Two cows that launched a family farming legacy
An award-winning dairy farm turns to milk vending machines as industry pressures squeeze profits.
A family farm, which began with just two cows, has expanded its herd to nearly 200 and is now exploring innovative strategies to boost its earnings. This award-winning farm's journey began with a gift of two Jersey heifer calves to Andrew Wright on his 13th birthday, and the entire current herd has been bred from those initial two.
Lowri Wright, Andrew's daughter-in-law, introduced milk vending machines as a modern approach to the business. She explained that these machines allow the farm to "keep more of the pound that would otherwise be kept with the manufacturer or the retailer."
Wrights Family Dairy, located in Tixall, Staffordshire, produces approximately 1.8 million litres of milk annually from its Jersey cow herd. The farm's milk recently earned the Supreme Dairy Product title at the International Cheese and Dairy awards in Stafford.
Andrew Wright, 71, reflected on the farm's origins, stating, "It started from nothing." He recalled milking the cows by hand before school when he was sixteen. He still finds the process of raising cattle "fascinating," adding, "you can't beat nature."
Jersey milk is known for its high butterfat content, making it ideal for producing premium dairy products like high-end cheeses and ice cream. Lowri emphasized the meticulous care in the cows' diet, which is formulated for their needs and optimal milk production in terms of butterfat and protein. She detailed, "All the detail that goes into growing our home-grown forage like the grass, the maize, the fodder beet to then go into the tailored diet that the cows eat."
Despite the farm's success and accolades, Andrew remains concerned about the broader challenges facing the dairy industry. He warned, "If you've got the wrong milk contract, it doesn't matter how good you farm the farm you still can't make money - there's no business that survives without the word profit." Lowri echoed his concerns, noting, "It's a testing time - there is an oversupply of milk, which brings prices down that are paid to the farmer."
Historically, all of Wrights Family Dairy's produce went to Longley Farm in Yorkshire, a partnership that spanned 30 years, where the Jersey milk was transformed into various dairy products. However, to retain a larger share of the profits from milk production, the family has begun selling some of their milk directly through local vending machines.
One such machine is located at Canalside farm shop in Great Heywood. Geoff Barton, the Managing Director, highlighted the benefit of this local connection: "Our big thing is about being able to connect farmers with local customer, and it's literally only a mile away so you couldn't get more local." He added, "The customers I think they just really appreciate being able to drive past a herd of cows they know they can buy their milk from in five minutes time." Geoff Barton also uses the Jersey milk to produce ice cream at Canalside farm shop.