Well done Jones family

Wilson Agriculture supplied all the housing equipment at this Jones family unit near Magor, South Wales. These very good cows are now starting to win national competitions [SEE BELOW]:

National Holstein Show 2009

Livestock Shows | 16 February, 2009

SOURCE: http://www.farmersguardian.com/story.asp?sectioncode=31&storycode=24438&c=1

THE National Holstein Show has kicked off with champions already named in the calf and junior sections, and two wins for Sahara Holsteins.

The Newport, Wales-based herd, owned by the Princess of Bahrain and ran by the Jones family, had a tremendous day at the All-Breed All-Britain Calf Show yesterday (Sunday, February 15), taking all three top spots in the Holstein calf champion.

And today has started out equally as promising with two Sahara females winning early on.

BBC and comfortable cows:

SOURCE: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7854745.stm

Happy cows produce more milk, according to researchers at Newcastle University.

Cattle that are named and treated with a "more personal touch" can increase milk yields by up to 500 pints a year.

The study, by the university's School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, involved 516 farmers across the UK.

Published in the journal Anthrozoos, the study found farmers who named their cows gained a higher yield than the 54% that did not give their cattle names.

Dairy farmer Dennis Gibb, who co-owns Eachwick Red House Farm outside Newcastle with his brother Richard, said he believed treating every cow as an individual was "vitally important".

'Own personality'

"They aren't just our livelihood, they're part of the family," he said.

"We love our cows here at Eachwick and every one of them has a name.

"Collectively we refer to them as 'our ladies' but we know every one of them and each one has her own personality."

Dr Catherine Douglas, who led the research, said: "What our study shows is what many good, caring farmers have long since believed.

"Our data suggests that, on the whole, UK dairy farmers regard their cows as intelligent beings capable of experiencing a range of emotions.

"Placing more importance on knowing the individual animals and calling them by name can, at no extra cost to the farmer, also significantly increase milk production."

Dairy Expansion Seminars 2009

Ivor Davey and Andrew Wilson from Wilson Agriculture have just returned
from attending the Dairy Expansion Seminars in Florida, hosted by 5G consulting.



Wilson Agriculture aim to work with companies like 5G and their associates,
in order to offer a complete design services from site selection through to
plan development to construction management.

Here are a few units previously worked on:

12,000 COW DAIRY

2,100 COW DAIRY


Further information on these seminars is available at:
http://www.dairyman.com/seminars/


Keep an eye on our website for further information and dates
of seminars like these in the UK and Europe!
www.wilsonagri.co.uk/blog

State of the market - UK dairy supply

UK milk supply in 07/08 was the lowest in 30 years – and estimations suggest that,
despite the higher milk prices received during 2008, this trend is set to continue. A new
report issued on 30 January 2009 by DairyCo gives an insight into why UK milk supply is
still falling.

This continued decline in milk supply could lead to a knock-on effect with processors
reluctant to invest in what they feel is a contracting industry. This would ultimately
disadvantage British dairy farmers.

Factors affecting milk supply looks at the numerous issues that have affected both cow
numbers and yield, the two factors that govern milk supply, both in the past and their
predicted future effect – including the influence of TB, genetics, breeding, fertility, cull
cow prices, forage quality and weather.

In particular, the document highlights the many factors which have acted to reduce dairy
farmer confidence and an individual farmer’s ability and willingness to invest in and
develop their business, a key negative influence on milk supply.

Dairy farmer confidence increased in 2008, as a result of rising milk prices. However,
DairyCo analysis suggested this increase in confidence was extremely fragile and with
falls in farmgate price already announced for 2009, with the likelihood of more to come,
this increased confidence will very quickly disappear.


Read the rest of the article here: http://www.mdc.org.uk