Monmouth dairy duo milk their success (From Free Press Series)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting FPRESS to 80360, or email
us
Monmouth dairy duo milk their success
12:10pm Thursday 6th September 2012 in News
HONOUR: Brothers Oli, 28, and Ed Partridge, 24, with Holstein Freisian Tufty and spaniels Merlin and Alfie, right
MONMOUTH dairy farmers Oli, 28, and Ed Partridge, 24, are among the top young producers in the UK.
The brothers’ efforts to expand their dairy farm and ensure their herd of Holstein Friesians are happy and healthy won them a highly commended award in a national competition to find the nation’s Dairy Farmer of the Future at the Birmingham NEC on Tuesday.
In just two years the brothers, who are based at a state-of-the-art unit on Lower Buckholt Farm, near Monmouth, have more than doubled their herd from 100 to 260.
The third generation farmers put their success down to using grazing software which measures the grass and tells them when the cattle should move paddocks.
Other initiatives include using a nutritionist to monitor their intake and condition.
Oli said: “Dairy farming isn’t just a job to us – the team puts so much effort into developing the farm business, so it’s great to see that being recognised by the Farmer’s Guardian award.”
A spokeswoman for competition sponsor DairyCo said of the family: “By embracing new technology, sustainable practices and world class health and welfare standards these farmers lead the way for the future of dairy farming.”
