Hartpury has again been judged among the cream of the crop in the UK agriculture industry after landing another national award.
The specialist education provider, which recently opened a new state-of-the-art dairy parlour, is among the winners at the prestigious 2021 Cream Awards organised by British Dairying.
The Cream Awards – the premier event for UK dairy farmers – showcase the best people, businesses and innovations that agriculture has to offer, with the winners regarded as ambassadors for the industry.
Hartpury won the Youngstock Health and Welfare Award, sponsored by Buitelaar, for demonstrating proactive health and welfare in the management of its dairy herd’s youngstock.
A farm herd health plan is integrated into the daily management of Home Farm – Hartpury’s on-site commercial farm – with strict protocols in place for students and staff to maintain biosecurity.
It marks another notable achievement for Hartpury, which won the Promar International Milkminder Manager of the Year 2019 – Regional Award for the South of England, in recognition of the success of its dairy herd and facilities.
Andrew Eastabrook, Farm Manager at Hartpury, said: “We’re thrilled and honoured to have won the Youngstock Health and Welfare category at the 2021 Cream Awards.
“Our staff and students are dedicated to maintaining high standards of animal health welfare across all our agriculture activities, so it’s extremely rewarding when this commitment and hard work is recognised with a national award.
“We’re aiming to be pioneers of livestock performance, productivity and profitability, as well as leading the way in crop biodiversity, as a base for ADAS’s environmental research plots.”
The new dairy parlour has reduced milking times and improved hygiene and welfare for Hartpury’s award-winning 250-strong herd of dairy cows.
The modern facility expanded the already extensive range of modern equipment within Hartpury’s on-site commercial farm that supplies produce to M&S, Muller, Glencore and Frontier.
Students enrolled on agriculture diplomas and degrees at Hartpury gain experience of all aspects of farm management to prepare them for future careers within the industry.
Agriculture degrees and diplomas at Hartpury provide routes into a diverse range of career opportunities within the UK and international agriculture industry, including farm management, agronomy, policymaking, research, science and consultancy.
Picture: Andrew Eastabrook with his award at Hartpury
