Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Larenwood wins again

Larenwood Farms has topped the nation for management score as calculated by CanWest DHI.

They won in 2015 and have three times had the top score for dairy farms in Ontario.

Larenwood is a Drumbo-area farm run by brothers Chris, Grant and Dan McLaren.

There are about 8,000 Canadian dairy herds as clients of CanWest DHI which is a milk-recording, quality analysis and services company owned by farmers.

It also provides computer software, disease tests and analyses that help farmers determine how to balance feed rations.

Larenwood achieved a score of 985 out of a possible 1000 and had superior performance across all aspects of herd management.

The DHI Herd Management Score allocates points for performance in six management areas and is an excellent tool for monitoring overall herd performance from year to year. It also serves as a comparison among farms, pointing out farms that can offer tips for improving management.

The McLarens manage a herd of 100 Holsteins and claim “we don’t really do anything special,” says Chris.

“For us it’s a matter of doing all the little things right.

“We try to do what’s best for our cows and they return the favour by being healthy and productive.”

An important part of their approach is to establish specific management protocols, and then follow them meticulously.  They stay well informed and have an open mind about implementing changes.

“Every herd will have some ups and downs in terms of performance, and we’re fortunate to have had a nice stretch in the last three years,” said Chris.

“There are many well managed herds in Canada, so we are humbled and pleasantly surprised by the news.”