FARMING 22 This is why most of the Georges’ milk is now produced for local consumption, and delivered directly <strong>to</strong> hotels, guesthouses, independent shops and the local David’s Supermarkets chain. They also maintain that fine old British tradition, the daily doorstep delivery. But a great deal of work has <strong>to</strong> be done before that bottle clinks on<strong>to</strong> a cus<strong>to</strong>mer’s doorstep. The average cow weighs 600Kg, so food consumption is hefty <strong>to</strong> say the least. In fact, a typical cow will consume about 54 kilos a day of the GM-friendly Total Mix feed, washed down with 15 gallons of water. In return, each cow will produce around 30 litres of milk a day, or 15 of your average 2-litre car<strong>to</strong>ns. A cow will be milked for approx 12 minutes a day <strong>to</strong> retrieve 30 litres. Because of TB concerns, Harold and Alan choose <strong>to</strong> breed most of their own s<strong>to</strong>ck. He explains: “It costs around £800 <strong>to</strong> buy a cow from auction, but the problem with this is that the cows you buy could be infected with TB, and if this were the case, it could spread <strong>to</strong> the whole herd, which would cost £1,000’s”. Hence, the Georges opt <strong>to</strong> breed all their s<strong>to</strong>ck themselves. It costs an estimated £650 in feed and vet’s bills <strong>to</strong> tend the calf for two years until it’s ready <strong>to</strong> produce its first milk. “If you take labour out of the equation” says Harold, “there is not much of a saving, but we are guaranteed that the calves do not have TB.” Each new-born calf born receives its own passport, from the British Cattle Movement Service which stays with it Delivering for life. The milk production process involves decanting the milk by pump in<strong>to</strong> large <strong>glass</strong> containers. At this stage, it is still warm, so it is passed through a chiller and in<strong>to</strong> a holding tank. From here the milk is then pasteurised, Your daily pinta some of it is skimmed <strong>to</strong> and then it’s packaged in<strong>to</strong> poly bottles as Full Fat, Semi Skimmed, and Skimmed. Much of the bottling process is au<strong>to</strong>mated, apart from the placing of the empty bottles on<strong>to</strong> the filling rack, (as in picture, right) – a process that’s still done by hand as a machine <strong>to</strong> do it would cost over £30-50,000, It’s easy <strong>to</strong> take that daily pint of milk for granted, and slosh it on<strong>to</strong> the and the farm does not produce enough milk <strong>to</strong> warrant this expense. cornflakes without a thought – but few of us ever s<strong>to</strong>p <strong>to</strong> consider the sheer hard work (of man and beast) that goes in<strong>to</strong> producing it. Dairy farming involves not just hard work, but long hours, Harold is up every Dairy farmer Harold George is one who does know: he’s been producing milk morning at 5am <strong>to</strong> start milking and feeding, and the bottling process for over 30 years at Coppid Hall Farm, Havenstreet, Ryde following in the finishes at around 11.30am. In the afternoon there is the maintenance and footsteps of his father Arthur, who <strong>to</strong>ok over the dairy farm in 1934. office work <strong>to</strong> take care of. Harold’s wife Andrea also works in the business, mainly in the office along with their full time secretary, taking care of the By the time Harold <strong>to</strong>ok over from his father in 1972, the herd was running orders that come in every day. at 60 head of cattle. Today, he and his own son Alan – now a partner in the business - run a herd of over 140 milk-producing cows and 150 followers. In Andrea commented: “Even if we go out of an evening, no matter what time the old days all milk produced went <strong>to</strong> the now-defunct Milk Marketing we get back, I always check the answerphone for orders!” Board, bottled in <strong>glass</strong> and distributed by Unigate of Newport. When the Milk Marketing Board was disbanded, it was taken over by Milk Mark, and * If you fancy starting your own business running doorstep milk deliveries subsequently, three years ago, by Milk Link. in your area, all you’ll need <strong>to</strong> get started is a £7,000 pickup, <strong>to</strong>gether with good sales skills. Harold already has two franchisees earning a fairly good Nowadays, Harold sends just his daily surplus for marketing by Milk Link, living – although bear in mind that the hours can be quite long and you’ll although, like most dairy farmers, he is understandably reluctant <strong>to</strong> send need <strong>to</strong> be an early riser! If you’re interested, then Harold would be pleased much of his produce down this route as he gets the princely sum of 17.5p <strong>to</strong> hear from you. Please call 01983 882489 per litre … for a product that costs him at least 18p a litre <strong>to</strong> produce.
Above: Harold’s brother and sister pictured in 1949. Harold is just about visible sitting in the van. Left: Harold’s son Alan ensures that the cows get fed every day come rain or shine.. Below Left: Harold proudly stands by the finished product, knowing that his cows have all been fed GM-free food. Below: The bottling process is still carried out manually. Harold bottles about 3-4,000 litres of milk a day. FARMING 23
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