Ragwort Totally Out of Control.....But Does Anyone Care?

"United We Stand, Divided We Fall" quote from Aesop (620BC-560BC).

You will see this is not a recent quote & it seems to have a grain of truth about it.

Yet... Dairy farmers in the UK appear to me to be totally incapable of working together. Go to France or Australia http://www.vff.org.au/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=269 or New Zealand & dairy farmers stand shoulder to shoulder & fight for their industry. In the UK dairy farmers even the pasture based dairy farmers seem reluctant to work together. This is incredibly hard to work out.....why??

Pasture based dairy farmers are world wide a relatively small group but full of innovative creative people. Positive people who are exciting to be with. The pasture based Discussion groups which have transformed UK farm businesses, enthused owners & staff,lead the way to respectable profits & created exciting work environments.........they too want to "go their own way" splitting off into splinter groups isolated from each other. Why??

Sadly the UK dairy industry loses 1-2 farmers & their families every single day of the year as people continue to see no future for them in the UK dairy industry. Low input pasture based dairying can offer many of these families an alternative which would not only offer a profitable option but a sustainable longterm family business.

Will UK Dairy Farmers Stand & Fight????

Ragwort is totally out of control in public areas in every county of England & probably the rest of the UK too. The worst offenders are the Motorways, Highways & roadways......closely followed by the railways!

Does anyone really care??? It seriously threatens livestock farming!

It appears NOT.

Although I was very impressed by Robin Page's article in the Weekend Telegraph http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthcomment/country-diary/7941538/Country-diary-ragwort.html

He describes DEFRA very accurately as the "Dept For Ragwort Appreciation".

Do farmers realise that the Defra minister is issuing statements blaming farmers for the ragwort problem & threatening legal action? http://ww2.defra.gov.uk/2010/08/02/ragwort/

Calling on the "big society" to act when his own Govt departments are the worst offenders is a very sick joke. Sort your own departments out Minister!

Otherwise ragwort will become a very serious threat to every livestock farmer & ALL pasture based dairy farmers.

Defra does provide advice on ragwort & even complaint forms (Got to tick the boxes!). If you REALLY care perhaps you too could download a complaint form & send it to Defra....let me know the outcome!

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/northsomerset/images/ragwort.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/northsomerset/link13.htm&h=400&w=300&sz=51&tbnid=NxDAItK56vHOeM:&tbnh=259&tbnw=194&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dragwort%2Bphotos&usg=__an_aQRFxIMH8o8Hicl0f2oDVmYw=&sa=X&ei=F5BqTLjfJJCk4Aaji6mqAQ&ved=0CB0Q9QEwAQ

Robin Page suggests you ring Natural England Ragwort Complaint phone lines. Let me know how you get on as I'm hoping dairy farmers from every county ring in to complain not only about the Motorways & Railways but also about Natural Englands' blatantly obvious "We haven't done a bloody thing about Ragwort"

Reading 0300 060 4994
Worcester 0300 060 1278
Cambridge 01223 533588
Leeds 0300 060 4180

Ragwort is symptomatic of the apathy amoungst dairy farmers. It is a serious threat to livestock including youngstock yet dairy farmers wont act as a group (or pasture based dairy farm discussion groups group) to get the Minister & his depts to act on the public roads & railways across the UK.

Back to Victoria Australia the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV)...the current President Chris Griffen (a member of a progressive pasture based dairyfarm Discussion Group) now leads all dairyfarmers in that state....the UDV is recognised as a "force to be reckoned with...". Chris organised this year's UDV conference around the topic...."Earning Respect & Influence...."

What is it in the British culture that prevents us from working together? Why wont dairyfarmers stand together! I thought the P2P groups might help to change the rural culture but we've fallen well short.

