A FAMILY is celebrating after its west Dorset farm won a gold national award, recognising its good farming procedures and healthy cows.

Simon Bugler from Pilsdon Dairy Farm , has been named winner of the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers National Milk Records’ Gold Cup 2016.

This is the first time that the Bugler family partnership has entered the Gold Cup, with its pedigree Holstein Bettiscombe herd, made up of 570 cows and 700 followers.

Mr Bulger runs the unit in partnership with his parents Roland and Heather and they employ 12 full time workers.

The herd produced 11,260kg of milk at 3.56 per cent butterfat and 3.1 per cent of protein on three times a day milking in the Gold Cup qualifying year.

Despite looking to increase yields, Simon said he is firmly focused on keeping a herd of cows that combine yield with good fertility and health.

His management priorities are all focused on achieving this, he said. 

The herd is housed all year round and Simon says this has improved cattle health as well as lifting yields. 

Cases of mastitis are currently 20 per 100 cows, and cell count runs at 111,000cells/ml and Bactoscan at 6. 

Calving interval is 380 days.

Simon has cut antibiotic use at drying off and now up to 95 per cent of the dry cows have no antibiotic treatment, just a teat sealant.

RABDF chairman and former Gold Cup winner Mike King praised the family enterprise, describing Pilsdon Dairy Farm as a progressive and well-run business. 

He said: “The Buglers have a very strong business plan with a clear direction for the future.

“This is supported with excellent attention to detail and careful, well thought out cost savings in many areas. 

“It’s good to see established health protocols in place and a clear focus on reduced antibiotic use.

“These are all attributes of professional dairy farming.” 

The Chris May Memorial Award, for the herd with the highest average lifetime daily yield among Gold Cup qualifying herds, was given to Nick Cobb from West Chaldon in Purbeck.

Mr Cobb’s 669-cow Holstein herd achieved a lifetime daily yield of 18.48 kg. Contributing to this is the herd’s average milk yield of 12952kg at 3.43 per cent fat and 3.12 per cent protein and a calving interval of 382 days.