Latest NMR Annual Report Highlights Top Herd and Breed Performance
NMR’s Annual Production Report for the year ending September 2022, published in January 2023, shows that total milk yield dropped by 104kg across all breeds compared to the previous year, reflecting the first fall in production for five years.
But the report reveals 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.
The breed also reported a reduction in average somatic cell count (SCC) of 7,000 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 9,327kg, down from 9,472kg 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 9,000 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
J H Shropshire returns to top place, from eighth in 2020/21, in the Holstein production ranking with a combined fat and protein yield from this Shropshire-based robotically- milked herd of 1,013kg and an average yield of 14,219kg per cow.
Nudging up from fourth to second place is Derbyshire-based JE & EM Marshall with 1,007kg 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 & 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 & PH George from Cornwall.
New names in other breeds
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 7,106kg of milk.
The top Shorthorn herd, from second place, is IL & E Harris, from Carmarthenshire, with their 28 cows producing 692kg of fat and protein and 8,667kg of milk.
D & C Sanderson from Carmarthen heads up the Ayrshires with 171 cows producing 618kg of fat and protein and 7,793kg of milk.
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. D Vincent, from Devon, stays top of the Guernsey ranking with 70 cows producing 605kg of fat and protein and 7,164kg of milk.
Top two genetic merit Holstein herds hold places
Ranked on genetic merit, the top NMR Holstein herd for the year to September 2022 is, once 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 & PM Cox’s herd, from Cornwall, hold 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 (CF&P), 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.
The Annual Production Report 2021/22 is available to NMR customers on the Herd Companion website.