Farmer forced to sell herd after dairy contract ends

Small farmers like Neil and Bev Taylor have been put on notice by Müller

A Derbyshire farmer has sold his herd after his contract to supply a dairy was terminated.

Neil Taylor, 57, was the fourth generation of dairy farmers at Puddle Hill Farm in Bonsall, near Matlock, until Müller ended their contract.

Mr Taylor, who plans to now try beef farming instead, said he had just bought six dairy cows to replace ones he had slaughtered.

Müller said it had identified farms including Puddle Hill which either had too low an output or didn’t meet their standards, and all had been given 12 months' notice their partnerships were coming to an end.

Mr Taylor claims Müller told him he had met standards but he would have to double his milk volumes by next year.

His cows have now been taken to auction

He said: “When I asked how far I’d got to get, they said probably double to what you’re sending now next year, and I cannot do it.

“It’s absolutely devastating. I’ve bought them, reared them, I’ve known their mums, their grandmas, I’ve had 40 years of breeding cows. To have it taken away from you is a bitter pill to swallow.”

Neil has had to say goodbye to his dairy herd

Neil’s wife Bev Taylor said: “I can cope with one or two going at a time, when they’re barren and they’ve had their time.

“But the thought of getting them gone as fast as we’ve got to, I’m finding it very difficult to cope with.”

A spokesperson for Müller Milk & Ingredients said: “We have identified a very small number of supplying farms who, when compared with our other suppliers, are not continually meeting our high standards of sustainability and welfare, or provide us with low volumes of milk.

“It is important to emphasise that discussions were held with impacted farms in advance and where notices have been served, these can be rescinded if agreed by all parties.

“We are providing a full 12-month notice period, and will support throughout this period of transition.”

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.