For the first time in five years, total milk yields dropped 104kg across all breeds for the year ending September 2022.

The figures, from National Milk Record's (NMR)'s annual production report do however show that milk quality improved in the Holstein breed, which represents 68.2% of all NMR-recorded herds. Average milk fat was 4.08% and protein 3.27%, up 0.02% and 0.01% respectively.

Related Articles:

The breed also reported a reduction in average somatic cell count (SCC) of 7000 cells/ml to 164,000 cells/ml, and calving interval dropped to 399 days – the first time it has dipped below 400 days. The average Holstein milk yield for 2021/22 was 9327kg, down from 9472kg in the previous year.

These encouraging milk quality, health and fertility parameters are at record levels as published in the latest report, which includes data back to 2008/09.

In the Jersey breed, which represents 1.9% of NMR-recorded lactations, milk fat fell slightly to 5.36%, from 5.38%, but protein increased by 0.01% to 3.92%. Average SCC decrease by 9000 cells/ml to 189,000 cells/ml.

A dip in milk yield and milk quality – both fat and protein – were recorded in the Ayrshire, British Friesian, Shorthorn, Guernsey and Montbeliarde breeds. All represent more than 0.5% of NMR-recorded lactations.

Top-production herds

In Holstein herds, JH Shropshire returns to top place, from eighth in 2020/21. His ranking is based on a combined fat and protein yield from this Shropshire-based robotically-milked herd of 1013kg and an average yield of 14,219kg per cow.

Nudging up from fourth to second place is Derbyshire-based JE and EM Marshall with 1007kg of fat and protein from 183 cows on three-times-a-day milking. Average yield was 13,517kg for the year ending September 2022.

In third place, slipping down from second in 2020/21, is PJ and PE Ashley from Shropshire with 996kg of fat and protein and 13,774kg of milk from 109 cows milked through robots.

Newcomers into the top 10 national Holstein herds ranked on production are: GJ Walton, from Denbigh and Flintshire, in seventh place; Will Read Partnership, from Somerset, in ninth place; and CJ and PH George from Cornwall.

New names have taken top places in the Jersey, Shorthorn and Ayrshire production rankings.

Scotland-based Cally Mains Farming leads the Jersey rankings with its 68 cows on three-times-a-day milking achieving 739kg of fat and protein and 7106kg of milk.

The top Shorthorn herd, from second place, is IL and E Harris, from Carmarthenshire, with their 28 cows producing 692kg of fat and protein and 8667kg of milk.

From Carmarthen, D and C Sanderson heads up the Ayrshires with 171 cows producing 618kg of fat and protein and 7793kg of milk.

More Business News:

Cumbria-based Nerewater Farm hold onto first place in the British Frisian table for the sixth year running with 692kg of fat and protein and 8,649kg of milk from 53 cows. Devon-based D Vincent, stays top of the Guernsey ranking with 70 cows producing 605kg of fat and protein and 7164kg of milk.

Ranked on genetic merit, the top NMR Holstein herd for the year to September 2022 is, again, Derbyshire-based Easom and Son with an average PLI of £341 based on 337 qualifying lactations. Herd average yield was 10,105kg of milk at 4.56% fat and 3.46% protein on twice-a-day milking.

And BC and PM Cox’s herd, from Cornwall, holds on to second place with a PLI of £324 and 116 qualifying lactations. In third place, up from sixth, is D Foot from Dorset with the 899-cow herd achieving a PLI of £321.

* The NMR Annual Production Report lists the top 1% of herds ranked on weight of fat and protein (CFandP), and on genetic merit (£PLI) both nationally and by county.

It also includes the production, health and fertility trends, by breed and as a total for all NMR-recorded herds – from 2008/09 to the most recently recorded year, 2021/22.