Pasture Growth Rates

Northern Ireland Cover 2346kgs DM/ha, 58kgDM/ha/day growth, 21 day grazing rotation (24litres/cow with 3kg conc)

Dumfries 2170, 66kgs, 28days (rain every 3-4 days, cover on target)

Nth Wales 2300, 90kgs

Nth Wales 2300, 65kgs, quality pasture no suppl, cow condition improving

Cheshire 2150, 58kgs, 21 days

Cheshire 2250, 67kgs, 24 days cutting silage reduces cover to 2000

Cheshire organic 2250, 40kgs, 42 days (dung pats strong topping)

Shropshire 228, 46kgs, 35 days need rain

Staffordshire, 2385, 40kgs, 35 days turnips by night, silage above 2800

Leicestershire growth 22kgs, 30 days(feeding full TMR, winter kale failed dry)

Herefordshire 2250, 50kgs(demand 45), 30days no suppl

Gloucestershire 2330, 40kgs, 30 days good response to rain

Gloucestershire 2400, 50kgs, 30 days

SW Wales Organic 2469, 43kgs(35 demand) VG grass quality

Somerset Organic 2050, 30kgs, 45days expect growth to 2X with rain

Dorset 2040, 20kgs, 60 days struggling for growth

Dorset 2050, 42kgs, 50 days (demand 24 with conc feeding)

Hampshire 1859, 22kgs, 45 days full feeding

Devon 2300, 45kgs, 50 days no buffer feed yet

Cornwall 2200, 40kgs, 36 days no suppl still OAD ...lungworm problems

Rotorua NZ 2300, 20kgs, 40 days Spring calving, 56% in 3 weeks, 120mm rain at weekend

If there is surplus grass do you really need to silage it? What about deferring?

What do you think?

Pasture based Dairyfarm Expansion....Think Water!

This week I have made some changes to the blog which I hope will make it more interesting to visit.
If you look down the right hand side of this blog page you will see a number of different sections. First is the Twitter updates listing recent entries I have made onto Twitter....you may not be a "tweeter" but these messages go out to a huge audience both in the UK & worldwide to a very mixed & often non farming audience. I think its important that we tell both consumers & Govt people what we are doing & regularly tell them what is good about grass fed milk & how environmentally careful we as pasture based dairy farmers really are every day of the year. Nor am I hesitant to tell ministers to sort problems like rampant ragwort on our motorways & roadsides which are a serious threat to dairy cows & dairyfarms.

Next I have added a number of other blogs from around the world that you might like to read & investigate.

Check out TOM'S FAVOURITE BLOGS (see on the righthand side of this page)

I hope you enjoy the extra reading material that is now on the Pasture to Profit Blog..

Stock Drinking Water is Very Important

Water is a crucial part of herd expansion & needs careful planning. You need to start with the existing water supply but often this is woefully inadequate. Too often water pipes are too small & nobody knows where the existing pipes are located.

Water & tracks go together. Water pipe lines are easier to install before subdivision fence lines or tracks are laid but it all needs to be part of the big plan. Get expert help to create a farm plan for the expanded herd size. I still think the number of paddocks is far more important than the actual size. I recommend 30 per farm.

Bertie Troy provides a very good mapping service for pasture based dairy farmers in the UK & Ireland http://www.grasstec.ie/

An important animal welfare issue for all dairyfarmers is that dairy cows have access to good quality drinking water at all times.http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenti.nsf/LinkView/85DA1027B08FF286CA25750E0005C7A85B65FD3894DB84E6CA2574AC000CF430/$file/Dairy%20Industry%20Welfare%20Report.pdf

However this is also closely linked to profit & milk production as milking cows without adequate water drop in milk production immediately.

No farmer likes to see any livestock remotely short of water.

http://www.peta.co.nz/DomSalt.html

Components of a Farm Water Supply

There needs to be a Water Source (Bore or Spring),Intake (powered by pump or gravity), Storage (Tanks or Dam of adequate size), Reticulation (under ground pipes that are big enough for herd demand eg 400 cows minimum of 50mm) & Outlet (troughs....the least important component of the system).

http://www.envbop.govt.nz/Factsheets/LandManagement-090526-Factsheet06.pdf

The pump (head) & the pipe size are critical to good water flow. Even if a pressure unit is put onto an existing water supply there is only a certain amount of water that can flow thru any given pipe diameter.

A loop line is much superior to a main line system.....it affects the total cost & importantly water troughs can be placed either above or very close to the pipeline. This minimises the short piece of pipe (less than 1 metre) of smaller diameter leading to the trough valve. Use full flow valves that are built for purpose.
There are some legal requirements that chould be checked .....mainly related to non return valves & the protection of pipes.

