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DAIRY FARMS RE-STOCK WITH HARRISON & HETHERINGTON

Harrison & Hetherington's southern operation has been helping dairy farmers hit by foot and mouth disease to re-stock their herds.

In one week alone in August specialist pedigree consultant and auctioneer David Jones dealt with transactions for six complete herds, involving around 700 cattle.

David, who also farms, near Chepstow in Gwent, has been working full-time to satisfy the demand for re-stocking both pedigree and commercial dairy herds, mainly from the north of England and Scotland.

His diary is full for the weeks to come with appointments arranged for dairy farmers to view herds for sale, many of them in the important dairying region of south Wales, as well as the south of England
Purchaser of two of the six herds sold within a week is Alistair Wannop, of Linstock Castle, Linstock, Carlisle.

The herds are from Worcestershire and Oxfordshire and Mr Wannop is hoping to re-stock his dairy unit as soon as possible this autumn.

The demand to source through Harrison & Hetherington is great not only because of the company's reputation to carry out a thoroughly professional service but also because of the contacts and expertise of David Jones, who joined H&H in the early part of this year.

Dairy cattle and pedigree stock in particular, are his hobby and his job. He milks 70 pedigree Holstein cows in a family partnership 20 miles away from the new Harrison & Hetherington sales centre at Washingpool Farm, Easter Compton, Bristol, owned by farmer and businessman Keith Sherrell.

David is a Holstein judge and a keen competitor in the show ring and has wide experience of buying and selling dairy cattle.

"I can advise prospective purchasers on the price and suitability of the cattle as I have a good idea of what is representative of what is on offer for sale generally," said David Jones.

"I also believe that two sets of eyes are better than one when it comes to looking at stock."

South Wales is a huge dairying area which has remained foot and mouth free. Last year, one per cent of the milk produced in the EU came from the region and proof of the quality of the cattle is in the fact that it produced three out of the last four years' Royal Show champions.

Most of the prospective purchasers are from Cumbria, which has been ravaged by foot and mouth disease, although there is interest from north of the border.

Two of the three milk producers in Northumberland who lost their cattle have agreed to buy replacement herds through Harrison & Hetherington.

Most of these milk producers are looking to buy complete herds, which have advantages for cattle health. Also it makes the re-stocking operation simpler for those replacing large herds.

"There are still a number of whole herds for sale in the south and more complete herds will be offered but by next spring I don't think there will be as many still available," said Mr Jones.

"A number of the current vendors have said they will keep the herds until next spring to allow purchasers to delay re-stocking," he added.

*Among the cattle for sale is a 100-cow pedigree Holstein Friesian herd in Wiltshire which is suitable for organic production.