Scottish Borders farmer, Robert McDonald of Kelloe Mains Holsteins “creamed” the awards at the prestigious UK Northern Farmer 2015 Awards at Harrogate’s Great Yorkshire Showground last night (19th March) (Read more: KELLOE MAINS – GOOD HEIFER REARING LEADS TO STRONG MILKING PERFORMANCE)
The event, which is organised by UK publication, Northern Farmer, recognises the achievement of every sector of the farming industry including arable beef, dairy, sheep and the environment and management sectors with Robert taking home the title of The Northern Farmer Dairy Farmer of the Year Award 2015. The Dairy Farmer of The Year category was sponsored by leading feed nutrition and technical company, Keenan systems, and the ward was presented by Keenan’s northern area sales manager, Michael French.
All the judges from the nine categories involved, vote for the winner from three short listed candidates within each respective group. The judging panel stated that Robert had achieved the”gold standard” within the dairy category. Commenting on the award, Robert said :”This award is not just for myself but is for the McDonald family and all the team at Kelloe Mains.I may be the front person but the award is recognition for everyone at Kelloe Mains as well as our industry partners. I am delighted to accept this award on everyone’s behalf.”
The 400 sell-out “black-tie” event was hosted by award winning Independent Television Network news presenter Pam Royle and the evening was rounded-up with the “Champion of Champions” category with the nine award winners vying for the overall title of Farmer of The Year, sponsored by Mole Valley Farmers Ltd. In a secret ballot, the nine judges voted for the overall winner, which resulted in Robert McDonald taking the overall title of Northern Farmer Farmer of The Year.
The McDonald family milk 720 Holstein cows at Kelloe Mains Farm, 10 miles west of Berwick-upon-Tweed. The farmland totals 2,500 acres (1,000ha) and incorporates two farms. Robert McDonald and his father, also named Robert, run the family farming business with 27-year old Robert, managing the day to day management of the dairy herd. Robert’s father maintains the lead-role within the family business and also manages the arable side of the enterprise.
The family business has undergone a continued expansion programme to 720 cows and has added a new 330 high-spec free-stall housing facility, which was completed in January 2014. The unit cost approximately £2,500 (C$4500) per cow (approx C$1.5million) and includes automatic scrapers and rubber matting as well as incorporating “green bedding.” The building is high, with lots of light and ventilation and cow comfort and animal welfare has been a strong feature of the design.
The McDonalds increased their herd numbers in 2014 by purchasing 138 in-milk heifers and 140 in-calf heifers from Holland. The herd has been averaging around 10,500 – 10,700 litres at 3.8% fat and 3.3% protein. The herd currently containing 65% heifers owing to recent expansion and is running at 23% pregnancy rate with 45% of the cows currently pregnant at 75 days. The Kelloe Mains herd uses Alta Genetics mating and management programmes as part of its efficiency drive and health and animal welfare programme.
Calving interval, which is based on the milking cows, is 377 days with days open at 99 days. The herd is averaging 24 months at age of first-calving. The cows are milked through a 40-point Alfa-Laval rotary parlour on a three times per-day milking routine, averaging 34litres per day. The new 340 cow cubicle facility and older unit for 368 cows, link into a 1.9million gallon slurry tower and 2.8million lagoon incorporating an umbilical system.
The herd is fed a Keenan TMR ration with a separate ration to the in-calf heifers and dry cows. All heifer calves are reared at home with the aim to wean calves at 60 days. The herd is now using 100% genomic sires across the board and the latest group of heifers is averaging 34 litres per day and predicted to yield over 11,500kg. All the cows are bred to Holstein bulls and in the past; sexed-semen has been used to help increase replacement heifer numbers.
The farm is focused on animal welfare with high herd health targets. Dry cows receive a close-up and far-off ration in deep straw bedded yards and bedding is kept clean and dry due to the large availability of straw. Kelloe Mains has an extensive arable enterprise covering 1,300 acres of wheat and 175 acres of barley.
By: Bruce Jobson