In the UK dairyfarmers have in the past relied on "Town or Mains Water" for stock water requirements but on most pasture based dairyfarms this is either inadequate or too expensive (or both). The costs of drilling for bore water are normally recouped within 2 yrs thru the savings on mains water. Once you have control over the water supply you can set up pumps, reservoirs(Normally 1 day of farm requirements), looplines & water troughs.

It also allows you to install dosetron systems for minerals & bloat treatment.

http://www.liquidminerals.co.uk/index.html

Water Requirements for Dairyfarms

Daily drinking water requirements depend on the Dry Matter% of the feed, temperatures, animal production (milk litres or growth) & stage of lactation.

There are a number of ways to calculate water requirements.

First way is that with the air temperature between 15-20 degrees C.....cows need 30-40 litres/day for maintenance PLUS 3-4 litres/per litre of milk produced.

The second method is based on the "DM intake X 6" plus 1 litre water/litre of milk produced.

Often if the diet is substantially fresh pasture then 80-90% of the water intake is via the pasture eaten. But you still need to allow for the hot dry summer peak demand day where the cows dietary intake could be mostly silage & concs.

Peak water flow rates needed on a dairy farm should be worked out on a per cow basis.

http://www.dairyaustralia.com.au/~/media/Documents/Farm/Feeding%20cows/Feeding%20Systems/Other%20Information/Estimating%20Stock%20Water%20Requirements.ashx

Milking Parlour....allow 70 litres per cow per day.

Drinking water/troughs...70 litres/cow /day (in hot weather this can peak at 140 litres/day), available in a five hour period = 14 litres/cow/hour

So an example:-

400 cows drinking 14litre/hr= 5600litres/hr flow required

To get litres/minute divide this by 60: 5600/60=93litres/minute required.

Trough size

Trough size is important for access, rather than water storage. Paddocks for a herd of 400+ cows should perhaps have 2 water troughs.

Trough size should be half the one hour demand

So our 400 cow herd needs 5600litres/hr, so the water trough capacity in each paddock should be at least 2800 litres (2 x 1400(370gals)).

Plan water requirements ahead of future development.....too often the existing water supply was barely adequate......let alone sufficient for a future expanded herd size....Go BIG is Good with Water....Think Ahead!

Please document a plan for the farm water supply so you & everyone else will know where the pipes & taps/valves are on the farm map.

Dairy Farmers Need to Regularly Test for Soil Organic Matter

Soil Organic Matter is a very good measure of how sustainable agriculture really is today.

Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is usually highest under permanent pasture & grazing. Pasture based farmers have NOT been given the credit they are due!

Pasture based dairy farming is very beneficial to the environment.

So UK pasture based dairy farmers should be measuring & monitoring SOM% in their regular soil tests. Test for SOM% every time you soil test.Organic matter is critical for soil health and for soil productivity. It:
Provides energy for soil microbes
Supports and stabilises soil structure
Increases water storage
Stores and supplies nutrients
Builds soil biodiversity
Stores carbon
Buffers chemical behaviour such as pH
But, what is it?Organic matter derives from the growth and death of organisms.

Soil organic matter is:
The living component of the soil (roots, micro-organisms, animals and plants);
Exudates from living organisms; and
Dead, decaying and highly decomposed materials.
Organic matter is constructed from cellulose, tannin, cutin, and lignin and various proteins, lipids and sugars. These are all based on chains of carbon molecules which mean that a measure of soil organic carbon can give an indirect measure of soil organic matter.Decomposed organic matter has a black or dark brown colour and will darken soil colour.How does it get into soil?Plant growth is the primary source of soil organic matter. Photosynthesis converts sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into plant material. On death, the plant material is steadily decomposed and progressively incorporated into the soil. What is its fate in soil?Organic matter is a dynamic component of soil. Plant and animal debris is regularly added and carbon dioxide is routinely lost as soil organisms use organic matter as an energy source. This is the soil carbon cycle. If the rate of incorporation is low, or the rate of respiration is high, soil organic matter levels will decline. Thus the level of organic matter in soil is dependant on the balance between inputs and losses of soil carbon.Soil organisms rely on organic matter as their food source. In doing this some of the carbon chains of the organic matter are converted to carbon dioxide (termed respiration). Organic matter is consequently decomposed. How is it measured?

