Middlefields Farm

Pickstock Telford is a family run abattoir and meat processing facility with over 40 years’ experience in the meat industry. Over the years we have developed personal relationships with UK dairy and beef farmers. We are continually looking to procure livestock, offering fair pricing, prompt payment within 3 days via bacs or cheque, and transport can be arranged nationally. We believe the secret to our success is a honest, fair and professional approach to business. This is why farmers trust us to deliver competitive returns consistently. 100 % of our beef is procured from British farmers.

Every member of our expert team is passionate about what we do, and ensure animal welfare and quality assurance is our number one priority at all times.

PREMIUM PAID FOR ORGANIC COWS

PREMIUM PAID FOR CERTIFIED ANGUS COWS

WE ALWAYS REQUIRE DAIRY AND BEEF COWS FROM FARMERS THROUGHOUT THE UK.

Contact your local Pickstock representative below... Will Paterson- All enquiries 07974 400515 Alan Jarvis- North 07984 008820 Richard Harrison- East Midlands & South 07772 551694 Paul Narloch- Cheshire, Staffordshire & Shropshire 07985 248629 & 01948 662891 Matt Narloch- Cheshire, Staffordshire & Shropshire 07958 318951 Gareth Parker- South West & Midland 07984 006225 Hefin Vaughan- Mid, South & West Wales 07943 286101 John Williams- North Wales 07836 568033

Chris Berry talks with Andrew Avison at Melmerby

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EVERYONE IN FARMING and even those who aren’ t will have heard of the plight of dairy farmers in the past two years. After hitting the heights of 33p per litre the market has been at 18 pence and even less for some. It has been a tough time and for Andrew Avison of Middlefields Farm, Melmerby near Leyburn, it has proved extremely challenging.

Fortunately, Andrew has maintained his opinion that the price would start heading back upwards, as it has recently, and has stuck to his guns over all the lessons he has learned since changing the farm over from sheep and dairy to a pure dairy operation five years ago.

‘ We’ re farming just shy of 600 acres and we had 1100 sheep and 150 cows. There was a flock of pure

Swaledales and an early lambing flock of Texel X ewes that my wife Gail misses so we lambed 50 Texel X ewes in 2016. We’ d had 120-150 dairy cows for the past 20 years and I decided at first to go up to 220 and halve the number of sheep. When we got to 250 I thought about cutting back on all the sheep. We reached 300 and at the time of your visit we have 320 cows in the herd with 270 milkers. I’ m now looking at getting to 400 cows and we should reach that in 2017 on a rising market.’

When the bottom fell out of the market, Andrew took some big decisions. The first of them was to drop off from three times a day milking.

‘ My thought was if the milk wasn’ t paying that I might as well send half as much and that way also cut my costs. Our consultant had made the

METCALFE FARMS AGRICULTURAL & HAULAGE CONTRACTORS

Metcalfe Farms are pleased to be working with Andrew Avison and wish him continued success

Plant & Machinery Delivered Across the UK and Europe

T: 01969 622193 M: 07738 932664 E: richard @ metcalfefarms. com Metcalfe Farms, Washfold Farm, Leyburn, North Yorkshire, DL8 5JZ

66 Dec / Jan 2017 www. farmers-mart. co. uk