The Farmers Mart Apr-May 2018 - Issue 56 | Page 54

54 THE HOWARTH FAMILY
APR/MAY 2018 • farmers-mart.co.uk
72052.pdf 1 25/04/2018 14:08:00
We are pleased to be associated with the Howarth’s at
Hollies Farm and wish them continued success
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Hardwick Agricultural Engineers Ltd
Tel: [phone] / 859698 Web: www.hardwickagricultural.co.uk
71439 - Colin Dawson Ltd - 16TH.pdf 1 13/03/2018 15:17:54
what happened with Dairy Farmers of Brit-
ain that went belly up and caused he and
Wendy some heartache.
‘DFoB cost us a couple of years to get
back on track but our price is holding up at
present. ARLA is committed to organic milk
and is trying to double the amount they sell
by 2020. They are focussed on higher value
products and branding. Organic milk is seen
that way.’
The Howarths’ experience with organ-
ic farming is paying dividends. Sam has
learned much about how his land can
perform with no inputs, as well as saving on
outlay.
‘We try to get as much as we can from
forage and grazed grass leaving the cows
out as long as possible. I think clover is the
most underestimated crop in the country. It
converts well and as well as being useful in
arable rotation it will persist in permanent
pasture and fixes nitrogen. We’re growing
more than ever, and many more farmers
are moving towards it. We also grow spring
barley and fodder beet both for feed. Last
year we grew 45 acres of spring barley va-
riety Evelina and this year we will increase
that to 100 acres. Our fodder beet is grown
across 10 acres each year here at Hollies on
sandy land.’
Milking times are from 5.30am and 3pm
and take around two and a half hours
from cups on to cups off. The parlour
was extended from 20/40 to 36/72 three
years ago and milking is largely shared
between Sally and the farm cowman
Andy Selkirk.
‘I was sacked from milking,’ says Sam.
‘I’m now responsible for everything that
doesn’t include milking or the outside
cleaning and marshalling of cows that is
Jack’s responsibility.’
‘We keep all of the followers and have
dairy heifers coming into the herd as re-
placements. We use quite lot of Aberdeen
Angus and Belgian Blue semen on the lower
end keeping those for organic beef which
has become a valuable part of the busi-
ness. The Angus and Blues go to Dovecote
Park who supply Waitrose and the black
and white bullocks go to Dawn Meats at
Carnaby.’
Colin Dawson Ltd
Electrical & Dairy Engineers
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Visit our shop at High Mill, Langwathby, for
a wide range of milking machinery spares,
bagged animal food, animal health
products & much more!
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- Dairy Master Milk Systems
- Serap, Dairy Master &
GEA Milk Cooling Systems
- Bauer Slurry Handling
Equiptment
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High Mill, Langwathby, Penrith, Cumbria, CA10 1NB
www.colindawsonltd.co.uk
Showing their British Friesians is a pas-
sion for Sally who started showing when
she was 8 years old and the family had
early success this year at Dairy Expo in
Carlisle.
‘We took three to what was also the Brit-
ish Friesian National Show. Lismulligan Pris-
cilla had been reserve champion calf at the
All Britain All Breed Calf Show in 2016 and
was reserve junior champion last year won
her class as an in-calf heifer and was re-
serve junior champion again; Raby Jasmine
who had been breed champion at the
Dairy Event in 2016 has now had five calves
is 8 in May was third in the senior class;
and Black Isle Olivia took the supreme
award for older cows The Iron Grandma!
The class is for cows over 8 years old and
shows the durability and longevity of the
British Friesian. She’s 12 years old, has had
seven calves and is in calf again for August.
She averages around 8000 litres. Our herd
average is around 6000.’
Rosie and Sally have their own joint
enterprise on the farm with a flock of
Charollais X Lleyn ewes put to the Texel
tup. They lamb in February/March and
fat lambs are sold at York Auction Centre.
Rosie also rides Point to Point racing. It’s
her third season and she rides her own
horse Lauberhorn. Jack is engaged to be
married and plans are in place to build a
house at Leas Farm. Sally, Jack and Rosie
are all members of Snainton YFC.