Innovative Calf Rearing Practices Boost Performance at Wiltshire Dairy
Hook Farm, operated by the Woolford family near Swindon, has been recognized for its outstanding calf rearing practices, which contributed to winning the Fertility Health and Welfare Award and the High-Performance Dairy Farm Award at the 2025 Cream Awards. The farm's practices were showcased during an AHDB and British Dairying Winners Walk, where attendees observed the management strategies contributing to the farm's success.
Dr. Jessica Cook, research and development manager for Feed For Growth, highlighted the farm's capability to calve heifers at an average age of 23 months. This achievement, alongside an average lifetime daily yield of 19kg per cow, distinguishes Hook Farm. Dr. Cook explained that calving heifers at 24 months with adequate body size is linked to improved fertility, increased milk production, better udder health, and enhanced longevity, which collectively offer economic and environmental benefits.
The farm's success is attributed to a focus on 'colostrum, cleanliness, and communication,' according to farm workers Katie Walker and Troy Peach. Calves are given colostrum soon after birth, with quality monitored using a Brix refractometer. Blood samples are taken to ensure antibody uptake, with vet Kate Brodie reviewing results during routine visits.
Effective communication across the farm is maintained through regular staff meetings, a WhatsApp group, and a whiteboard in the calf shed to track feeding and management. This approach was crucial during a scour outbreak last autumn, when rapid identification of cryptosporidiosis and rotavirus led to swift implementation of treatment and vaccination plans.
Preventative measures include vaccinating dry cows against rotavirus, coronavirus, and E. coli, and thoroughly cleaning calf accommodation between batches. Calves are housed in individual pens with raised floors before moving to group hutches, ensuring proper feeding and growth. Growth rates are monitored to ensure calves reach a target weight of 400kg at 400 days, with current growth rates averaging 900g per day from birth.
