After securing a small council farm tenancy in Sherborne, the couple are now milking 147 spring calving cross-bred cows across 104ha and put their success down to fortuitous timing.
When milk prices plummeted below 20p/litre in 2000 they seized the opportunity to enter the industry while heifer prices were low.To thrive, an unwavering focus is placed on maintaining high performance.
Heifers are mated to Jersey-cross bulls and cows are AI’d to New Zealand Friesian and Jersey bulls. After six weeks, a Hereford bull is run as a sweeper. The farm has achieved exceptional fertility with 90% of the herd calving within six weeks.
Fertility rates, profitability in the face of volatility and the couple's positive can-do attitudes and tenacity which has seen them survive some of the toughest periods the industry has seen were named as key reasons for their achievement.