Peter Wastenage
Peter Wastenage
Peter Wastenage, in
partnership with his parents,
farms a 121ha (300-acre)
farm tenanted from Clinton
Devon Estates. He milks 175
cows, rears his own
replacements and grows
40ha (100 acres) of maize
THIS year has begun as 1997 finished – its hectic! A group of 70 heifers started calving on Jan 7 and we are already well over half way through of what seems a very good bunch.
Fields shut up for early grazing last autumn have grown on well, due to the mild start to winter. These fields have now received 23 units of urea, and a little phosphate, to accelerate growth in order to allow the predicted turnout date of Feb 1. This will tie in very well with the heifers calving, so lets hope the weather does not go against us now weve got this far into the winter.
Were still battling our way through the kale with an estimated 7ha (18 acres) left to graze. Its certainly reminded us how much feed you can get from a crop in a good growing year. This will be one of our cheapest ever winters for feed, with no concentrate being fed to anything except milking cows, individual rations for replacements and dry cows being made up of barley straw, kale and limited baled silage.
The British Grassland Society is having a farm walk here on Feb 19. Paul Bird (grassland consultant) suggested this date and promptly left for New Zealand before I had time to think that it may be a little early. Anyway all seems set to go ahead, so if you fancy a paddle, come on down and bring your wellies.
Finally, I must draw attention to the Countryside March in London on Mar 1. Country life is being threatened like weve never seen before. Rural issues of both work and pleasure are being increasingly ignored by the urban majority. A united stand by all will be the only way our voices are heard. Please try and support us on the day. *
Fields shut up for early grazing last autumn have now received 23 units of urea to accelerate growth before Peter Wastenages cows are turned out.