Dairy

dairy Virgin Money supports Stranraer dairy farmers, the Love family, with their new project to pasteurise their own milk

Virgin Money has helped the Love family, based at Bridge of Aird Farm, on the edge of Stranraer, to diversify their dairy business. They plan to move production in-house and sell some of their milk directly to locals, thus cutting out the middleman and increasing their profits. Virgin Money has provided them with funding to build the shed for the new pasteurising unit.

Andrew and Christine Love and their daughter Kayleigh run a herd of 130 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows, at the ‘Wee Aird’, as the farm is locally known. Along with many other farmers, they were keen to diversify and increase margins, but they did not want to increase their herd. Instead, they decided they wanted to start supplying local people and businesses with fresh, pasteurised, unhomogenised milk in glass bottles.

With ever more pressure on farmers to reduce carbon emissions and help the UK reach Net Zero by 2050, the Loves were keen to ensure they were environmentally sustainable as well as profitable. With their new pasteurising unit, they will be able to deliver milk straight to the doorsteps of their neighbours.

Part of the project was to buy vending machines, where customers can purchase a branded “Love Milk”, re-usable glass bottle. They can also add a shot of different flavours such as lime or strawberry. By providing milk direct to consumers less transport is required, and the use of plastic bottles reduced. This means lower haulage costs and increased profit margins, as they can cut out the processor and retailer – so a win win situation!

“We are delighted to have facilitated this project,” said Anne Howatson, their Relationship Manager. “The Loves were a pleasure to work with and their fresh pasteurised milk is simply delicious. It is just the sort of project that Virgin Money likes to be involved with. The family knew what they wanted to achieve, had a clear strategy to get there and like us, have a keen interest in improving the environment. I am blown away by what they have already done. Let’s hope, like cream, their business will always rise!”

‘DEFRA Farm Innovation’ research explores alternative approach to reducing slurry ammonia emissions

Envirosystems UK is working hard to deliver a cost-effective biological solution for dairy farmers’ slurry ahead of ammonia reduction targets due to come in 2027. Biochemist Dr Henry Russell from Envirosystems presented the progress to-date of their DEFRAsponsored research project which started in August 2021.

The audience heard how Envirosystems aims to boost a naturally occurring nitrogen pathway in slurry by adding a next generation SlurryBugs® using auto-dosing technology. This will have the dual benefit of reducing ammonia emissions whilst also increasing the nitrogen value of slurry, thus saving on costly inorganic fertiliser.

So far, in collaboration with Myerscough College, they have successfully achieved the experimental setup and have ongoing lab-scale and mini-farm scale trials, giving what they believe to be the most comprehensive ongoing biological slurry treatment study in the UK. The project is due to be completed in March 2023 and Envirosystems will continue to disseminate findings along the way.

dairy Look to high component genetics to take advantage of premiums

Cogent Breeding is urging breeders to focus on high component genetics to maximise premiums available in milk contracts. 2021 proof runs saw Cogent sires repeatedly soar to the top of the rankings on a number of fronts, providing a wide range of sires for producers who are breeding for high fat and protein to meet the needs of their milk contract.

Milk buyers have been increasingly rewarding components over the last few years and, according to the AHDB, as much as 60% of milk production is now paid for on a constituents basis, compared to only 42% in 2015. Global demand for solids is also on the rise so, depending on the milk buyer, focussing on increasing milk solids is likely to be a positive long-term business decision.

Additionally, AHDB analysis of the 2020/21 season shows over 40% of milk destined for the liquid market and 55% for manufacturing fell below target butterfat levels, resulting in farmers missing out on £38 million of additional income. A further £17 million was lost by the 64% of farmers on manufacturing contracts whose protein levels fell short.

“Manufacturers usually pay for milk delivered above a base value of 3.4% for protein, which, in some contracts, and at current payment rates, could add up to a considerable figure. Not only is it important that producers do not miss out on premiums in the short term, but long-term breeding decisions, and the use of extreme bulls could provide considerable advantages to your herd,” explains Andrew Holliday, Genetics Manager for Cogent.

Cogent advises that selection of bulls with plus-percentage