A TRIP to Holsworthy market proved timely for the Worth family in their decision to transfer from breeding their Holstein milkers to a flying herd system.

The 27 red and white bulling heifers they brought to the sale ring on Wednesday found willing buyers at a premium price, averaging £679.

"We were very pleased. It was a better price than we expected," said Jason Worth, 18,who with brother Gary, 24, and father, Bernie, lead a 10-strong workforce on the Worth's two farms at Lower Twitchen and Easter Ground, near Ilfracombe.

The family is in the process of selling their potential breeding heifers in favour of buying in milking cows in future.

"We don't normally sell the young stock but we're changing over to a flying herd," added Jason.

"We've another 150 plus to sell here, and when we need we'll buy in the new cows."

Between the two farms the family has sold 100 of their young stock and before Christmas bought in 44 new milkers.

Bernie explained his hopes for the business: "I'd like to be about 250 at Easter Ground and 350 here," and he added he has no regrets about moving back into dairy just over five years ago after a long spell tending beef and sheep.

The Worth's smaller farm is run on an organic basis, the cows averaging around 22 litres, four litres of milk per day less than the non-organic herd.

"That's mainly because the organic concentrates are more expensive and it's a more grass-based system," said Bernie.

The family has shown a determination to beat the trend of recent years to come out of milk.

At one stage five years ago it was calculated that as many as three dairy farmers were leaving every day mainly because of the price of milk was so low.

And many farmers coming up to retirement age have become especially disenchanted with dairy farming because of the cost of implementing Nitrate Vulnerable Zone regulations.