Harper Adams Uni’s Future Farm wins 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup
(Left to right) Robert Craig, Kate Robinson, Alice Sault, Becky Yarnold and Mark Frankcom (NMR) © Charlotte Cunningham Attention to detail, high performance and an excellent team approach has earned a university farm a top dairy accolade.
Harper Adams University’s Future Farm was presented with the NMR RABDF 2024 Gold Cup at Dairy-Tech, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, on Wednesday, 5 February.
The event is sponsored by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) and National Milk Records.
See also: Meet the 2024 NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalists
The winning farm is home to a 400-head herd of Holsteins, plus 195 followers, which are fully housed and calve all year round.
While the dairy unit is involved in training and research for the university, it is very much run, and expected to perform, commercially.
Average yield sits at 12,248kg, with 3,864 litres from forage, with averages of 3.19% protein and 3.85% fat.
Ruminant sector manager Kate Robinson and staff members Becky Yarnold and Alice Sault, were at the event to collect the coveted award.
Efficiency is a core ethos of the business, with significant investment made in automation and technology over recent years.
The farm also has the ambition to achieve net zero by 2030, and has implemented various strategies such as refined grassland management and adapting the breeding strategy to introduce a small amount of sexed Montbeliarde and Viking Red semen to enable this.
Speaking to Farmers Weekly, Kate said: “Shocked I think is the first emotion. I am genuinely overwhelmed.
“I’m so pleased for the entire farm team. It’s a farm team effort and it’s just an absolutely amazing award for us to to win for the recognition of all the work that everyone does. I am just absolutely over the moon.”
Farm facts: Future Farm, Newport, Shropshire
- Size 227ha
- Animals 400 Holsteins plus 195 followers
- Milk yield 12,248kg
- Milk from forage 3,864 litres
- Fat 3.85%
- Protein 3.19%
- Milk from forage 3,864 litres
- Pregnancy rate 23% cows, 45% heifers
- Cell count 123,000 cells/ml
- Mastitis rate 12%
- Milk buyer Muller, on a Morrisons contract
Outstanding dairy businesses
This year’s judges were RABDF chairman and Cumbrian dairy farmer Robert Craig, RABDF vice-chair and dairy farmer Tim Downes, National Milk Records’ veterinary adviser Dr Karen Bond, and 2022 Gold Cup winner Alistair Logan.
Commenting on this year’s finalists, Robert said: “The overall standard was incredibly high and we found judging a real challenge.
“All six finalists are outstanding dairy businesses. All six demonstrated excellence in dairy, putting the cow at the centre of their business and with a very keen eye on the horizon and future-proofing the businesses.”
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.