How to raise yields while keeping tight hold on fixed costs

摘要

One common response to the present squeeze is to increase output to spread fixed costs over more litres. Consultant Alan Edwards of the Dairy Group tells us how the approach is working on one Cheshire farm. The success of the approach of driving downunit costs depends on increasing milk sales without increasing the fixed costs. Brian Eyres manages the herd of 175 Holsteins for Arthur Tomlinson at Beechwood Farm, Kermincham in Cheshire, and the herd average is currently 9506 litres on twice a day milking. The table below shows the herd performance over the last three years. Herd size has increased from 147 cows in 2002 to 174 cows currently and milk sales have increased by 38% over the last three years.