The amount of organic carbon present in the soil is used to estimate organic matter. Various experiments have shown that organic matter contains about 58% carbon. On this basis, the following relationship can be used to estimate levels of organic matter.
Organic matter(% by weight)
=
Organic carbon(% by weight)
X
1.72
Why does it matter to soil health?

The primary value of organic matter to soil health is in providing the mechanism for fuelling the soil with energy and nutrients. It provides a reservoir of metabolic energy that enables biological processes to occur.As plant remains steadily decompose in this part of the carbon cycle, secondary benefits occur. Nutrients are mobilised, soil mixing occurs, and soil structure is improved and strengthened as decomposition products adhere to physical soil particles and build aggregation.

Every tonne of Carbon in the soil is equivalent to 3.67 tonnes of CO2.

Soil Organic Matter is 58% Carbon.

On a well managed dairyfarm pasture (say 10% SOM) every hectare contains approx 260 Tonnes of Carbon in the top 30cm of soil.(Assuming a bulk density of 1.5Tonnes per cubic metre of soil). The International soil carbon stocks are measured to an agreed (IPPC) depth of 30cm.

The UK like every other country MUST protect & maintain (if not increase) their "Carbon Stocks". So Soil Carbon is vitally important.

Pasture based dairy farming is crucial to a future healthy environment.

Total C fixed through photosynthetic processes in pasture plants equates to approximately 40% of total dry matter (DM). In a pasture with an annual yield of e.g. 10t DM ha-1 yr-1 (i.e. 10t DM harvested as intake by animals), the amount of C harvested is therefore c. 4t C ha-1 yr-1. The total amount of C fixed from the atmosphere in photosynthesis is considerable, and has been measured e.g. as c. 16t C ha-1 yr-1, of which some 40-50% (6.4-8t C ha-1 yr-1) is returned to the atmosphere in plant respiration. This includes the respiration involved in the synthesis of shoot and the maintenance of shoot tissues. This figure also includes respiration from the synthesis and
maintenance of roots (some of which is expended via the shoot). Of the remaining c.8t C ha-1 yr-1 in new shoot and root tissues, only about 50% is typically harvested (hence the 4tC ha-1 yr-1 harvested), and the remainder of the plant tissues turnover and senesce to form shoot and root litter. Shoot and root litter contribute C ultimately to either respiration from the soil (and soil surface), from the microbes that consume the litter, or contribute to a potential increase in C sequestered in the soil.
Management (both fertiliser inputs and/or changes in grazing intensity) alter all of these fluxes. In general, increasing the intensity of utilisation (e.g. increasing stocking rate per se) will reduce all the fluxes, simply because it reduces vegetation cover (leaf area and so photosynthesis) although there is an optimum grazing.
Why Soil Organic Matter matters
Soil organic matter contributes to a variety of biological, chemical and physical properties of soil and is essential for good soil health.
Soil health is important to optimise productivity in agricultural systems.
Healthy, productive soil is a mixture of water, air, minerals and organic matter.
In turn, soil organic matter is composed of plant and animal matter in different stages of decay, making it a complex and varied mix of materials.
Functions of soil organic matter
Soil organic matter (SOM) is a key indicator of soil health because it plays a role in a number of key functions. These functions can be divided into three types:
biological functions of SOM
-provides nutrients and habitat for organisms living in the soil
-provides energy for biological processes
-contributes to soil resilience (the ability of soil to return to its initial state after a disturbance, for example after tillage).
chemical functions of SOM
-measure of nutrient retention capacity
-provides resilience against pH change
- main store of many key nutrients especially nitrogen and potassium.
Soil organic matter is a key indicator of soil health because it plays a role in a number of key functions.
physical functions of SOM
-binds soil particles into aggregates improving soil structural stability
-enhances water holding capacity of soil
-moderates changes in soil temperature.
There are often strong interactions between these different functions. For example, the biological function of providing energy that drives microbial activity also results improved structural stability and creates organic materials that can contribute nutritional capacity and resilience to change.
Optimising the benefits of soil organic matter
Managing soil organic matter for a maximum contribution to soil health and resilience can present a conundrum.
Decomposition and mineralisation of organic matter are required for functions such as provision of energy and nutrients. However, the maintenance or increases in organic matter help to maintain its positive effects on soil chemical and physical properties.
So, when managing soil organic matter the never-ending turnover and the need to replace and rebuild is a constant demand of good agricultural practice.
When selecting management scenarios to optimise the benefits of soil organic matter the following needs to be considered for each particular site:
- what are the most important functions that organic matter provides?
- how big is the contribution of organic matter to soil health and resilience?
Management actions that optimise the provision of these functions and maintain the contribution to soil health and resilience will ensure maximum benefit from soil organic matter.
How can we maintain or improve SOM% under dairy cow grazing in the UK?
1. Maintain permanent pastures
2. Minimize cultivation & use direct drill technology
3. Reduce Soil compaction & encourage earthworms
4. Return stored slurry to all pastures
5. Increase pasture production & the clover content & deep rooting grasses
6. Ensure sufficient S & P fertilizers are being used
7. Consider deferred pasture/sabbatical farming options including the USA concept of “Tall Grazing” at least on parts of the farm each year.
8. Soil test regularly (same time each year) & monitor SOM%.

