MULLER Direct Farmers who commit to initiatives designed to continually improve herd health and welfare standards, are to be offered an additional payment worth 0.5p per litre.
The Muller Direct Premium 2019 will be introduced on January 1st, 2019, with payment based on involvement by farmers in three herd health initiatives. They are:
* The Muller Direct Farm Insight Programme, an on-farm health and welfare assessment which aims to provide bespoke advice, benchmarking and highlight potential savings, managed by AB Sustain.
*The Muller Direct Antibiotic Programme, which is designed to manage and reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics.
*The National Johne's Management Plan, which aims to control and eradicate Johne's, a chronic disease which affects cattle.
The Muller Direct Premium 2019 is worth £10,000 to a 2m litre per annum producer and will be paid in a lump sum in January 2020 to Muller Direct farmers who qualify.
Rob Hutchison, Milk Supply Director for Muller said: "The Muller Direct premium 2019 initiative is another means to help our Muller Direct dairy farmers build better, more sustainable businesses, securing long term success and benefitting the dairy supply chain as a whole.
"We know that Muller Direct farmers are deeply committed to the health of their herds. Many have already taken important steps to address the unnecessary use of antibiotics, manage Johne's and look for ways to improve overall health and welfare.
"We are confident that the benefits of participating, in terms of potential improvements in herd health and welfare coupled with the value of benchmarking and sharing best practice, will be significant.
"For Muller the aggregated, anonymised data from the herd health initiative will provide evidence of improved herd health and welfare in our direct farm pool which we will be able to share with our customers who have no direct relationship with farmers."
Market round-up
C&D Auction Marts sold a couple of prime heifers in Dumfries on Wednesday to a top of 240p per kg and an average of 230.1p.
In the rough ring 50 beef cows sod to 125p and averaged 96p, while 19 dairy cows peaked at 126p and levelled at 78p.
The firm also sold 746 prime lambs to a top of £92 per head and 194p per kg to average 171p (+8p on the week).
A smaller show of 309 cast sheep saw heavy ewes average £58 and light/export-type ewes level at £36.50.
Messrs Craig Wilson Ltd sold 1355 prime lambs in Newton Stewart on Wednesday to a top of £90.50 and 201.2p to average 167.5p (-1.6p).
There were also 82 heavy cast that averaged £73.65 and 130 light ewes that levelled at £30.60.
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