Over 93% of Scottish dairy farms (860) are now milk recording, according to figures from the Scottish Dairy Cattle Association. The two main milk recording companies CIS and NMR have between them signed up a further 168 farms in Scotland since the EU’s dairy aid funding was introduced.

The Scottish Government opted to use its portion of the £2.4m European dairy crisis aid to encourage farmers to improve efficiency through milk recording.

“While we are aware that not all will continue to milk record once the EU funding finishes some of the new herds are already stepping up their game by recording more frequently when they realise the immediate benefits,” said Jack Lawson on behalf of the SDCA.