Rain Very Welcome But Don't Get Too Excited

Most of the UK, Brittany & coastal parts of Northern Ireland are very dry & this is severely affecting pasture growth on most grass based dairy farms. Exceptions are southern Scotland, most of Wales & most of Ireland where there has been good rains & very good pasture growth.

Many paddocks have recorded negative growth as pastures dry in the warm sun & drying winds & some farms have recorded total losses of DM pasture.

Many organic farms have recorded as good growth rates as the conventional farms if they have a strong clover base. This might also be related to increases in soil organic material in the top soil which retains moisture better.

Don't Get Too Excited!

Firstly evaporation has far exceeded most of the recent rain over the past two months....& this is on top of very dry subsoils since the winter. Secondly even though the platemeters have indicated less pasture it maybe that the increases in dry matter more than compensate for the lower readings..............however now that most areas have had at least showers....pastures might change dramatically. New growth will be very low in DM% & some of the old dry material may start to break down..........end result a big drop in average covers even though there is some growth.

Stick to the longer rotations

Whatever you do don't shorten the grazing rotations (even if there is very little in the paddocks). A long round doesn't do much while its still dry (No growth is NO Growth) but a long round will mean a much quicker recovery once we have sufficient soil moisture for sustained growth. Remember the plant energy reserves!!!

Don't deplete them with fast rotations & frequent grazing.

Most herds are now on heavy feeding.....no options for most farms in the drier areas.

Some farmers have been quick to convert cereal crops into wholecrop silage....a very good option especially with lower world grain prices forecast. There may well still be options for dairy farmers to convince their cereal neighbours into selling the crop as wholecrop.

I've been very impressed with some of the organic wholecrops I've seen in both Brittany & the UK. They have grown well (perhaps too well for the clover undersown) & will make good feed options especially with a strong component of legumes. I particularly like the look of Vetch as the legume/protein in these organic crops.

Organic Wholecrop (including Peas) in Cotswolds.

Organic Wholecrop (including Vetch) in Brittany France

Pasture Covers & Growth this week

Northern Ireland Av. Cover 2026, 53kg Growth, 32 day rotation, Demand 54kgs

Dumfries 1975, 65, 19days Good soaking rain every 3 days!!

North Wales 2318, 103kg growth, 25 days Good rain over past 2 weeks

Cheshire Zero growth low covers about to graze 1800's

Shropshire 2080, 41kg, 32 days light showers

Staffordshire 1765, 12kgs, 34 days light showers recently

East Staffordshire 1850, 6kg, 45 days Very dry but some light showers yesterday

Leicestershire 2350, minus growth, 30 days 4mm rain today but very dry

Herefordshire 2200, 33kgs, 30 days good rain

Herefordshire 1980, 40, 35 days

Gloucestershire 1852, 17kg, 42 days seriously dry not grazing at nights

South West Wales organic 2249, 52kgs, 27 days regular rain very green

South West Wales 2454, 92kgs, 21 days Demand 41 Plenty of rain

Somerset organic 1930, 10kg growth, No rain for a month

Dorset 1935, 13kg growth, 60 days, very little rain

East Sussex organic 1500, less than 20kg No rain

Devon 2160, 68kgs, 40 days no recent rain

Cornwall 1950, 25kgs, 37 days Very dry

South Coast of Ireland 2310, 71kgs growth, 23 days rotation, 3 days of good rain

Pasture growth rates are at the two extremes either very high or none existant if no rain.

