MODERN STRATEGY GIVES TITLE TO PENNINE AYRSHIRE OUTFIT…
MODERN STRATEGY GIVES TITLE TO PENNINE AYRSHIRE OUTFIT…
Moving from traditional
breeding to using imported
genetics to improve yields
and hybrid vigour is paying
off for one award-winning
herd. Jeremy Hunt reports
AN AYRSHIRE herd that grazes Pennine pastures at 240m (800ft) has achieved an increase in milk output of more than 200,000 litres a year, despite slashing £5000 off the feed bill.
It was this impressive performance data which played an important part in convincing the judges that the Tomlinson familys Sandyford herd should be awarded the Ayrshire Herd of the Year title sponsored by the Bank of Scotland.
Sandyford Farm stands high on exposed moorland at Ashworth, near Rochdale, Lancs, and has to cope with 1880mm (75in) of rainfall a year.
But the family has proved how a determined approach to breeding modern red-and-white cows, coupled with high dependency on grass and forage as well as keeping a tight grip on costs is paying dividends.
The 90 cows in the pedigree Sandyford herd have an average yield of 7200kg at 4.11% fat and 3.36% protein. The herd has an average PIN value of £23 for cows and £28 for heifers. Current margin over concentrates is £1180 a cow with concentrates costing just 2.25p a litre. Milk is sold to a local retailer.
At the helm of the family business is Blaise Tomlinson who is firmly setting his sights on a secure future from dairying, based on efficient and profitable Ayrshire cows.
A new cubicle house and re-vamped feeding regime have played their part in maintaining high standards of herd management. But a determined attitude to on-going genetic improvement and the year-round provision of high quality grass and silage are the key elements of success.
Farming in this sort of harsh Pennine environment can impose unexpected problems. Last years wet summer drove cows inside – day and night – from early July, while this years poor summer weather hasnt made life any easier.
But Mr Tomlinson is not deterred and sees no point in allowing the genetic potential he is striving for to be undermined by his Pennine location.
"Cows come in if necessary, even if its mid-summer. We are heading towards a herd average of 8000kg and are looking for 5000kg of that to come from grass."
Turnout is usually in late April with cows set-stocked at about 0.8 cows/ha (2/acre). As regrowth of silage aftermath becomes available, the herd is zero-grazed to supplement conventionally grazed pastures.
Freshening swards
"If we can keep freshening the swards it is possible to grow good quality grass even in this marginal farm situation. But we must have the type of cows that can exploit high forage intakes."
Winter rations, fed twice daily, are based on a mix of grass silage and 25% whole-crop wheat.
A new cubicle house, complete with round slats, cantilever cubicles, rubber mats and a bed size of 2.4m x 1.2m (8ft x 4ft), is the latest stage in the farms development. There are plans to increase cow numbers by 25%.
The Sandyford herd was traditionally bred, but thats no longer the case. Following a scholarship visit to North America in 1993, Mr Tomlinson introduced red-and-white Holstein genetics.
The first bull to be used was Hanoverhill Precisionist. His daughters averaged 6200kg as heifers. Since then, red-and-white breeding has been extensively used.
"Critics accuse the Holstein of lowering butterfat in the resulting red-and-white progeny. But we havent found that to be a problem, although we do keep a close eye on protein. Theres a lot to be gained simply from the hybrid vigour of introducing Holstein."
At least 25% of the herd is currently giving over 9000 litres and several cows are putting over 11,000 litres in the tank.
Canadian Ayrshire bulls will provide the next stage in the breeding programme. They will be used on daughters of red-and-white Holstein bulls to maintain stature, depth of rib and maintain the lift in milk yield.
Blackadder Milkman, Woodland View Pedro and Blackadder MM Savage are among the sires that have been used. The Sandyford herd was the first to use Savage semen after Mr Tomlinson was impressed with the bulls daughters during a trip to Canada to attend the breeds world conference three years ago.
Blackadder buy
And on the same trip, after being unable to import semen from the bull Blackadder B B Kellogg, he bought a son named Blackadder Eagan.
"Hes developed into a big stretchy bull standing 61in at the shoulder. Hes bred from a tremendous cow family that will hopefully provide us with the type and production we are aiming for."
The Tomlinsons believe they have the raw material to produce a hard wearing dairy cow capable of yielding 8000 litres and lasting for at least five lactations.
"I believe there will be a strong demand among commercial dairy farmers looking for longevity and performance."
One of the big advantages of daughters of red-and-white Holstein bulls comes during the last 100 days of lactation, says Mr Tomlinson.
"They have an extra will to milk and thats where you can make a big difference to your margin. Its a time when cows are producing milk relatively cheaply and yet still putting 25 litres a day into the tank.
"We are now seeing a type of cow coming through that has the hard wearing ability, health, vigour and forage conversion efficiency of the Ayrshire. But combines those traits with the added lift in production thats coming through from red-and-white genetics." *
Having crossed cows with red-and-white Holsteins, Blaise Tomlinson is now using Canadian bred Ayrshire sires, such as Blackadder Eagan.
Farming close to Pennine moorland still requires the type of cow which can exploit high forage intakes, when aiming to produce 5000 litres from forage.
AYRSHIREBREEDING
• Crossed with red-and-white Holstein.
• Now using Canadian sires.
• Cows are hard wearing.