REPORTS FROM THE SHARP END…
FARMERFOCUS
REPORTS FROM THE SHARP END…
The real world of dairy
farming is reflected in the
experiences of our
livestock producer
contributors. Heres the
latest news from our four
busy producers. Their
reports are from Carmarthen,
Co Durham, Leics
and Sussex
John Stanley
John Stanley farms 336ha
(830 acres) in Leics,
including 90ha (220 acres)
of grass and 24ha
(60 acres) of maize.
Home-grown wheat is also
fed. His 140-cow herd has
a rolling average yield of
11,000 litres on three-times-
a-day milking. Off the farm,
he is involved with the RASE
and the Royal Vet College
WE DRILLED 40ha (100 acres) of maize by May 11, twice the planned area due to failed cereal crops. Seedbeds were remarkably good considering the appalling conditions two weeks ago.
At least I am confident we will have ample forage for the next 12 months. The ration of one third maize to two thirds grass will be reversed to two thirds maize and one third grass. I hope this change will be reflected in higher yields.
I have no plans to cut grass early to ensure leafy, high ME silage. After last years experience it appears that dry, stalky, fluffy grass silage makes an ideal rumen filler to help digestion.
Wet, heavy, silage does not help to produce high yields. Physical nature of the ration is equally as important as chemical analysis. First cut will be attempted in early June and a good weather window is essential. Wet grass silage is not an option.
The concentrate portion of the ration includes home-grown wheat, maize meal, soya and maize gluten, Golden Flake fat and minerals.
Guaranteed quality purchased feeds are essential to a successful ration. Whenever we have purchased potatoes, inevitably a box of foil is tipped into the load. With bread, plastic bags can be a problem and brewers grains are sometimes very wet. Cheap alternative feeds tend to be variable – soil and plastic do not make milk.
Current yield of 10,900 litres a lactation is produced using 3.6t of concentrate a cow or 0.34 kg/litre. I hope that with more maize silage next year we can improve yields and reduce concentrate use. Time will tell.
Fortunately, over the past two years, all inseminations have been to Holstein and we have 20 surplus heifers available this year. Whether we sell or milk them is the question. If we avoid F&M, could the future be looking brighter? *