Free Range Dairy cows on the Isle of Bute, Scotland
DAIRY farmers on the Isle of Bute have taken the decision to further enhance the provenance of their milk by going free range, making a commitment to sign up with the Free Range Dairy Pasture Promise label.
Explains a spokesperson: “The move follows the continued decline of the milk price being received by the island’s farmers whose farm gate price from first milk is now 50 per cent lower than it was a year ago at around just 17 pence after capital contributions.
“At a series of dairy meetings hosted by the Bute Estate and dairy consultants, Promar International, Carol Lever and Neil Darwent of the Pasture Promise label confirmed the case for Free Range Dairy and gaining strong support from the island’s dairy farmers present.”
Bob Baines, Bute Estate factor, said: “This is about gold plating the island’s milk which already ticks so many boxes the consumer is looking for.
“The island can boast strong provenance in its product; after all, we are a fertile island with cows that already graze outside for the best part of the year.
“Committing to a full six months of grazing, the cows outdoors formalises what is virtually established practice here.
“Consumer research has shown that there is significant confusion amongst consumers about how milk is produced but you only have to look at the 42 per cent that the free range egg market occupies to see that a significant section of the public want know the cows that produce their dairy products have the ability to free range.”
Neil Darwent, who established the Pasture Promise label and promotes Free Range Dairy with fellow director, Carol Lever, said: “Free Range Dairy is a Community Interest Company (CIC) working to promote the value of pasture-based milk production on British dairy farms for the benefit of farmers, cows and consumers.
“It is the only label that guarantees dairy cows are grazed for a minimum of six months a year.
“Our standards form a top-up to the recognised Red Tractor Standards and for ease can form part of the same inspection. Free Range is far from a gimmick – our farmers must be committed to our core requirements including the cows grazing outside for six months.”
Bute dairy farmer and local SNFU chair, Aleck Nairn, commented: “As an island, we already offer a great level milk supply of 15 million litres a year.
“We haven’t missed a delivery in the five years our milk’s been processed off island.
“My milk can be on the M8 on the outskirts of Glasgow in under an hour. The public want their dairy products to be come from cows that are able to live the type of life on a farm that in this part of Scotland we are able to give them.
“For me, the commitment to Free Range Dairy is about building on what we already have – which is a great product.
“However, we do need to receive a fair price for it. The price we are currently receiving is well below the cost of producing it and without a significant increase in the price over the next few months I will be forced to sell the cows.”
David Cooke, of Promar International, added: “Put simply, the farmers on the island want to see their milk go into dairy products where quality and provenance is valued where they receive a fair price.
“We have looked at the added value Free Range might bring by scenario testing it with some of the large processors.
“Our research shows significant public interest, but we will need a supermarket and processor to take it to market on a large scale.
“This part of Scotland is good at growing grass and there is strong demand worldwide for Scottish products.
“This initiative aligns perfectly with the Scottish Government’s recent dairy strategy and its declared promotion of added value and I am hopeful it will gain its support.”
ENDS
For more information about Free Range Dairy Network visit www.freerangedairy.org
twitter.com/freerangedairy
About Mount Stuart Trust
The Mount Stuart Trust is a Charitable Trust founded in 1985, which works to fulfill the vision of the late John Marquis of Bute. He believed that the public should be able to enjoy Mount Stuart and its gardens and surrounding grounds, and benefit from its collections and archives.
John Bute generously endowed The Mount Stuart Trust with Bute Estate to provide the support which enables this remarkable house to be preserved and opened to visitors.
The Trust owns and administers Mount Stuart and Bute Estate.
The aims of the Trust are to conserve, preserve and maintain the house, gardens and surrounding grounds for future generations, whilst facilitating public interest, understanding and appreciation of fine and decorative art, architecture and the rural environment, and to promote access, education and research.
To find out more about Mount Stuart Trust please visit http://www.mountstuart.com/mount-stuart-trust/ or follow us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mountstuart and Twitter: https://twitter.com/mountstuart
CONTACTS:
Ramsay Smith / Gary McQueen
Media House
0141 220 6040.
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Media House International. You too can post your story ideas for journalists (aka press or media releases), on allmediascotland.com. Email info@allmediascotland.com for more information.
Check out twitter.com/nonstopstories for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allFoodPR.
To catch up on all the media releases recently posted on to allmediascotland.com, you need only click the link icon that you see towards the bottom right of our two media release ‘gateway boxes’.
It’s this icon, here. It’s your route straight into the rich archive.
—
Media House International contact details…
Contact: Gary McQueen
Phone: 0141 220 6040
Email: gary@mediahouse.co.uk
Website: http://www.mediahouse.co.uk
