A farm in Scotland is seeing great success with GENEadvance®, an innovative herd improvement programme, that leverages female genomic testing to accelerate herd performance.
Owned by John Forrest and managed by Ali Cook, Hurkledale Farm is home to a herd of 1,950 dairy cows, with 1200 young stock following on.
Over the past 15 years, the farm has undergone significant expansion, growing from a 300-cow dairy herd to its current scale. A key milestone in this journey was the addition of a rotary parlour in 2004, capable of milking up to 300 cows per hour. This investment, along with a commitment to continuous improvement, has been instrumental to the farm’s success.
For over 20 years, the team at Hurkledale Farm have worked closely with their Genus ABS Breeding Advisor, Douglas White, who has supported their ongoing progress.
Enhancing Milk Solids and Yield
Milking three times a day, cows in the herd average 39 litres per day, at 4.7% butterfat and 3.7% protein. With their Arla milk contract rewarding components, the focus remains on optimising milk solids while maintaining high production levels.
Making Informed Breeding Decisions
Originally operating as a flying herd, Hurkledale Farm made a strategic shift to rearing their own heifers to accelerate genetic progress. Previously, breeding decisions were based on parent averages, with the majority of cows bought in being pedigree.
Eager to further enhance performance, they introduced a herd improvement programme, GENEadvance.
Every animal in the herd is genomic tested as part of the package, providing Ali with data backed insights on the genetic merit of animals in the herd. Ali works with Douglas to interpret the results and create a tailored breeding plan that aligns with the farm’s objectives.
This means that more informed breeding decisions can be made, ensuring the highest performing animals are bred to Sexcel® Female Dairy, while the remainder of the herd are strategically bred to NuEra Beef Genetics. Making these informed breeding decisions can help Hurkledale Farm to reach their goals faster and accelerate genetic progress.
What Results Have They Seen?
Following the plan closely, Ali commented that there has been a notable increase in £PLI, particularly among their young stock and the younger proportion of the milking herd. The young stock born in the last six months are currently averaging £536 PLI, based on 171 animals tested. This represents a remarkable improvement compared to the £240 PLI that the milking herd currently averages. As well as this, Hurkledale Farm is currently home to 3 of the top 300 genomic tested heifers in the UK, including the heifer holding the number 11 ranking at £809 PLI, a T-Spruce DeNovo Zest daughter.
Success with RMS®
The farm use Genus ABS’ Reproductive Management System (RMS®), on their maiden heifers. Ali shared that they feel fortunate to work with their RMS team, spearheaded by Reproduction Management Specialist, Maureen Mair. Success is evident in their results, with their the conception rate of their young stock sitting at 55%.
Through innovative practices and a commitment to genetic progress, Hurkledale Farm continues to set the bar for sustainable, high-performing dairy farming, driving productivity and profitability.
Interested in implementing your own herd improvement programme? Get in touch with your breeding advisor today and ask about GENEadvance®, or fill out the form below.
