• OCT / NOV 2021
BROOM HOUSE FARM 35
Jennie is usually responsible for the feeding of the herd which consists of silage , minerals , sometimes sugar beet and some alkalage ( wholecrop wheat ) on top mixed and then distributed into the trough through a bucket .
Jennie says . ‘ It is all weighed out like you would to put into a mixer wagon without having the expense of the wagon .’
‘ We take three cuts for silage , which we cut and ted ourselves and then have contractor Andrew Long who comes with a team and picks up from 140 acres in six or seven hours and puts it in the clamp . We also have 50 acres of winter wheat that goes into the wholecrop .’
Showing dairy cows at local and national shows has been a major part of the Booth family ’ s life over the past twenty years . Jennie has recently been accepte on to the Holstein national judging panel and Helen , one of her three sisters , is already on with David . All three are now in the Holstein national judging panel top 10 .
‘ We love showing ,’ says Jennie . ‘ As well as Dairy Expo and the Great Yorkshire we will also show at our three local shows at Gargrave , Malham and Kilnsey . During that period we run an A and a B team and my nephews and nieces go into the ring with us . Kilnsey was our only show this year due to Covid . We like to support the local shows .’
David , Margaret and Jennie are now the three partners in the farm . David and Margaret ’ s other three daughters are all chartered accountants and have all married dairy farmers and now live in various parts of Yorkshire .
Margaret ’ s parents farmed at Downham near Clitheroe .