Archive Article: 2000/03/03
John Round
John Round farms 134ha
(330 acres) in the
Gloucestershire Severn Vale.
It is home to his 180-cow
Roundelm herd of Holstein
Friesians and 180 followers.
Cows average 10,000 litres
on twice-a-day milking. Maize
and cereals are also grown
AFTER more than two years of extolling the virtues of attempting to feed cows properly, the extended grazers and MDC directors can breathe a sigh of relief as this is my last contribution to Dairy Update.
Two years ago we had an industry that was just starting to tighten its belt, the honeymoon days of post-deregulation were just about over and the milk price was on its way down.
However, not many of us would have predicted how far prices would have fallen by now, or by how much more from April. Then we had 160 cows, averaging 9500 litres at just more than 20p/litre, making a profit with some left for re-investment.
We stalled the milk price drop by jumping the sinking ship and selling our milk direct, through a contract that suits our quality and quantity. This decision maintained profits for a year or so. Now, with 50 more cows averaging 1500 more litres and heifers giving as much as the whole herd did two years ago, things are getting tight.
From April, the sons of Milk Marque appear to be competing to supply the dairies by undercutting each other, so another price drop is imminent and the £s strength isnt helping either.
We could take the sensible option and sell up, but Id miss the cows and crap that goes with them – bureaucratic not physical. As the days begin to lengthen, we look forward to spring with grass greening and ground drying out.
At this rate, dry cows will be out by mid-March, along with heifers and even some late lactation fat cows, so we will save straw.
Then theres maize seed to order, but first the decision on which varieties to grow as there are plenty to choose from. We tend to follow a policy of growing one or two varieties that are proven on our farm as well as a couple of newer ones. These are mostly late high-yielding varieties together with an early for later planted fields.
Having had the luxury of hosting the Kingshay Farming Trust trial, we will be growing Orient for the first time along with Ilias, a proven performer here, and the highest-yielding variety on the NIAB list. Antares will be grown again, as the guaranteed early along with one more, dependent on seed price. *
Despite bleak times, John Round would miss his cows too much to contemplate selling them.