Wonderful French Hospitality on Breton Grass based Dairyfarms

"Pasture to Profit" grass based dairy farmers from England, Wales & Northern Ireland again visited Brittany in France & were treated to thought provoking farm visits, wonderful food with local ciders & wines, glorious sunshine & very good craic....banter & fun!
You would be amazed language barriers, doubts or previously held views collapse & vanish over a cold glass of Breton Cider. The Breton friendship & hospitality was wonderful as we met "like minded" farming families, walked the farms, struggled with translation, & laughed together over another cold cider.

The food was amazing!

Tough "Student work"......but someone has to do it!

For some it was exhausting!

Too much really!

I know..what happens on tour stays on tour....but I couldn't resist!

Key Messages from Brittany

Question.... When is your group going to visit Brittany this is a very important tour for every P2P group to make.

Question..... Why are wives not going to Brittany with these group tours???? You are missing out girls!

There is still life after tough NVZs (140kg N/ha organic N) & there is still grass growth in abundance without Nitrogen. Some of the clover swards were fantastic.

Although there are only 50 Organic dairy farms in Brittany (out of 12000) we saw a trend to organic conversion amongst the pasture based dairy farms we visited.

A good reminder from Travarez Research Centre that the average response to concentrates (from many trials) was less than 1 litre of Milk for each 1 kg Conc fed.

Extraordinary that French farmers still have a huge say in the farm research projects.....so different from the UK sadly where UK farmers have lost the effective research centres, lost control of the projects & where DairyCo seems reluctant to commit to a research program?????

Family time is a serious priority for Breton dairy farmers.....Work Less Earn More!

If you don't have a clear precise Business Plan.....how do you know where you are going?

International study tours always reap changes in farm practices & in farmer thinking.....BIG TIME!

Sunshine & warmth but rapid drop off in grass growth

Brittany was seriously dry & pasture growth was falling rapidly. It was easy to be critical of increasing ryegrass seedhead development & stalky pastures.......that is until we returned to the UK.......to see the exact same situation.

There is NO moisture reserve in the sub soil & now with a few warm days grass growth has all but stopped in many areas.

Grazing Rotations must be lengthened.....if need be by using supplements. The grazing rotation can be doubled over night if you stop grazing at nights & put the whole farm on a day round. There is little you can do if growth stops......but a long rotation ensures a quick recovery once the rain comes. Long grass can be used as a crop especially if supplement is used at night. The clover content on most farms will be sufficient to meet cow's dietary protein needs.

Get the youngstock off the milking pad. This group is much easier to supplement & besides the milkers are priority.

Make sure the cows have plenty of good quality water. Water consumption will often rise above 100 litres per cow per day on hot days.

Make changes now while there is still some growth.

So what is the pasture growth in your area?

Northern Ireland 2115kgs Av. Cover, 60kgDM Growth, 24 day rotation, 3kg Conc & some rain

Northern Ireland 2050, 15kg, 60 days, 4kgs Conc + silage pm

Stranraer 1950, 35kg, 23 days demand very high due to silage cuts

Dumfries 1986, 54kg, 18 days Some rain or Scotch Mist!

Cumbria 2150, 35kg, 35 days feeding 4kg conc

Cumbria 1935, 18kg, feeding 3kg conc rained last night but needs to be more

North Wales 2060, 59kg, 25 days Good response to N

North Wales 1930, 32kg, 20-26 days Feeding PK & Brewers Grain

South West Wales Organic 2194, 41 growth, 30 days, demand 43 2kg conc just rained (again!)

