John and Kim Bradfield of Blue Range Pastoral (Rosedale Stud) have again taken out first place in the Parmalat Annual Quality Awards for the second year in a row.

Returning to dairying after a break due to health problems, the Bradfields supplied approximately 576,463 litres to Parmalat in 2012 with a 2,250 bactoscan and 91,990 BMCC with an average of 4.08% milk fat, 3.38% protein. The Bradfields farm in the Goomburra Valley 20 km east of Allora.

John, Kim and their family milk 75 red cows. Their herd is still relatively young and key to their strategy is to ensure replacements are continually being introduced at the expense of older cows.

John said that he had not gone out to win awards but has been working with a focus on quality for a long time. The following are his tips to improving cow health and achieving excellent quality:

•    “Springing cow feeding with almost no metabolic diseases greatly reduces stress on the cows and reduces fresh mastitis incidence”.
•    “Isolate high BMCC cows to test bucket and cull with little tolerance”.
•    “Herd recording for proper culling decisions”.
•    “Lots of young cows”.
•    “Selective dry cow therapy”.
•    “Ensure cows leaving dairy have adequate time in a clean zone to allow sufficient time for teat canal closure – often use hay prior to pasture”.
•    “No cup removers – but attention paid to getting cups off quickly”.
•    “Teat spray used after every milking”.

It is wonderful to see that the Bradfields have maintained their excellence in milk quality to take out the top award for the second year running. Congratulations to John, Kim and family for this fantastic achievement.  John and Kim are also well known in Queensland for breeding quality Illawarra cattle with Rosedale Bygold Belle 2306 being named Reserve Champion Cow at the Brisbane Ekka in 2012.

Story and photo courtesy of Bev Sawyer, Qld Milk Supply Manager, Parmalat.