Picture: Lisa and Derrick Davies (winning farmer), Neil F. Partridge BVetMed MRCVS (Valley Veterinary Group, winner of the Quality Milk Veterinary Award and winner's vet), Dr. Stuart Marsden (Senior Manager - Direct Supplies at Dairy Crest Ltd., winner of the Quality Milk Buyer Award and winner's milk buyer)
Local farmer Derrick Davies of Home Farm, Reading, has won the GB Pfizer Quality Milk Award, with the prize of a trip for two to California, coupled with a visit to the World Ag Expo 2004. Pfizer is supplying a relief milker to look after the dairy herd while the winners are away, thereby guaranteeing total peace of mind.
The winner was announced at the Dairy Event in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, September 17, 2003, where Mr Davies collected his prize, trophy and a certificate for his achievements.
Derrick Davies recognises that animal welfare depends on cleanliness, and that by meticulously scrubbing and attention to detail, it is possible to achieve a combination that improves herd health, reduces the risk of disease and provides for happier, healthier cows in comfortable conditions.
Animals are treated with Excenel™ RTU for foot conditions, where a three-day course has cleared up problems successfully, and Pirsue™ is used as an eight-tube course to clear up high cell counts caused by sub-clinical mastitis. Mr Davies has also used OrbeSeal®, the non-antibiotic dry cow treatment, which has been shown to be more effective than the UK's best selling antibiotic dry cow tube at preventing new intramammary infections during the dry period1, in cows with cell counts below 200,000 cells/ml.
This is the first time Mr Davies has entered the Pfizer Quality Milk Award, in response to his milk buyer who put him forward. He also works closely with his veterinary surgeon from Valley Veterinary Group, who provided extra information to the judging panel, as did the milk buyer, both of which received certificates and trophies for their contribution.
Mr Davies has been working on Home Farm, a management company specialising in dairy, for eight years. He and a colleague manage all 300 Holstein Friesian cows between them.
Over the past five years, changes to Home Farm have included building a new dairy unit and amalgamating two herds together to take full advantage of the new facilities. In 2004, Mr Davies plans to build additional housing for 150 cows, and more feed-storage clamps. He hopes to increase milk production cost-effectively, while improving herd health and comfort.
The Preliminary Entry Forms for next year's competition are now on the Quality Milk Award web site (www.quality-milk-award.com), which also contains other interesting information on the award. Further information can also be obtained from the Quality Milk Project Team on 020 8399 1184.
Pfizer Animal Health, a business of Pfizer Inc, is a world leader in animal health, committed to providing high-quality, innovative health products, including pharmaceuticals and biologicals, for livestock and companion animals.
Pfizer Animal Health is a business of Pfizer Inc, a research-based pharmaceutical company with global operations. Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures and markets leading prescription medicines for humans and animals, and many of the world's best-known consumer products.
