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A farmer has hailed the “amazing” help provided by an agricultural trust in buying cattle to help rebuild his dairy herd after it was devastated by a suspected botulism outbreak.
Charlie Le Boutillier of Woodlands Farm in St Helier, who lost all but a handful of his 120-strong high-yielding group A herd in December last year, said the support received from the island farming community had been a real boost.
The Howard Davis Farm Trust was in touch with Mr Le Boutillier soon after the incident and has provided funds for 59 cows and heifers for the farm.
Mr Le Boutillier, whose family have farmed at Woodlands for five generations, said he was "massively grateful".
"The speed at which they came through was amazing and really provided a huge boost at a time when things were very tough," he said.
"Just having the extra youngstock around the farm provided all of us at Woodlands with the belief that things were going to improve”.
Pictured (l to r): Pierre Horsfall, trustee, Charlie Le Boutillier of Woodlands Farm, Richard Pirouet, trustee, Vincent Obbard, trustee and Phil Le Maistre, Chairman of Jersey Milk Marketing Board
The Howard Davis Farm Trust was launched in 2009 and supports the development and study of agriculture for young people in Jersey by awarding financial assistance for appropriate training, research, and projects.
A spokesperson for the Trust said: "We sincerely hope that this award will help the Woodlands herd to be rebuilt and, also be an important step in protecting and preserving the Jersey dairy industry.
"The trusteees wish Charlie Le Boutillier and his family, Jersey Dairy, and the Jersey Milk Marketing Board a successful outcome in re-establishing Woodlands with an important, highly-productive herd for the future”.
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