The Year Round: In a good position to overcome the winter elements

WE had a dreadful start to the week at Mill Farm. This high-lying grassland Pennines dairy holding is fortunate as the house and buildings adjoin a main road, so we have no long drive to contend with. The road is a bus route, and is regularly kept clear until the council used all its sand, salt and grit.

Last Tuesday a large load of brewers' grains were delivered into the yard. It contained three weeks' supply for the Holstein/Friesian milkers and offspring. These cows are loose-housed and able to sleep under cover if they so wish. A surprising number of them prefer to be outside.

Everything but the sheep has a chance of housing. The mule ewes have been scanned and this eases their management. Those bearing twins can be fed separately and given extra.

Christmas and New Year were busy times for the roundsmen who take our milk bottled ready for them. I didn't envy them their job, but all are locals who take a pride in reaching their customers.

The first heifer to calf just before Christmas was the last one bought from my predecessor at the Year Round and is milking very well. She was followed by a further 17 calves, so my wife as calf rearing chief has been kept very busy.

The cows have been milking very well, showing that our silage was even better than expected. We should have enough to last until spring, though there is a long time go. A further delivery of fertilisers has been arranged at the original price.

Frozen water tanks have been a problem though these plastic ones are better to deal with than the metal ones. A cloth and hot water usually does the trick, easier than a blow lamp.

The Young Farmers Club party was held on a bad night, but there has been a surprising amount of ice skating since.

The round silage bales offer an incredible range of wild bird feed each time they are lifted for the stock.