Bisterne Farms claims 2023 NMR RABDF Gold Cup
Left to right: RABDF chairman Robert Craig, George Brown, Bisterne Farms staff member James Dunning, and Mark Frankcom from NMR © Charlotte Cunningham A dynamic partnership designed to encourage a new generation of dairy farmers and focus on getting more milk from grass, has earned a Hampshire farming business a top dairy accolade.
The 2023 Gold Cup – sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and National Milk Records (NMR) – was presented to Bisterne Farms at Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on 7 February.
Bisterne is one of just a few farms in the competition’s recent history to receive the award with a cross-bred, low-input, grass-based herd.
See also: Meet the 2023 NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalists
The joint venture is a contract-farming partnership between estate owner Hallam Mills and farmer George Brown, established in 2019 to help bring new entrants into the industry and to restructure the existing dairy to create a sustainable business for the future.
Milk from forage
The farm is home to a 600-head cross-bred herd, operating on a grass-based system across a 190ha (470-acre) grazing platform.
To optimise performance from grazed grass, New Zealand Friesians are an integral part of the breeding programme.
Average yield sits at 6,282 litres, with a target of getting 4,000 litres from forage. They are achieving 3,730 litres at present.
Hallam provides the land, buildings, houses and fixed infrastructure, while George sees to labour, power and machinery.
Farm facts: Bisterne Farms, Sandford, Ringwood, Hampshire
- Milking 600 cross-bred cows
- Grass-based system utilising a 190ha grazing platform
- Average yield 6,282 litres, with 3,730 litres from forage
- 5.06 % butterfat and 3.84% protein
- Cows graze from 4 February to 21 December
- Split-block calving
- Somatic cell count 162,000 cells/ml
- Mastitis rate 22.6%
- Supplying Arla
To meet the business goal of encouraging the next generation of dairy farmers, most of the five full-time staff do not hail from a farming background.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, George expressed his shock at being shortlisted for the award – let alone winning – and paid tribute to his “great landlord”, Hallam, when asked about the business’s secret to success.
Outstanding performance
This year’s judges were RABDF chairman and Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig, immediate past chairman and Devon dairy farmer Di Wastenage, NMR veterinary adviser Dr Karen Bond, and 2022 Gold Cup winner John Torrance.
Commenting on this year’s finalists, Robert praised Bisterne Farms’ “outstanding performance” – both technically and financially – and its effective engagement with consumers and the local community.
Gold Cup criteria
To qualify for the Gold Cup, herds must have more than 100 animals with qualifying lactations in the milking herd, as well as an average somatic cell count of 200,000/ml or less – or 250,000/ml for organic herds.
Herds must also have a minimum profitable lifetime index value specific to the breed, or a minimum spring calving index or autumn calving index value.