Shropshire 2230, 68kg, 35 days

Shropshire organic 2200, 53kg, 25 days 2kg conc

Cheshire Organic 25kg growth, 25kg demand (400grms Conc)

Staffordshire 2109, 15kg, 31 days 2kgs Conc & pre mowing silage grass

Staffordshire 1925, 13kg, 30 days 5kgs supplement & some minus growth

Staffordshire 1950, 10-15kg, 30 days, 4kgs plus silage

East Staffordshire 1980, 32kg, 28 days feeding 4kg Maize silage pm

Derbyshire 2209, 48kg, 20days demand 69 & 1kg Conc

Herefordshire 2100, 68kg, 25 days

Herefordshire 2300, 40kg, 27 days Demand 50

Gloucestershire 1977, 51kg, 23 days Demand 43

Somerset Organic 2100, 30kg, 40 days Grass only

Buckingshire Organic 1650, Zero growth, 35 days...12kgs DM Silage

Somerset 20kg, 30 days Demand 39 & 7kgs DM fed Very Dry

Dorset 2015, 25kg, 35 days Demand 31 & 4kgs Conc silage shortly

Dorset Dismal, 15kg Depressing, Long rotation.....about to dry off autumn cows

Dorset 2080, 20kg, 60days Silage & 3kgs blend

Somerset 2300, 30kg, 35 days & 3kg conc

East Sussex Organic 1900, 28kg, 28 days huge drop in growth

East Sussex 2084, 53kg, 28 days OAD & Chicory

Devon 2000, 40kg, 35 days feeding extra 600kg silage + 200kg Conc per day to herd

Cornwall 2150, 30kg, 40 days OAD & turnips soon

Cornwall 2050, 40kg, 28 days......rain or Cornish Mist today

Cornwall 2032, 49kg, 24 days no feeding

Ireland Limerick 2100, 55kgs, 23 days No feeding & using N...rain forecast

Future lies in Milk, Surplus Heifers & Energy Sales

Most UK dairy farmers probably believe that what remains of Dairy R & D is primarily for the benefit of farmers. But is this still true?? Probably NOT!

There are a number of issues....Lack of Research commitment by the likes of DairyCo, reduced Government spending, dairy farmer apathy towards research & lastly Governments increasingly wanting & directing Research facilities to do work that will frame Government policy especially in regard to climate change. Production research is NOT a priority any longer despite a looming World shortage of Food. Some projects might have a spin off benefit to farmers....is this the best we as farmers can expect in the future.....maybe!

It depends on how much of a fight pasture based dairy farmers are prepared to put up....is research important to you? If so you had better do something about it NOW!

Governments need information on how to reduce CO2 emissions....dairy farmers maybe a target for Govt but they should be a resource to reduce CO2....how are we going to win the argument?

I recently visited Hillsborough Research centre in Northern Ireland with Gwennoline from France.....great day organised by Drs Conrad Ferris & Alister Carson....thank you guys.

http://www.afbini.gov.uk/index/research/hp-work-area-livestock/livestock-dairy.htm

Heifer Rearing

Steve Morrison described the extensive calf & heifer work being done at Hillsborough. If anyone is having problems with calves Steve & his colleagues have produced an excellent booklet called "Rearing Your 2010 Herd" which covers all things heifer.

One research fact that I thought was really interesting was that approx 80% of all calves sent for post mortems showed clear signs of a lack of colostrum. A calf requires 10% of it's birth liveweight in colostrum fed in the 1st 6 hours.

With our tight calving patterns & larger herds we should be ALL tubing every calf at birth as a matter of routine. This is a guarantee that every calf gets sufficient colostrum within the first hours of life.

If you are feeding milk powder to calves we need to aim for 500gms per day daily intake to hit the weaning targets of 100kgs LWT.

http://www.afbini.gov.uk/index/research/hp-work-area-livestock/livestock-dairy/livestock-beef-p20040058.htm

Grazing High Yielding Cows on Pasture

Andrew Dale is conducting grazing trials with high yielding Holsteins (40 litres per cow per day). The trial involves three pasture residue levels 1600kgs DM/ha (4cm), 1900 (5cm) & 2200kgs DM/ha (6cm). Can high yielding cows graze tight?

We will follow this trial with interest. GrassCheck is monitoring grass growth at 6 sites.

http://www.afbini.gov.uk/index/services/services-specialist-advice/grasscheck-2010/grasscheck-latest-results.htm

CloverCheck is also part of this monitoring program. http://www.afbini.gov.uk/index/services/services-specialist-advice/clovercheck-2010/clovercheck-latest-results.htm

Renewable Energy on Farms

Hillsborough has a Renewable Energy Centre.

