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.”
