10 September 2012
The Miller family from Evesham, Worcestershire has moved up a place from 2011 to win this year’s NMR/RABDF Gold Cup. In 2011, as runner-up in the Gold Cup, they won the NMR Silver Salver.
Mike and Shan Miller and sons Paul and Steven run the 320-cow Shanael herd on the 336 hectare tenanted unit.
During the past 12 months they have increased herd size and taken on more land. “We have facilities for 350 cows in the milking herd and by the end of the year we should hopefully be fully stocked. It makes sense to maximise the use of our buildings and parlour,” says Paul.
The Millers are in the process of purchasing animals from quality pedigree herds. “We look at type and production carefully and only buy BVD and IBR vaccinated stock from Johne’s free herds then stick to strict protocols on the farm, vaccinating for IBR, BVD and Lepto.”
“We will hold herd size at 350 cows for a few years I think,” adds Paul. “This should give us some replacements to sell and add another income stream to the business. Hopefully we’ll have about 50 heifers to sell next year.”
Management of the farm is overseen by Mike, with Shan looking after the calves and accounts and Steve and Paul taking on cropping and cows respectively.
NMR annual average production for the Gold Cup qualifying year ending September 2011 is 12,199kg of milk, 535kg higher than the previous year, at 3.6% fat and 3.08% protein on three times-a-day milking. Somatic cell count is 176,000/ml.
Paul is pleased to see an improvement in calving interval to the current 410 days.
“We’ve made a real effort to improve fertility with more aggressive heat detection and routine vet visits to every two weeks, monitoring individual cows and trends through InterHerd.”
Milk is sold to Cotteswold Dairy in Tewkesbury under a liquid contract.
Runner up in the Gold Cup 2012 and winner of the NMR Silver Salver is David and Louise Hodgson from Burgh by Sands, Cumbria.
GOLD CUP WINNER 2012 LEFT TO RIGHT Paul, Mike, Shan and Steve Miller
RABDF president David Leaver, Paul Miller, David Cotton RABDF Chairman, Philip Kirkham NMR Chairman, Mike Miller, Shan Miller, FRONT ROW Katie Miller, Lucy Miller, Carlyn Miller and Ava, Steve Miller