European influence helped herds evolve

摘要

An Ayrshire family is hoping that membership of Cogent will continue the improvement of genetics in their herd started by importing dairy heifers from the Continent. Hugh Kennedy's regular visits to the Continent have inspired the management of his two family farms in Ayrshire, Breeding and calf-rearing policies have both been influenced by what he has seen and bought on his trips to Holland and Germany in recent years. Even his attitude to using - and proving - young bulls has changed, culminating in his decision to join the Cogent scheme. In just eight years, the family-run herd has evolved from pedigree Friesians averaging 6,000 litres per year into two, 90-strong Holstein herds filling 1.4 million litres of quota.