Bruce Forshaw has many year’s experience within the farming industry and over the years has been involved with some of the most prestigious dairy herds in the South West.

“I am excited to be part of the team at Harpers Home Mix, a company that is a local success built on high quality products and fixed formulations”, said Bruce.

“As you might expect with my background I believe consistency and rumen efficiency are vitally important to THE New Year sees the return of a familiar face for Holstein UK with their latest appointment.

Richard Evans is rejoining the organisation, after an 11-year break working for the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF), primarily organising the Dairy Event.

From February 1 Mr Evans will take on the role of company secretary for Holstein UK, where he previously worked for more than two years upon its creation by the merger of Holstein Friesian Society with the British Holstein Society.

He has spent almost 25 years working in the pedigree dairy cattle sector in total, rising to the position of secretary of the British Holstein Society.

Greg Watson, executive director of Holstein UK, said: “We are delighted that Richard is rejoining the organisation.

“He brings a wealth of experience with him, both from his roles in a dairy Breed Society and in organising major industry events.”

Familiar face rejoins Holstein UK livestock farming. I have been using feed conversion rate to help monitor this for years, but it is not only for the meat producers and TMR dairy units. Feed efficiency and rumen health are highly relevant to all.

“By delivering a constant high quality ration we create stability in the rumen. Base forages are not generally what we would like this year and farmers are having to make up the energy gap with other products. By providing high quality fixed formulation rations Harpers Home Mix helps to ensure rumen stability and efficiency. Put simply a dairy farmer producing 1000,000 litres at a feed conversion rate of 1.2 (Litres ECM/DMI), 833 tonnes of dry matter will be needed. If the feed conversion rate can be improved to 1.4, only 714 tonnes of dry matter will be needed. At a cost of £190/TDM that is an annual saving of £22,610.

“This is important on more than just individual farm level. In my lifetime world population has increased sharply, (only three of which are my fault!), and as an industry we must continue to embrace new technologies.

“At Harpers Home Mix I will be looking to work with industry partners to develop and research products and systems for the future.”

Before joining Harpers Home Mix, Bruce held the position of senior mech-fiber nutrition specialist with Richard Keenan UK delivering nutrition advice and training to dairy, beef and sheep farmers.