Basic HTML Version
Last year's runners-up in the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup
were James Tomlinson and his parents David and Sheila,
from Bilsborrow Hall Farm near Preston in Lancashire,
with their pedigree Bilsrow Holstein herd.
CAL F HOUS ING
In the NMR/RABDF qualifying year, the
230-cow herd achieved an average yield of
10,538kg of milk at 4.41% fat and 3.14%
protein on twice-a-day milking.
And whilst it is an achievement to admire,
many dairy farmers and those responsible for
rearing calves, may actually be more envious
of the Tomlinsons’ new calf shed. Its design is
not only proving of benefit to calf health and
growth, but it has also considerably improved
the working conditions for those rearing them!
XLVets' Ian Cure of Lambert, Leonard and
May began working with the Tomlinson
family two years ago. He visits every two
weeks to carry out fertility checks and
advise on all matters of herd health
and welfare.
Proactive health care
The herd is vaccinated for BVD, IBR,
leptospirosis and is routinely screened for
Johne's disease.
Ian adds: ‘Some deformed calves were born
here last summer. Blood tests confirmed the
presence of the Schmallenberg virus. But
there weren't any noticeably sick cows and
the midges had gone before there was time
to vaccinate.
‘So this year we will have a meeting in
the spring, to evaluate whether to take
preventative action in the summer. It will
depend on the level of risk coming over
from the Continent.’
Another area where a proactive approach
is taken is on lameness. James Tomlinson
explains: ‘I hate to see lame cows. Here on
the farm, two of us have been trained to trim
feet, and to make the job easier we bought
a new foot crush last year.
‘So if a cow is even slightly lame when she
comes into the parlour in the morning, then I
make a note, and after she's been milked,
she'll get her feet trimmed.’
The herd's cell count of 135,000 cells/ml is
achieved through a combination of good
hygiene and good milking practice.
Ian says: ‘This is a good level of cell count to
have - it indicates that cows have an active
immune response. A very low cell count
(below 100,000 cells/ml) is not always a
good sign. It indicates low levels of immune
response in the udder, and this puts cows
at greater risk of developing serious
E.coli infections.
‘Conversely, when cell counts go over the
200,000 mark, then for every further
50,000 cells/ml, a cow's milk yield drops
by around half a litre, due to tissue damage
in the udder.
‘So having a cell count of 100,000 to
200,000 cells/ml is the ideal trade-off; it
puts milk safely in the top payment band for
quality, without any yield loss.’
James Tomlinson
Bilsborrow Hill Farm
Ian Cure
Lamber t, Leonard
& May
NMR RABDF Gold Cup 2013. NMR Silver Salver
goes to runners up James and David Tomlinson
(centre left and right) with RABDF President
Daivd Leaver left and NMR Chairman Philip
Kirkham right
WORKING
TOGETHER
FOR A HEALTHIER FUTURE...
19
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
A new calf shed for award-winning dairy herd
has benefits for both calves and calf-rearer!
Veterinary surgeon
Ian Cure
XLVets practice
Lambert, Leonard
& May
New calf shed