Manor Farm Dorchester (2017 - 2021)

When Bertie joined the Strategic Farm programme his aims were to:

• Introduce rotational grazing whilst improving pasture quality
• Improve cow performance
• React to market changes and grasp opportunities as they arise

Driven by a desire to improve efficiencies and run a profitable business Bertie made a number of changes to his business as part of the Strategic Farm programme.

He implemented rotational grazing as well as reseeding with herbal leys, to cut costs and improve soil quality. He also saw an opportunity to set up a new TB Isolation Unit due to changes in euthanasia practices in the dairy herd. Creating this enterprise has enabled him to make use of the available resources and improved cash flow.

Bertie has also worked hard to improve suckler cow performance. At the start of the programme cows calved all year round which has now been moved to a spring and autumn block. In the future Bertie aims to just calve in the spring to make management easier. By focusing on cow performance and culling harshly, Bertie has managed to increase cow efficiency with cows weaning 40% of their weight, as opposed to 35% at the start of the programme.

In 2020 Bertie won Farmers Weekly, Young Farmer of the Year

For more information on improving cow fertility read https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/optimising-suckler-herd-fertility-for-better-returns-2

If you are interested in starting your own calf rearing enterprise visit https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/better-returns-from-calf-rearing