Glamorgan winner of RWAS Farm Buildings and Works competition
Modern dairy systems require state-of-the-art farm buildings and the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society adopted an up-to-date theme for its 2009 Farm Buildings and Works competition by setting the judges the task of selecting the buildings that best incorporate the farming needs of the 21st century.
This year the competition was confined to Glamorgan, the feature county at the Royal Welsh Show at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, (July 20-23).
From high open hill and fertile rural vale to densely populated valleys and bustling centres of modern city life, the old county of Glamorgan has perhaps the greatest variety of land use of any county in Wales. Urban areas have traditionally demanded products from the dairy industry so it was no surprise, said the judges in their report, that all of this year’s entrants in the competition were from the dairy sector.
The apparent comparison of like with like may appear to have made their task more straightforward but seeking out the detail and extra thought put into planning and design made their selection of the winner more challenging, the judges said.
The quality of the entries maintained the high standards of previous years and each entrant demonstrated a commitment, through significant investment, to sustaining their respective dairy enterprises into the future.
After careful deliberation the judges decided unanimously to make the award to T. Anthony and Son of Haregrove Farm, Laleston, Bridgend, for a well-planned and designed group of dairy buildings which provide a complete solution for housing the dairy herd.
The new complex was completed in 2008 providing covered accommodation for the dairy herd with 440 comfort cubicles, tractor-scraped passage and central feeding passage, with adjacent open slurry storage. The development also incorporates a 40/40 low level herringbone milking parlour, bulk tank room, office and motor room. Low energy and light sensor controlled lighting has been installed throughout. Water is supplied from a new borehole and cooling water is recycled for washing and service to field troughs. A 1.2 million gallon circular in-situ reinforced slurry pit is located adjacent to the cubicle housing. The pit has three permanent stirrers which are activated for 20 minutes at night and the slurry storage is immediately adjacent to the main block of fields on the farm making for easy disposal of the slurry.
The winner of the competition will be presented with the Peniarth Estate Silver Trowel, given by the late Col. J.F. Williams-Wynne, a former chairman of the RWAS Council, together with a certificate.
The runners-up for the award were V.J. Thomas and Son of Pancross Farm, Llancarfan.