The top Holstein herd, ranked on fat and protein production, according to NMR’s annual production report, is the Higgins family’s herd from Wilderley Hall, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

A family farm, Bill and Andrew Higgins farm the 360-acres and 240-cow herd with parents Bill and Margaret.

Production continues to increase in this herd and for the year ending September 2009, the herd achieved an average of 12,444kg of milk, 846kg of fat and protein at 3.72% fat and 3.08% protein on three times a day milking.

In second place is Andrew Greenwood from Westview Farm, Shotwisk, Chester. The 56 qualifying lactations in his herd achieved 841kg of fat and protein and 11,420kg of milk.

In third place and moving up from eighth last year is Henry Lewis from Tack Farm, Hereford. His herd, with 264 qualifying lactations, produced 839kg of fat and protein and 12,012kg of milk on three times a day milking. Henry Lewis has been in the top 10 herds nationally for the past three years.

Meanwhile, the Mahon’s Jersey herd from Norfolk leads that breed for production with 687kg of fat and protein and an average milk yield of 7463kg. In the Ayrshire breed, Tinkler and Sons’ Park Head herd moves up from third to first with a fat and protein yield of 654kg and a milk yield of 8,567kg.

The top British Friesian herd is the Goulds from Dorset that moves up from third and now has an average of 640kg of fat and protein and 7,844kg of milk.

And the leading Shorthorn herd is E Reader and Son from Glamorgan, who move from second last year and now averages 559kg of fat and protein and 8638kg of milk on three times a day milking. Top Guernsey herd is the Martel’s from Guernsey with 655kg of fat and protein and 7553kg of milk.