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I attended a training course today at one of the Agricultural Colleges which has a 300 cow Holstein herd, to learn about Lameness Scoring which some of the Supermarkets have now made a condition of supply. The scoring system has been developed by DEFRA/ADAS and Bristol University and uses the scores:

0  Normal Locomotion, long fluid strides with a flat back.

1  Could benefit from Routine Foot Trimming,

2  Uneven weight bearing, with an arch to the back.

3  Unable to walk at a brisk pace.

Following the Channel 5 broadcast on Thursday, the Guernsey producer retailers are all reporting an increased demand for their milk. Parents and grandparents are very eager to obtain Guernsey milk to try and as Andrew Hope commented in the report, most who have changed are delighted with the improvements in …

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We should be very grateful to Channel 5 for yesterday’s news report on the benefits of Guernsey milk and in particular to Catherine Jones and to Emma Slifkin, who presented and researched the subject. I didn’t get home from Cornwall till late but watched the video link from this site and thought the impact  and message was spot on.

Channel 5 have produced a second news item regarding the benefits of Guernsey A2 milk, especially for children with Autism. Click here to see what Channel 5 have to say.

Here is a comprehensive list of suppliers and their contact details.

Channel 5 news are filming today in Cheshire with consumers who having seen the item in September on the benefits to an autistic child of changing to Guernsey milk have sought out supplies of Guernsey milk for their own children. Several parents have now made this simple change and are …

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Mike and Clare Cox had the Classifier to the farm on Alderney last Friday and they put 7 heifers forward who averaged 83.4 points. 6 cows who were 4 VG and 2 Excellent. One of the excellent cows was Alderney Zulu Leonie who is the Dam of Alderney Challenge Len …

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The Dairy Show at Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on 1st October 2008 was the first show of the season that was not effected by the Blue Tongue restrictions. 23 Guernseys from 10 exhibitors were competing in the breed classes. In addition 10 Guernsey calves competing in the calf show.

The evening before the Dairy Show sees the young people of all breeds competing in Handling classes with one class for young Holstein handlers followed by three classes that are open to all breeds split by the age of the handler.

David and Rosie Paull and family invited me to an Open day at Overton Farm on the 27th September where they entertained about 100 people, mostly parents with young children and explained about the farm, the herd, their own Hurdlebrook products and the Guernsey cow.

The Paull’s have been putting on a display at the Bath and West for the last 5 years which has involved a Guernsey milk tasting with Milk from Nick Gosling’s Artis herd as he can supply 4 gallon pergols of milk.

On the afternoon of the EGCS AGM 10th September 2008 the meeting was shocked and saddened to hear of the death that morning of Mrs Sheilagh Andrews.

Sheilagh had travelled to Cornwall on the Tuesday afternoon to be present at the AGM but had suffered a stroke and died. Her death brought home to all of us that there are more important things than Guernsey politics.