Dairy farmer Mike Jones, Dairy Technical Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, has offered a captivating virtual tour of his prized cows at the South West Dairy Development Centre in Shepton Mallet. In celebration of Cow Appreciation Day, Mike invites viewers to explore the daily lives of his 200-cow herd, managed in partnership with Steanbow Farms.
Mike explains that the cows enjoy year-round calving and have the freedom to decide when they eat, drink, rest, and lie down. Each cow can visit one of the three milking robots on the farm, which not only milk them but also offer a tasty cow cake treat.
The herd boasts impressive production figures, averaging 11,300 litres of milk per lactation at 4.2% butterfat and 3.3% protein over a 305-day period. After this, each cow takes a six-week break before calving again. The farm provides a clean, calm environment promoting high fertility rates, with a notable pregnancy rate of 35%, significantly surpassing the national standard.
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During the tour, viewers meet individual cows named Amanda, Molly, and Eleanor, as well as Robbie, the robot responsible for keeping the farm spotless. Mike’s virtual journey highlights the care, innovation, and dedication behind maintaining a thriving modern dairy farm.