29
The future of dairy farming
and milk marketing, herd
health, cost-cutting and
breeding were hot topics at
last weeks European Dairy
Farming Event at Stoneleigh,
Warks. Although numbers
were down on last year,
hopes of a rising milk price
occupied the thoughts of
most visitors, as FARMERS
WEEKLYs livestock team
found out
• THIS years EDFE Prince Philip Award, for the stand offering the most practical and relevant technical demonstration, was won by SAS Kelvin Cave of Langport, Somerset. Its display and representatives gave advice on crimping grain for feeding to dairy cows and other livestock.
Certificates of merit for the runners-up in the competition were awarded to the Maize Growers Association and Cogent.
• SEXED semen is now recommended for use on cows as well as heifers, according to breeding company Cogent. It says that continuing work – mostly in Grosvenor Farms herds – has prompted the move.
The company also announced that sexed semen is now available from Painley Knightingale, Lucky and Figaro. While supplies of Painley Knightingale are freely available, and cost £31/straw, straws from Lucky and Figaro are limited and will cost £45/straw, says the company.
• WINNER of the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup for the second year running was Scottish producer Dean Anderson. Mr Andersons 200-cow Holstein herd, based at Mayne Farm, Elgin, Morayshire, averaged 12,149kg milk at 3.63% fat and 3.22% protein on three-times-a-day milking in the qualifying year. All milk produced by the herd goes into the familys retail operation which processes, packs and delivers 11,000 litres of milk a day.
• COMMERCIAL firms and individual producers have donated more than £6000 to the Gordon Newman Travel Awards fund, in the three months since it was launched.
Applications for scholarships which have been received for the awards are also being considered by its trustees. Contact MGA for further details on scholarships and to make donations (01189-761276, fax 01189-761451).