THE bleak outlook for dairy farming in the county has been highlighted by one family's decision to sell their 500 cows.

Little has changed with regards to how much farmers receive for their milk despite a campaign against supermarkets gaining national headlines – and reaching Hereford stores – last year.

And now the reality of dairy farm closures has begun with the changing face of the county landscape an added consequence.

Kevin Whistance's parents started milking in Much Dewchurch in 1979 when that sector of farming formed an important part of the county's economy.

But as one side of their farm – an animal feed business – continues to grow, milking for a living has become increasingly difficult for him and his wife Sally.

Mrs Whistance said: "We have progressed the feed business a lot more over the years and we have to look at it in a longer sense.

"As much as it is heartbreaking, you can't carry on with two jobs if one isn't paying quite the same at the other one.

"The milk prices are so low at the moment."

Muller Milk Group, which the Whistances sell to, slashed its standard milk price by 1.35p per litre on Friday.

Around two years ago the Whistances received 34p a litre, but it has now dropped to 21p and will drop by a further penny in May.

Mrs Whistance said there is a variation with how much farmers get paid for their milk- some can get 32p per litre, some 20p and some are as low as 9p. She is calling for a level playing field with the prices.

She said: "It is no good one having one price and another having much lower. It all goes into the same tank."

There was a march in London last month organised by campaign group Farmers For Action calling for changes in the industry.

Mrs Whistance said: "Farmers don't just milk cows- they do it more for a love of their animals.

"From our point of view we have always home-bred every cow. It takes two years to get that cow to produce one litre of milk. It is a lot of effort.

"If you have a pet it becomes part of your family. In some ways your cows do too as you are with them 365 days a year.

"It is not just about putting a unit on a cow and milking it."

They are selling their 500 cows on April 21. They employ six staff for the herd- two will work in the animal feed business but four will be made redundant.

Mrs Whistance said: "It will be a massive lifestyle change. It certainly isn't a decision you make overnight."

She said she worries that it will be the small family-run farms which are affected the most.

She added: "I was speaking to someone who was completely not connected to the farming industry and he said if he went into a supermarket and paid £1.20 for four pints of milk he would think nothing of it. Nearly everyone I have spoken to has said the same thing."

Mrs Whistance added: "We certainly aren't the first and we certainly won't be the last."

Rob Newbery, NFU West Midlands regional director, said many farmers are receiving well below the cost of production.

He said: “We are seeing dairy farmers seriously considering their options so it’s always terrible news to hear of businesses leaving the sector, we need to safeguard our dairy industry for the future.

“Volatility and problems in the market continue to squeeze dairying and other sectors, the milk price has been stripped bare and many of our dairy farmers desperately need to see an upturn.

“They are facing a grim time on a milk price that doesn’t cover costs and further cuts are hurting family businesses; despite some prices initially being held during very difficult market conditions.

“We are doing all we can for the sector, working with our dairy members to benefit farm businesses.

“The NFU has also called for help from the Government and the EU who must both do more to ensure a sustainable future for the dairy sector and help make tools available for farmers to manage volatility.”