Geoff’s award for creature comforts

The creatures of comfort groom themselves on automatic brushes and enjoy home-made high-energy drinks.

Now his care and consideration, along with superb business performance, has earned him the title of Farmers Weekly national dairy farmer of the year.

Mr Spence, who runs his 350-cow herd at Lowfield Farm, Brompton, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, received the accolade at an awards night in London.

He firmly believes that cow comfort is key to achieving excellent animal health.

The beds in his new cow shed have a comfortable 10cm of sand on top of a clay base. They are also 50 per cent wider than normal to allow the cows more loafing space.

A two per cent slope in the housing allows urine to drain away immediately, improving the environment for feet.

The milking parlour's collecting yard has a similar slope so cows move slightly uphill before milking, which takes some of the strain off their chest, heart and lungs.

Motorised brushes allow the cows to groom and keep themselves clean, and in all the farm's cattle buildings, good ventilation is a priority to keep the animals healthy.

Combined with exemplary animal nutrition, Mr Spence's obsession with cow comfort has put his herd in the top five per cent elite nationally.

It has an average milk yield of 10,800kg/cow/year and an annual mastitis rate of only eight cases per 100 cows, compared to national figures of up to 70 cases per 100.

Disease prevention is a key priority and each Thursday, Mark Glover, from the Kebir House veterinary practice, in Northallerton, spends up to three hours on the farm.

Mr Spence also comes up with his own ideas - such as bubble wrap that lines the roof of the new cow housing to keep it cool all year round.

He has also devised a high-energy drink that acts as a post-calving pickup for cows.

A soluble powder containing sugars, electrolytes and minerals, it dissolves in warm water. Most cows drink at least ten gallons straight after calving. Mr Spence insists on sharing his success with the rest of the team on the farm, particularly herdsman Mark Fawcett, and his feed and business advisors and vets.

Yesterday, Mr Spence said he had not expected to win, but welcomed the recognition of eight years of investment and hard work.

He said he believes there is a future in farming and said about his cows: "It is like looking after racehorses, they are working very hard producing a lot of milk, so you have to give them the best facilities and management you can.

"If you do that, the benefits are there for the cows and for you."