Andy Williamson and his father run a herd of more than 600 cows on a 360-hectare
dairy farm (194 hectares owned, and the rest rented) near Nantwich, Cheshire. Williamson is a fourth-generation dairy
farmer, and his predecessors were one of the first farming families to
introduce North American Holstein cows into the area.
Five years ago, health problems were
becoming unsustainable. “We were facing problems with feet and legs and high
culling rates, which was jeopardising the efficiency of the whole operation,”
says Andy.
In their search for more efficient and
healthier cows, they were introduced to the only scientifically proven
crossbreed, ProCROSS, which is a combination of VikingRed, Montbeliarde and
VikingHolstein.
After using
ProCROSS, the genetics of 50%
of the herd are from three-way crossbreeding and the plan is to extend this to
the whole herd.
The Williamsons work closely with
VikingGenetics United Kingdom and the family are improving health, fertility,
and longevity in the herd. “The culling rate was reduced from 34% to 28%”, Andy
explains, before adding that they are achieving high in-calf rates with an
average production of 9,500 kg ECM, with 3.9% milkfat and 3.4% protein.
