Archive Article: 2000/08/04
Kevin Green
Kevin Green farms 128ha
(320 acres) near Carmarthen
in west Wales, in partnership
with his wife Lynwen. They
currently run 200 spring
calving cows and 200
followers, with the aim of
calving 300 animals next
spring. As chairman of the
local Grazing Dragons
discussion group, he is
focusing on maximising
output from grass
COWS are averaging 19 litres from excellent quality grazing on silage aftermath. Hopefully, the girls should continue performing well over the seasonality plus months.
We are allocating them about 0.8ha (2 acres) in a 12-hour block, depending on grass cover and keeping a close eye on residual grazing to determine where the fence goes. Mild temperatures and occasional showers are maintaining good grass growth. First calved heifers are gaining condition, and the breast rail in the milking shed has been moved outwards as cows were getting a bit tight.
We finished first cut silage on June 26. We had a huge crop which didnt fit in the sheds, so we took advantage of the weather and made hay on the last field.
Lynwen recently attended a safe use of medicines course to gain a certificate of competence. I hope she passes the exam, as it will help towards satisfying farm assurance. We have gained knowledge of best practice and will have to tighten up medicine storage and record keeping.
We spent two days at the Royal Show and noticed a number of stands missing, with some of the permanent dairy manufacturers buildings having been demolished and replaced by a car park. There is certainly a knock-on effect with current depressed commodity prices.
But it was great to see so many firms giving away free milk, using milk dispensers and small bottles. The White Stuff was everywhere, and the National Dairy Councils stand, full of fitness equipment, was excellent, although in the wrong place, out of the main flow in the back of the new food hall. Most people we spoke to expected milk price to rise by the year-end, increased marketing of our healthy product will certainly help sales.
We also saw an oriental man photographing a plough so huge he had to stand at the back of the row opposite to get it all in. Im glad Im not buying it, as both our fields and income are too small.
Back at home, we could do with another 100 milking cows here until mid November, any offers? *
Kevin Green is keeping a close eye on residual grazing to determine where the electric fence goes.