From cows to cots in one easy move

摘要

The end of a farm lane is not the most likely place to find a franchise store selling upmarket nursery equipment. But Somerset dairy producers Chris and Grace Read have found that cows and cots are an ideal combination. Most Saturday mornings, ChrisRead swaps the routine of looking after 180 cows for a spell on the shop floor explaining the intricacies of cot construction to expectant parents. While this may not be the most macho of weekend pursuits it is, however, a very profitable one. Just overtwo years ago his wife Grace took on a Nippers franchise to sell nursery equipment and toddler toys from a converted byre at the back of their house at Yarde Farm near Taunton. During the first 12 months trading she recouped her initial investment and turned a profit and in the last financial year the business trebled its turnover. The Reads farm 200 acres plus an additional 75 acres of rented ground and have been at Yarde Farm since buying the land in 1983. Chris Read runs the 180 Holstein-Friesian herd with the help of one cowman and has been achieving an average of 7500 litres a cow. The latest cut in milk price means his dairy is paying a base of 13ppl and low butterfat in the herd means he is currently earning 12ppl.