Carbon-Efficient Cowshed: Dairy Farm Receives Funding
Thanks to a £1.05 million grant from Lloyds Bank, White House Farm in Lincolnshire has been able to invest in an energy-saving cowshed and boost their overall productivity levels.
The Dorrington family has been farming for four generations in Bourne on an 800-hectare estate. Supplying exclusively for Arla, the 300 cows they own produce nothing but top quality milk!
Thanks to a generous seven-figure loan from Lloyds Bank, the construction of a large 2,700m2 cowshed is now possible. Not only that but this innovative technology uses deep channels to quickly and efficiently move liquid manure below ground without electric pumps – significantly improving the farm’s natural slurry filtration process.
With a large, open-plan pitched-roof building designed to maximise natural ventilation and LED lighting, the farm is well on its way to achieving net zero emissions. Its expansive passages are wide enough for an electric robot slurry scraper that helps in minimising mastitis cases and antibiotic treatments – ultimately improving cow welfare..
Investing in the advanced cowshed bolsters Dorrington Farm’s dedication to long-term sustainability, benefiting both its dairy and arable farm operations. This year, the farm’s recently installed slurry separator has enabled them to easily move separated manure away from the shed and utilise it to reduce artificial fertiliser usage. To demonstrate its power, they were even able to grow a field of maize with only applications of solid manure and slurry!
Zara Dorrington, a descendant of the original settlers of White House Farm in 1924, takes charge along with her father Ross and uncle Simon to manage their long-standing business. Commenting on the investment in the new cowshed, she said: “Slurry management was a key area we wanted to improve when designing the new shed. We knew it was where we could significantly strengthen our sustainability agenda, turning what was historically a waste product into a usable asset with many benefits.
With Lloyds Bank’s invaluable assistance, they have gone to great lengths to ensure a carbon-efficient design and build that would provide their herd with the comfortable and nurturing environment they deserve.
Through Lloyds Bank’s Clean Growth Finance Initiative, businesses now have access to discounted funds designed to enable them in their effort of transitioning towards a lower-carbon and more environmentally conscious future.
News Credits: Dairy farm secures funding to invest in carbon efficient cowshed
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