Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Funding secured for sustainable milking parlour
AFAMILY-RUN dairy farm in Somerset is planning to double its output after securing nearly £800,000 in funding.
Bickfield Farm, in the Chew Valley, said it would use the cash injection from Lloyds Bank to build a new milking parlour that uses sustainable tech.
The third-generation farm produces milk exclusively for The Estate Dairy – a luxury dairy manufacturer that distributes to highend restaurants and cafes in London and Oxford.
It said the technology would increase its milking capacity while reducing overall running time, allowing 50% more cows to be milked during any given period.
The new milking parlour is expected to be operational by the end of the year.
Philip Durbin, who runs the farm with his father Maurice, said: “In recent years, there has been a growing demand for high-quality local dairy produce from across the region.
“Investing in our new milking parlour will allow us to continue to deliver the very best produce more efficiently.”
Mr Durbin’s grandparents moved to Bickfield in August 1930 and his father took over the farm’s operations in 1975. Since then, the farm has increased its herd to more than 330 cows across 185 hectares.
The milking process currently accounts for 60% of the farm’s total electricity usage and by reducing the running time, the business said it would achieve a 30% energy saving.
Heat generated from the new technology will also pass through a heat-exchange system and be used to pre-heat water to support the farm’s cleaning process.
Mr Durbin added: “Becoming more sustainable remains a key priority for the farm and we’re constantly thinking of ways to reduce waste and become energyefficient.
“From installing LED lighting to powering the parlour through an on-site solar array during sunny days, we’re committed to lowering our environmental impact.”
The finance package comes via Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Finance Initiative, which provides discounted funding to help businesses transition to a lower-carbon future.
Victoria Crisp, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, added: “Our Clean Growth Finance Initiative is designed to support businesses with their environmental and sustainability goals.
“The new milking parlour at Bickfield Farm will not only improve efficiency and production levels but allow Philip and the team to operate more sustainably.”