Spring Grazing in Autumn Calving Systems

Join us at this meeting where Andre Van Barneveld will explain the principles and benefits of getting your grazing plan right with Bodysgaw Isa.

How your platform is grazed during the Spring, will impact your quality of grazing throughout the rest of the year.

Having a good first round of grazing is crucial in setting up the farm to produce milk from grass profitably, throughout the year, whilst maintaining a good work-life balance for the farmer.

Join us for Bodysgaw Isa’s second meeting as a Strategic Dairy Farm with Andre Van Barneveld, of Graise Consultancy.  Andre will talk us through the targets, red flags and importance of Spring grazing plans. After lunch we will learn about Bodysgaw Isa’s grazing plan and assess grass covers with a plate meter.

In the meeting we will discuss:

 Managing grazing from calving through to magic day

• Converting spring grass into profit
• Measuring grass to manage grass
• Grazing to conditions; having flexibility and bravery!
• Maximizing response from fertilizer

To book your place contact the AHDB KE Events Hub on 01904 771216 or ke.events@ahdb.org.uk .

For more information regarding the event please call Richard Davies, AHDB on 07966 237841.

Please bring a clean pair of wellington boots to help with the biosecurity.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please contact us as soon as possible. If you no longer wish to receive this information, please email comms@ahdb.org.uk

 About Andre Van Barneveld – Graise Consultancy

Born in the Netherlands and raised in NZ, Andre started as a farm worker before progressing through share milking to owning his own farm.  Now based in Ireland, he works as a pasture based dairy consultant helping Irish and UK dairy farmers achieve greater profitability, sustainability and life balance. 

About Bodysgaw Isa

Bodysgaw Isa is a 185ha (457ac), all grass tenanted farm on the Cefn Estate. Farmed by the Owen family since 1939.  The autumn block herd is comprised of 375 New Zealand type Friesian Crossbreds, producing 6,788L/cow and 568kg MS/cow. All cows calve down on grass, with low incidence rates of milk fever. Calving begins on 1^st September, with 93% of cows calved within 8 weeks. Milk is sold through Arla.

Grazing platform of 103ha (255ac), aiming to graze February until late November. All replacements are home reared, with surplus livestock sold. The farm operates with minimal machinery and extensive use of contractors.

Over the next 3 years the challenges will be to fine tune the business and profitably raise milk production from forage (grass and silage), control and reduce Johne’s and Neospora and upgrade slurry storage and utilisation.

About Strategic Dairy Farms

Strategic dairy farms help farmers learn from each other through regular on-farm meetings where we will share key performance data and showcase what the best farmers are doing.

They form part of the Optimal Dairy Systems programme which aims to help dairy farmers lower costs and increase efficiency by focusing on either a block or all-year-round calving system.

The growing network of strategic dairy farms have calculated key performance indicators (KPIs) for their enterprises which are shared at meetings and published online. These are physical and financial performance measures that are critical to success. Farmers can benchmark their businesses against these KPIs and identify areas for improvement.

Follow the programme and find other local SDFs at www.dairy.ahdb.org.uk/ strategic-dairy-farm 

Directions

From A55 – Take junction 27 for St. Asaph and take the A525 to Denbigh.  At the ‘The Trefnant Pub’ in Trefnant turn right onto B5428 to Henllan.  At Henllan turn right at the Church towards Llannefydd village. Keep on this road for 3.4 miles, the village hall will be on your left, just after the Church.

From Denbigh - Take B5382 to Henllan.  In Henllan, after passing the Post Office, turn right following the sign for Llannefydd.  Then turn left at the Church. Follow this road into Llannefydd village for 3.4miles. The village hall will be on your left, just after the Church.