Pembrokeshire: Targeting net zero - Growing and ensiling feed on dairy farms

Join us to find out more about different feeding options for your herd and how you could grow a greater proportion of feed on farm.

Pathways to reducing carbon production will look different for different farms. With regulation potentially limiting stock numbers on Welsh land, there may be an opportunity to grow a greater proportion of the cow’s diet in Wales.

On most Welsh farms 60-70% of the cow’s diet is already grown on farm, so small improvements in production can lead to big gains. This may also provide an opportunity to displace some imported feed from the dairy cow’s diet and could reduce your costs as well as your carbon footprint – something many dairy customers are demanding.

On the day, you’ll find out more about:

• Various novel feed options
• A current trial exploring the potential of growing runner beans alongside maize
• How runner beans can contribute to a cow’s diet and their nitrogen fixing potential
• Alternative crops that might suit your system

Speakers include Ben Williams from Glanbia on why reducing your carbon footprint could be beneficial, David Howard from Wynnstay and Rhun Fychan from Aberystwyth University who will focus on improving ensiled grass and novel crops for the dairy cow diet. We will also be kindly hosted for a farm walk at Berry Hill by the Evans family.