A Shepton Mallet dairy herd has had its moment in the spotlight this week as part of Cow Appreciation Day – with one local farmer showing off his farmyard favourites to the world.

Mike Jones, Dairy Technical Manager at the UK Agri-Tech Centre, shared a virtual tour of the South West Dairy Development Centre to introduce some of the cows that call the cutting-edge site home.

The 200-strong herd, managed in partnership with Steanbow Farms, lives just outside Shepton Mallet and is milked using robotic systems that allow the cows to choose when to eat, lie down, or be milked.

Mike said: "The cows in the all-year-round calving herd make their own decisions and choose when they eat, drink, lie down and rest. They can visit one of the three milking robots to receive some cow cake and be milked."

He added that the cows are thriving, producing an average of 11,300 litres over a 305-day lactation cycle, with butterfat levels of 4.2% and protein at 3.3%. "Their fertility rate is excellent too, with a pregnancy rate of 35%, well above the national industry standard."

The tour includes introductions to herd members Amanda, Molly and Eleanor — as well as Robbie the robot, who helps keep things clean around the site.

To find out more about the UK Agri-Tech Centre and its work at the South West Dairy Development Centre, visit www.ukagritechcentre.com.