There are a number of interesting possible outcomes from the research at the REC. Firstly & perhaps surprisingly it is likely to be pasture based farms in Ireland which convert to Energy growing crops like Willows.....Why? The returns from energy crops like Willows are likely to be considerably more than the current or future beef returns....so farmers will switch.

Secondly, one of the strongest arguments for farmers getting involved in Energy Production is that it means "local ownership"....be it wind turbines or anaerobic digestion .....green energy will be owned locally & returns will bolster local economies.

A range of timber products are put thru a furnace to reduce heating costs at Hillsborough.

Anaerobic Digestion was clearly described to me as being very similiar to the functionality of the rumen....in this context it is finally very easy to understand. Methane is a by product of rumen digestion & anaerobic digestion.

Pasture Growth Rates on UK Dairy Farms

Northern Ireland Av. Pasture Cover 2153, 71kgs DM/ha/day, 21 day grazing rotation

Northern Ireland 2070, 67kg, 26 days

Northern Ireland 2200, 48kg, (61 demand) 21 days

Northern Ireland 2091, 22 days

Dumfries 2180, 83kg, 20 days

Cumbria 2400, 58kg, 20 days very dry

Cumbria 2143, 48kg, 28 days very dry

Cheshire Organic 2000, 50kg, 28 days

Staffordshire 2197, 56kg (platemeter), 80kg (calculated), demand 72, 20 days

Derbyshire 2396, 77kg, 20 days

Shropshire 2200, 67kg, 21 days

Herefordshire 2250, 66kg, 25 days

Herefordshire 2051, 77kg, 23days

Gloucestershire 2050, 50kg, 18 days

West Wales 2160, 120kg, 20 days

West Wales Organic 2205, 60kgs, demand 41kgs, 25 days

Somerset Organic 2300, 60kg, 30 days

Sussex 2158, 50kg, 30 days dry

Dorset 2202, 45kg, 35 days

Hampshire 2500, 108kgs, 26 days

Devon 2050, 76kg, 25 days

Devon 2654, 167kg, 28 days (power of dirty water)

Cornwall 2300, 70kg, 24 days

Cornwall 2300, 90kg, 25 days

Cornwall 2180, 102kg, 19 days

Ireland (Limerick) Av. Pasture Cover 2300, Growth 75kg, Grazing Rotation length 19 days

Good rains except Cumbria.....very good response to rain but still dry in many areas. Water shortage warnings in some areas.

Please leave a comment (below)

YES, BUT!......YES, BUT, NO, BUT, YES, BUT!

The more that it (dairy heifer rearing in different countries) is different, the more that it is the same. This could be a summary of the research study of Gwennoline Caroff, a French student from ENSA Toulouse, has conducted in Brittany, Denmark, Quebec Canada & with Pasture to Profit dairy farms in the UK.

To have an idea of how the heifers are reared in different countries, the project was to build a questionnaire and to interview about 10 farmers and some experts in dairy in each country. So the following information is for some farmers from each country and can not be taken as an average for the country.
Country Comparison

Heifers in a pad, on cubicles, on straw based diet, until AI

Farms in Brittany are much smaller than farms in the UK, but are run on the same idea of cows turned out on grass. Whereas in Denmark and Quebec, the cows are housed all year round. It’s quite interesting to compare the culling and the replacement rate of each country. Most of you would be surprised how high the culling rate in Denmark is: Lameness is the biggest reason.

Age at first calving is an interesting data too:

age at first calving late + high replacement rate = high cost to rear heifers!!!!

An Interesting Benchmark

YES, the replacement rate of UK is quite low, BUT, if you use one of the benchmarks used in Brittany: number of heifers per 100 000 L of milk produced. (The target would be 4.5 heifers entering the herd for 100 000 L), you can compare the different countries:

And UK is not the most efficient!!!!

Gwennoline would like to thank all of the UK Pasture based Discussion Group farmers who have helped her with her study. Later in the year she will send each farmer a report.

Please comment below we are interested in your thoughts.