Holstein cows are renowned for producing the highest milk yields, but with the today's component led payment schemes, coupled with increasing demand for an easier managed dairy cow, a growing number of producers are now looking to the Ayrshire breed.

That was the overwhelming viewpoint of breeders attending the Ayrshire Cattle Society's open day at Brundcliffe Farm, Hartington, Buxton, in Derbyshire, staged in association with Cattle Services Ayr, where 150 farming families from all corners of the UK were present.

The event, hosted by Andrew Broadley, his brother Michael and parents John and Barbara, who run the Whitecroft Ayrshire herd of 150 cows, alongside 60 Holsteins, boasts a herd average of 8000litres plus, with a 385-day calving interval.

Farming at 1100 feet above sea level, albeit in the picturesque Peak District on just 245 acres, Andrew is the first to admit the Ayrshires are the mainstay of the farm, with the breed more than able to compete with any other in terms of lifetime production and yield. Furthermore, he said the crossbred calves from the herd furnish the business with a reliable second income, while the cows are able to continue producing milk from a long grazing season running from April to October.

Backing up these statements, Duncan Rose, technical director for Carrs Billington highlighted the feed efficiency of the breed based on real practical data, showing that the Ayrshire cow per kilo of bodyweight has a slightly higher kilo of fat and protein production than its Holstein counterpart. In addition, he said, the Ayrshire offers superior mobility with great feet and legs, tenacity and hardiness. She is an aggressive grazing animal, with the benefits of longevity and lifespan, fertility and calving ease and great wear-ability all on her side.

Mr Rose also explained current trends in component production and its relationship to yield, and how for the first time in 20 years he has seen a marked drop in protein yield in cattle due to lower feed and concentrate use as a direct result of milk pricing pressure across the industry –perhaps further fuelling the need to consider the British Ayrshire as a breed alternative.

Commenting on the feeding of youngstock and dry cows, Richard Bainbridge of Advanced Nutrition pointed out that attention to detail is key to include maximising the intake of cholostrum in the first six hours of birth through to concentrates from day three of life, to weaning at 60-65 days at doubled birth weight. As a result, he said, the Ayrshires on the farm were calving in at two years of age or in some cases younger.

The aggressive ability of the Ayrshire breed to graze and eat forage was also exploited during the young stock rearing phase.

Milk fever causes problems on all farms, and John Fish and Becky Bainbridge of Vitfoss, highlighted the fact that while 7-9% of UK dairy cows show signs of clinical milk fever as many as 50% including first calvers have in fact sub clinical milk fever which has no visible signs, but does have a detrimental effect on productivity. This leaves animals prone to more metabolic issues and ultimately reduced performance and profitability.

In a bid to tackle this issue, the Broadleys have been using Xzelit to counteract milk fever, which is found to be effective in 85% of practical farming systems with no side effects, leading to higher milk yields, easier and faster calvings, less metabolic diseases and longer productive lives. The calcium binding supplement is highly adaptable as it can be fed in three different forms for 14 days pre calving.