The Holstein breed achieved a new record of 700kg of combined fat and protein production (CFP) in the year ending September 2023 – up from 686kg in 2021/2022.
Highlights from National Milk Records’ (NMR) annual production report also showed a milk yield increase for the breed – up to 9,409kg at 4.12% fat.
Meanwhile, the Holstein breed’s average somatic cell count (SCC) dropped to 157,000 cells/ml – the lowest level in at least a decade.
The calving interval decreased by four days, down to 395 days, compared with the previous year.
Jerseys
Improvements from the previous year were recorded in the Jersey breed, which account for 2% of NMR recorded herds.
The breed averaged 550kg of CFP, an increase of 6kg, and 5910kg of milk, an increase of 58kg, which averaged 5.38% fat and 3.93% protein.
SCC for the Jersey breed reduced slightly compared with 2021/2022 to 185,000 cells/ml and the calving interval reduced by a day to 401 days.
British Friesian
The British Friesian breed, with 1.5% of total NMR recorded lactations, had a slight drop in CFP of 2kg to 481kg.
The breed also experienced a drop in average milk yield of 74kg to 6,364kg.
SCC increased by 3,000 cells/ml to 158,000 cells/ml, while calving interval dropped by four days to 387 days.
Ayrshire breed
The Ayrshire breed, making up 1.2% of recorded lactations, achieved the same CFP yield as the previous 12 months at 519kg.
The breed experienced marginal drops in SCC to 155,000 cells/ml, and the calving interval, down to 399 days.
Top production herds
The top three Holstein herds ranked on production all achieved a CFP yield above 1,000kg.
J H Shropshire took top place, increasing its CFP by 32kg to 1,045kg and its yield by 440kg to 14,659kg.
The Shropshire-based robotically-milked herd recorded 59 completed lactations.
In second place, Marshall and Law Partners’ herd from Derbyshire had 173 completed lactations and was milked three times a day.
It recorded 1,026kg of CFP and 13,725kg of milk.
In third place is PJ and PE Ashley from Shropshire. The 106 robotically-milked cows achieved 1,002kg CFP and 13,705kg of milk.
Derbyshire-based Easom and Son remain top genetic merit Holstien herd and has increased its PLI by £24 to £365 with 334 qualifying cow lactations.
Second place is David Foot from Dorset with 699 qualifying lactations achieving a PLI of £353.
