Volvo VC40 R-Design D3
Diesel 2 litre
Black
Registered 1/3/20
Mileage 75764
Full Service History
MOT due 7-7-27
Only £15,000
This is an ex-rep vehicle at we are selling at a special price to our ‘farmer’ connections
Please contact the office on 01300 345711 for viewing at our Dorset headquarters
TBA Ltd — Trusted heritage. Focused on the future.
Jadine Huxtable, Operations Manager at TBA Ltd, shares her insights from a trip exploring Californian dairy farming, nutrition and innovation.
What can UK dairy farming learn from California?
That was one of the questions I took with me when I travelled to the United States courtesy of Zinpro, as part of the Zinpro 3 Truck Trip.
Visiting dairy farms, nutrition businesses and food processors gave me a fascinating insight into a different dairy industry — and plenty of ideas to bring back to the UK.
Dairy farming on a different scale
California’s dairy industry operates on a very different scale to much of the UK sector.
At Dixie Creek Dairy in Hanford, I saw approximately 7,200 Holstein cows and a 120-point rotary parlour capable of milking around 600 cows per hour. The visit offered an insight into the organisation required to manage a dairy business of this size, alongside discussions around herd performance and reproduction.
At Martin’s Dairy Farm, I saw a herd of 4,500 cows managed through two milking systems. Around 1,200 cows were milked by robots, while the remainder went through a 60-cow rotary parlour. Seeing both systems within the same business offered an interesting comparison of different approaches to milking at scale.
One statistic that particularly stood out was the average number of lactations in California: 2.1, compared with 3.6 in the UK. This raises interesting questions about cow longevity, replacement rates and the economics of dairy production. It was a striking difference and reinforced the importance of considering longevity alongside production when evaluating herd performance.
Another notable observation across the Californian farms was the move from milking three times a day to twice daily, with little apparent change in milk yield. It highlighted the importance of evaluating management decisions in terms of both production and efficiency, rather than assuming more intensive routines will always deliver better results.
Progressive Dairy Solutions: Looking beyond the ration
One of the most relevant visits for me was to Progressive Dairy Solutions (PDS), a US-based dairy nutrition and management consultancy.
PDS works across nutrition, performance benchmarking and staff development. Its scale is impressive, with 63 nutritionists and more than 1.25 million lactating dairy cows represented across its client base, according to figures presented during the visit. Although PDS operates on a much larger scale, I recognised principles that are relevant to TBA. Understanding customers’ objectives, considering the wider context of their businesses and using product knowledge to inform recommendations are all important to our consultative approach to selling. The presentations explored benchmarking across milk production, reproductive performance, feed costs and economic returns, highlighting why milk yield alone does not tell the whole story.
I was also interested in PDS’s emphasis on people. Training, clear communication, organisation and effective feedback were all identified as important factors in creating a culture of excellence. My key takeaway was that even the best nutritional strategy depends on how effectively it is implemented. The people, systems and daily routines behind a dairy business all contribute to its performance.
Breeding for efficiency
One of the most interesting discussions centred on the evolution of breeding priorities in Californian dairy herds.
I learned about the move from Holsteins towards Jerseys, followed by a shift back towards Holsteins, with a renewed focus on breeding smaller-framed animals.
The thinking behind this latest direction is particularly interesting. The aim is to retain the high milk production potential of Holsteins while reducing the maintenance requirements associated with larger cows. If milk output can be maintained relative to feed intake, smaller-framed Holsteins offer the potential to improve feed efficiency.
It was a valuable reminder that breeding objectives evolve as producers respond to the economics of milk production and the demands of their businesses.
I also noticed that genomic testing and sustainability appeared less prominent in the discussions I attended than they often are in the UK. This highlighted how priorities can differ between markets and production systems.
From the farm to the factory
At Hilmar Cheese Company, I gained an insight into the scale of dairy processing and the connections between milk production and the wider supply chain.
Hilmar sources milk from approximately 180 farms within a 2.5-hour radius of its facilities, processing around 500,000 litres each day producing 600 tonnes of cheese per day.
I was struck by the importance of milk quality, consistency, logistics and efficient resource use.
What I Learned from California’s Dairy Industry Read More »
TBA is proud to be sponsoring this year’s National Youngstock Conference, taking place in Solihull, Birmingham on 15 July 2026.
The National Youngstock Conference 2026 is back this summer with another packed programme that offers something for all calf rearers – whatever their calf-rearing management system, or level of experience or expertise.
Tickets are already selling fast for this year’s National Youngstock Conference, which will be held on July 15 at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre. And the day is set to offer delegates a varied programme, packed with the very latest ideas, innovations and information to take calf rearing to the next level on all beef, dairy, and specialist calf-rearing units.
As in previous years, National Youngstock 2026’s conference will provide something for everyone. From calf rearers looking for a ‘best practice’ refresher on the cornerstones of good management, such as colostrum, milk feeding or weaning. But, more importantly, there will be a wealth of information and expertise on hand for rearers wanting an update on the latest research and technology, or how to manage more challenging issues, such as mycoplasma.
The conference aims to be the leading technical event for rearers looking to take their systems to the next level when it comes to maximising health and welfare, and optimising growth to hit key targets for both beef calves and dairy replacements. The National Youngstock Conference will be chaired, again, by the event’s clinical director Tim Potter, and will also involve other leading industry professionals. Providing a forum for producers, vets, researchers and other dairy and beef professionals, the National Youngstock Conference aims to promote best practice and facilitate the exchange of ideas relevant to all stages of youngstock rearing.
The programme of presentations for the National Youngstock Conference 2026 event will cover topics and issues including: calving and colostrum management, milk feeding and weaning, preventing and controlling of disease, hygiene and the calf environment, and calf housing. More information about specific presentations will be released in the months leading up to the event.
From the TBA team, Jadine, Andy and Mollie will be attending and would be delighted to meet farmers, customers and industry contacts throughout the day.
You’ll find us on stand 103. Use code TBA@NYC26 to receive 10% off the ticket price
Click on the link below for the event programme
The National Youngstock Conference is a strong opportunity to hear from leading voices across the industry, explore practical ideas and take away useful insight that can be applied back on farm.
Topics in the National Youngstock Conference programme include:
Tickets are £49.50 plus VAT and include access to the full presentation programme, trade area, tea and coffee, and lunch.
As sponsors of the event, we are pleased to help promote attendance through the TBA discount code. Use code TBA@NYC26 to receive 10% off the ticket price
Ready to secure your place at the National Youngstock Conference?
To book tickets click on the QR code or for more information visit the website: www.cowmanagement.co.uk and click on the conference tab
Scan the QR code to book your ticket for the National Youngstock Conference 2026.
Jadine and Mollie will be on hand throughout the day to speak with visitors about youngstock nutrition, herd performance and how TBA supports progressive dairy and beef businesses.
Whether you are already working with TBA or would like to find out more about what we do, come and say hello.
We look forward to seeing you in Solihull on 15 July.
National Youngstock Conference 2026 Read More »
