Life On A Dairy Farm The Closed Herd

Pregnant cows with imminent due dates are checked by vet Katharine Blease, working with Ken Pilkington, chief herdsman they take blood samples and make sure the cows are not going to be too fat for calving. Keeping a healthy herd as well as trying to ensure that each cow has one calf per year and is hopefully therefore served within three months of their previous calf, is a big job and requires a weekly visit from the vet, who checks pre and post natal cows, as well as calves. Wildon Grange Dairy Farm, Coxwold, North Yorkshire, UK. Owned and run by the Banks family, dairy farming here is a scientific business. From the breeding, nutrition and health of their closed stock of Holstein Friesian cows, through to the end product, the team here work tirelessly, around to clock to ensure content and healthy animals, and excellent quality milk. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images Images)