|
Farm/dairy name: Rull Green Farm
Owners: H & M Quick & Son
No Dairy cows: 85
Breed of cows: Friesian Holstein
Housing: cubicle building
Milking system: DeLaval Herringbone 50°with Midiline milking
Number of milkings per day: 2
Sitting around the table in the farm kitchen the partners of H & M Quick and Son were in deep discussion – should they give up milking?
The old 6 x 6 abreast was giving up after many years of good service and something had to be done. Henry and son Alan were dispatched to look into alternatives. Various enterprises were considered including turning over to a suckler herd. But all were dismissed in favour of building a successful dairy herd. So in September 2007 work started on the new building and milking was consigned to a portable milking bail supplied by BH White their local dealer.
Several companies were called in to quote and give advice but they liked the proposal from DeLaval and their dealer BH White the best.
Henry said
“Dave White was very practical and down to earth he advised us on a 10x20 herringbone with extension for 12x24 He said we should install milk meters and the Alpro system but leave the full management package until we had built the cow numbers up and were more familiar with the parlour We thought this very sensible as at the moment we have 65 cows which we will build up to 120/130 next year”
Alan added “At the moment the Alpro system gives me all the information I need but I can add a computer, automatic identification, activity metering, sort gates and all sorts of things in the future when the herd builds up and I need extra help and information”
Now that all the upheaval is over the partners are well on their way to a bright future in dairy farming. The regular maintenance visits and monthly sundries call from BH White keeps them up to date with developments, best practice and makes sure they have everything to hand when they need it.
|
