A FARMING family are opening their farmgates for the long-awaited Holstein UK Premier Herd Open Day.

The acclaimed Berryholme herd at Kendal, owned by the Wright family, was the national winner of Holstein UK’s 2019 Premier Herd Competition and the family are now looking forward to welcoming visitors on Thursday, July 22, from 10.30am for an 11am start. The day will run in conjunction with the Best of Berryholme Sale which will begin at 2.30pm and see 35 pedigree animals being sold.

The Wright family have been farming at Berryholme Farm since 1919 and registered their first Friesian in 1965. David, who manages the farm, joined the team full time in the early 2000s and is now the fourth-generation to farm at Berryholme.

The Berryholme herd is nationally recognised for exceptional breeding, confirmation, production and their extremely high standard of health and welfare. When they were crowned the winner of the award, National Judge Dennis Smith commented: “They are a world-class herd which everyone should see.”

The Wright family farm a 140-cow milking herd (plus followers). The herd is currently averaging 10,850kg at 4.31 per cent butterfat and 3.28 percent protein with a calving interval of 398 days. They began classifying in 2001 and the herd now boasts 86 per cent of their herd as VG/EX animals with 45 EX and 72 VG. During the summer months, cows graze during the day and are buffer-fed at night with the majority housed in cubicles.

David Wright, of Berryholme Holsteins, said of the first event since Covid: “We look forward to showing members, young breeders and enthusiasts around the farm giving them the chance to see the herd and hopefully have the final bid on our sale lots.”