The Farmers Mart Aug/Sep 2014 - Issue 35 | Page 47

ROGER HILDRETH We used secondhand bits for it because we’re not made of money and we had set a budget.” ‘we agreed to move our farm and build a new farmhouse’ But it has proved a shrewd move. “Coming here has been fantastic for us,” said Roger. “We have everything where we want it and we are building the herd. We do need a few more cows but numbers aren’t everything: it is how well you look after them that really counts. If you look after cows well and provide a high standard of animal welfare, then cows will look after you. We’d like to be at 120 or so within a couple of years through homegrown replacements.” The Hildreths have been selling their milk to ARLA since the autumn of 2003. They used to sell to Milk Marque and subsequently to a local dairy but Roger tells of how they just had to make the move. “When the price went down to 15p per litre the figures just didn’t add up. We went to a local dairy for a while and We are dairy engineers, bulk tank and refrigeration engineers, animal health suppliers, suppliers also of fencing, hardware, minerals and feed buckets We are pleased to supply and wish Roger and his Team continued success Dairy Engineers, Refrigeration and Animal Health Supplies Kitchen Fold, Kiln Hill, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5JS T 01484 847606 / 845572 E [email protected] W www.farm-services.co.uk L Philliskirk & Son Ltd www.philliskirkdrainage.co.uk Land & Sportsfield Drainage Specialists Pleased to support the Hildreth family and wish them our best Meadowcroft Farm, York Road, Green Hammerton, YORK, YO26 8EZ Tel: [phone] To read more, visit www.farmers-mart.co.uk FarmersMart Aug/Sep 2014 47