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A look behind the scenes of
this year’s Gold Cup
winning herd
GOLD CUP WINNERS
This year’s winner of the NMR Gold Cup is the pedigree Holstein Wilderley herd, run by brothers
Bill and Andrew Higgins, and their parents, Bill and Margaret.
To win this award, requires attention
to detail, careful choices in herd management and breeding, and good teamwork on the farm. Good
herd health and fertility is fundamental, and XLVets’ James Marsden and Roel Driesen of Shropshire
Farm Vets, are part of the support team.
An efficient use of time
James explains: ‘We know it takes exactly
17.5 minutes to drive from the practice to
Wilderley Hall Farm!
‘So when we have an appointment - be it
routine or emergency - we always call ahead
just as we leave. Then Bill or Andrew can be
ready for us as soon as we get there - and
no one is left waiting around.
‘And if we get called out to see an individual
animal, we can guarantee that the said
animal is ready waiting, along with a full
up-to-date case history. So as vets, we are
fully supported to make the diagnosis.’
These are typical examples of how the
Higgins family appreciate the value of time -
theirs and other people’s - and pay great
attention to detail, ultimately looking to get
things done in the most efficient way.
It’s the same with the fortnightly routine
fertility visits that James makes. Three days
beforehand, the Higgins brothers employ an
ultrasound scanning technician to PD the
cows. As this is a non-invasive procedure,
it is carried out whilst the cows are still in
the cubicles, so minimising any disruption to
their feeding or lying.
Then when James comes out to the farm he
is presented only with cows that require
veterinary examination. James explains: ‘It’s
a good use of my time. I’m used for my
expertise, and it’s more efficient to just focus
on the problem cows.’
Another area which has improved how time
is spent is the introduction of a series of
protocols for things like mastitis cases and
post-calving management. Roel has drawn
up decision-making flow charts which guide
the farm’s staff through the procedures to
follow. Roel adds: ‘It’s given the workforce
more confidence in knowing what they can
do for themselves and when they ought to
call Bill or Andrew, or the vet.’
Disease prevention
The herd is vaccinated for BVD and IBR,
monitored for Leptospirosis and Johne’s
disease, and also PCR-tested for BVD.
Routine foot trimming is carried out at set
stages of each cow’s lactation.
Calves are protected from scours by
vaccinating their dams in the 3-5 week
period before calving, so that immunity can
be built up via the colostrum.
Calf management is excellent: 94% of
live-born heifer calves will successfully calve
into the herd.
In an XLVets national survey earlier this year,
which screened herds for exposure to the
Schmallenberg virus, the Wilderley herd
tested negative. James attributes this to the
deliberate and routine use of fly repellents
and the fact that the farm is in a windy,
midge-unfriendly, location!
Roel Driesen
Shropshire FarmVets
James Marsden
Shropshire FarmVets
Left to right
Bill Higgins (Senior), Bill Higgins,
Andrew Higgins and Margaret Higgins
Pre-calvers
Sheltered calf accomodation
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
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