Overlooking the Strath valley just south of the Highland market town of Dingwall, Rootfield Farm is home to the Black Isle Dairy, an artisan dairy launched in 2013 by fourth-generation farmer, Nick Mackenzie, with his wife, Jo. In his father’s day the dairy herd was primarily made up of traditional black-and-white Holstein-Friesian crosses, but the cost of feeding, caring for and milking the 120-head herd was often higher than the price per litre that Nick received for the milk so, in order for the dairy to survive, he had to diversify. He now produces yoghurt and ice cream and there are plans for butter production in the future which has prompted Nick to buy a dozen Jersey cows to boost the butterfat content of the milk. He has added 40 Ayrshires to the herd for their creamy high-protein milk and, to improve the efficiency on the farm, in 2017 Nick invested in two robotic milking machines.
