HIS MONEY IS ON THE AYRSHIRE…
HIS MONEY IS ON THE AYRSHIRE…
Lower herd replacement rates
could be yours if youre
prepared to change breeds,
suggests one Sussex producer.
Jessica Buss reports
AYRSHIRE cows will perform well in any management system – be it organic or on a high input total mixed ration – and still breed regularly, lasting longer in the herd.
Thats the view of Ayrshire breeder David Heasman who farms with his wife Jeanne at Lane End Farm, Sheffield Park, Uckfield, East Sussex and who was host to the Ayrshire Society during its annual general meeting.
"Longevity is a major trait determined by the quality of legs, feet and udders – if these traits are no good cows are not going to last," says Mr Heasman.
Top Holsteins will out-yield an Ayrshire, but in a lifetime Ayrshires hold up well, because they are hardy cows and last longer, he adds. He has one 10th lactation cow which has just produced a total of 100,000kg of milk. There are many 10th and 11th lactation cows in the herd and one cow is 17 years old.
Cows averaged 6000 litres off about 2t of concentrates a cow over the last year with a third of the 200 milkers heifers; previously the herd averaged 7000 litres from about 2t of concentrate. They are fed a complete diet and because the farm is dry, and only 35ha (87 acres) of the 132ha (325 acres) farmed is near the buildings, forage maize makes up 50% of the winter forage and is buffer fed in summer.
Culling rates are low with few sold for poor health or infertility. All except 30 cows were sold in a herd sale in 1991 and numbers have been built up to 200 since then, with only a few cows bought.
Mr Heasman has stuck with Ayrshires since he began farming at Lane End Farm in 1959, when he bought eight cows from the vendor. It was all that he could afford at that time, he says.
"Ayrshires have always been good to us. We started with nothing and are where we are today because we have milked Ayrshires."
The herd still contains many descendants of the original eight cows. One has hundreds of descendants both born in the herd and from animals sold.
Sires used across the herd have included mainly home-bred bulls. AI is used and Mr Heasman supports the Ayrshire young bull proving scheme. *
Quality legs, feet and udders make Ayrshires last, says David Heasman.
Top 10 Holstein Friesian bulls available in the UK ranked on ITEM (May 98)
Bull Supplier Rel Milk Fat Prot Fat Prot SCC PIN ITEM Semen
% Kg Kg Kg % % Score £ £ £/straw
Mar-Bil Oscar Glenwood (US) Genus 74 1102 38.6 36.2 -0.03 0.04 -2 136 138 48
Holim Boudewijn(H) Genus 80 856 47.2 31.7 0.19 0.06 8 131 128 *
Gibbon(F) Supersires 77 1126 24.7 35.3 -0.29 0.00 -2 124 126 29
Etazon Knockout(H) Genus 84 1058 32.0 34.0 -0.15 0.00 -6 125 126 20
Holim Stans Tornedo(H) Genus 86 811 37.2 29.7 0.07 0.06 20 118 124 20
Delta Novalis(H) Genus 84 851 29.2 30.5 -0.08 0.05 -3 115 124 22
Cubby Manfred(US) Avoncroft 77 1261 36.0 35.6 -0.16 -0.05 8 128 124 25
Rosparry Thor(UK) Avocroft 85 1104 30.5 32.9 -0.23 -0.04 -3 113 123 20
Latuch Leadman Talon(USA) Dairy Dtrs 79 1028 30.1 34.3 -1.13 0.04 15 126 123 19.50
Moroville Mascot Brock(USA) Genus 73 1091 29.5 32.6 -0.18 -0.02 1 117 123 35
*Price to be announced shortly.