51AVÊÓÆµ

How a Scottish dairy farm slashed labour costs with an innovative new calf shed design

A focus on calf health and the opportunity for industry collaboration has seen the Vance family improve calf performance and farm efficiency, cutting labour costs by 75%

Katie Fallon
Livestock Specialist
clock • 10 min read
Left to right: Stewart, Ethel and Ross Vance.
Image:

Left to right: Stewart, Ethel and Ross Vance.

Looking after the future of the herd is key for the Vance family of High Skeog Farm, who farm on the southwest coast of Scotland. Together with his parents Stewart and Ethel, and his wife Katie, Ross...

To continue reading...

Already a member? Login for full access.

New to Farmers Guardian? Register for 1 free article per week or become a member for unlimited access to essential farming news and insights.

article-img-580x358

Ìý

More on Dairy

Dairy Talk: Robert Reed - "We haven't been this long bTB-free for nearly 15 years"

Dairy Talk: Robert Reed - "We haven't been this long bTB-free for nearly 15 years"

Farming 405 hectares (1,000 acres), a mix of tenanted and owned land at Gatcombe Farm, near Seaton, Devon, Robert Reed and his family milk 350 all-year-round calving Holstein cows via five robots and are achieving average yields of 12,000 litres

clock 16 July 2026 • 4 min read
How nutritional stress can impact fertility in dairy cows

How nutritional stress can impact fertility in dairy cows

Rising productivity in modern dairy herds can come at a cost, with nutritional stress now a key driver of poor fertility in high yielding herds

clock 15 July 2026 • 4 min read
How milking heifer sales drive breeding decisions on Lincolnshire dairy farm

How milking heifer sales drive breeding decisions on Lincolnshire dairy farm

Income from the sale of milking heifers influences sire selection on a Lincolnshire dairy where functional, medium-sized cows suit the system at Bassingthorpe Holsteins

clock 08 July 2026 • 7 min read