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| The Herd |
The herd was established in the late 1940s with purely commercial cattle. In 1979 we started milk recording and then progressed to grading-up the herd in 1982 to become Saxelby Holsteins. The farm is 226 acres with 60 acres into maize, 30 acres into wheat for whole crop and the rest grass for either grazing or silage. Of the 226 acres 106 acres is on short term let. The herd at the moment consists of 100-130 graded-up and PI Holstein cows and 120 followers. In April 2002, the GAITSGILL herd had 65 head of which we had the pick of the herd to restock after foot and mouth. We then kept everything for the next two years to build up numbers again. In May 2004 we started selling surplus stock again through Wright-Manley monthly pedigree sales at Beeston. The herd is calved all year round, but we calve a number in late spring as we supply a local farmer-owned Stilton cheese factory, Long Clawson Dairies, and the milk price is higher in the summer and early autumn months. Bulls used at the moment are Magor Bolivia Allen, Domicole Simms, Ginary Twister, Debonair Snowfall, Regancrest Mr Samuelo, Braedale Pagewire,Sandy-Valley Bolton, Dudoc Mr Burns, Ladino Park Talent and Poly-Kow Mailing. The cows are not grouped. About ten older cows go into a loose-yard through winter, but they are fed the same ration of maize silage, grass silage, crimped maize, molasses and a blend through a diet feeder. The high yielders get an 18% dairy cake through out-of-parlour feeders. Feed rate is about 0.38 per litre. The CIS annual average is: 10,835kg 3.57% Fat 3.11% Protein
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Andrew, Rose and Janet Stafford |