Lovely Lou Lou!

Lou Lou with Evan and Elly

We have been searching for a new Jersey cow for some time now as we plan to start milking the four native breeds of milk cattle, the Shorthorn, the Jersey, the Guernsey and the Ayrshire. Last year we purchased a Guernsey called Beauty and an Ayrshire called Pansy. We have been busy halter training them and getting them used to their new surroundings, they will both be put into calf this year ready to start milking in 2012.

Whilst at the Cheshire County Show this year I got chatting to Mr Jones a well know Jersey breeder from Lancashire, I explained what we were looking for and David thought he had just the animal for us. As soon as I saw Lou Lou, (her posh full name being Bluestone Antheas Louise, far too much a mouthful for an everyday name) I knew she was the lady for us. Beautiful looking and just the nature we were searching for.

Being prepared for milking

We have now been milking for three weeks and everything is running really smoothly, far too smoothly for life on a farm. Milking is 2pm each day and as we walk her up to the shippon she draws a big crowd with her, resembling the pied piper….It’s great to actually see the milk going into the bucket as we have a Perspex unit that enables the visitors to see exactly how much milk she is giving. We plan to chart how much milk she gives on a weekly basis and follow her lactation curve.

The next step is to start the butter churning demonstrations, however at the moment the pigs are having a daily treat of gold top milk courtesy of our lovely Lou Lou.

You can find out more about our other animals at the farm on our website.

Jayne Chapman, Farm Manager