Holehouse herd wins Gold Cup

SCOTTISH dairy farmers came home in style from Dairy-Tech having lifted a kist load of awards including the prestigious NMR

RABDF Gold Cup.

The event, at

Stoneleigh, saw the top dairy award presented to Ayrshire-based dairy farmers, Alistair Logan and family, Holehouse, by RABDF chairman,

Di Wastenage. As one of the judges, she said the

Logan’s enterprise ‘had it all,’ when it comes to a farming system.

“They tick all the boxes for sustainability, the environment, output from the land, and optimising herd health and welfare,” she said. “They’re at the forefront of many technological advances to help drive forward their 280-cow pedigree Holstein herd.”

Now in its fifth generation, this family partnership consists of brothers Alex, Tom and Hugh, alongside Tom’s sons Alistair and Stuart.

Their Holehouse herd is mainly red and white and averaged 10,500kg of milk at 4.10% BF and 3.40% P on twice a day milking for the qualifying year to September 2021. Milk is sold to Muller.

All five Gold Cup finalists for 2022 were awarded certificates for their achievements:

• Liz Birkett, Rookhaye Farm, Bowerchalke, Salisbury, Wiltshire

• Chris and Helen Ford, Peadon Farm, Fiddington, Bridgwater, Somerset

• Alistair Logan, Holehouse Farms, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire

•Andrew, Oliver & Wendy Reed, France Farm, Blackborough, Cullompton, Devon

• Stuart Orr, Messrs George Orr, Kaemuir Farm, Avonbridge, Scotland

Gold Cup judges for 2022 were RABDF’s council members Di Wastenage and Peter Alvis, and 2019 Gold Cup winner Robert Sloan.

For full report see next week’s issue