Chris Colloby wins South West Farmer dairy award with 43% pregnancy rate
Colloby operates JLC Farms at Kennacott Farm, near Launceston. His cows require an average of 1.6 insemination straws for each conception. Breeding, nutrition and animal-health management are supported by close collaboration with the farm’s veterinary team. The award judges highlighted his herd’s performance, continued efforts to improve the business and use of technology alongside attention to fertility, animal health and sustainability. This was the first award he had won.
Chris and his wife, Amber, began with 52 cows on a council tenancy. They subsequently moved back to the family farm before choosing to set up independently. In 2015, they purchased Kennacott Farm, constructed a dairy unit and started operating there with 120 cows and two milking robots. The herd has since grown to approximately 200 cows, and the family’s expansion plan called for 240 milking cows by October 2026. Milk output per cow has increased from 8,600 litres to 10,800 litres through changes to genetics, feed and management.
Milking robots and collars that track activity help the family determine when cows are ready for insemination. Genomic testing informs the selection of replacement heifers. Chris performs artificial insemination himself alongside his daughter-in-law, Emma, keeping breeding decisions within the family’s day-to-day farm management. His son, Ben, rejoined the farm in 2018. Chris, aged 46, described the business’s development as a process of determination, continual improvement and attention to basic farming practices.
Investment in 2025 included a new shed with cubicles and the installation of a fourth milking robot. Rooftop solar panels have reduced monthly electricity costs by roughly 50%. The farm also uses grassland rich in clover, manages slurry carefully and participates in the Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme as part of its environmental work.
The family purchased 110 acres and a farmhouse containing seven bedrooms in February 2026 as it began diversifying. It plans to establish holiday accommodation and is considering a wedding venue over the longer term to provide an additional income stream. Colloby described the move as a recent step towards broadening the business beyond its dairy operations.
Runner-up Nicola Walsh, a qualified veterinarian, has introduced four milking robots and improved livestock accommodation at her family’s Leweston Farm. Its 240 cows produce an annual average of 13,800 litres each. Walsh’s management centres on welfare, fertility and productivity, supported by genomic testing and close monitoring of animal health. The changes have also given staff greater flexibility in their working arrangements.
Fellow runners-up Chloe and Thomas Marsh operate a 350-cow dairy on a family farm spanning four generations. They have added a vending machine offering fresh milk, milkshakes, ice cream made on the farm and local produce. Their dairy combines animal-health monitoring with environmental management. Tours of the farm, visits by schools and work placements give the public opportunities to learn about milk production, while the farm’s ice cream has received national recognition.
