Livestock Nutrition

Making grazing pay: Practical decisions from Moorhouse Hall Farm

Thu, 21 May 2026 17:42:40 GMT

Join us at Moorhouse Hall Farm, one of our Strategic Dairy Farms, for a practical, grazing-focused farm walk. You'll explore how grazing management, infrastructure and system decisions are shaping forage utilisation and milk from forage on a commercial dairy farm.

You’ll be taken through the farm’s current grazing strategy, including paddock management, cow flow, grazing access and the practical decisions influencing performance this season.

Through field-based discussion and open farmer-to-farmer conversation, you’ll explore what's working well, the compromises involved, and the lessons being learned in real time.

A key focus of the event will be understanding how infrastructure and wider business decisions influence grazing success.

You’ll hear how the farm’s decision not to winter lambs this year is helping to prioritise spring grazing availability, protect grass covers and maximise milk from forage opportunities within the dairy system.

During the event, you'll learn about:

Their grazing strategy and how rotation management is being implemented
Grass utilisation, residuals and forage quality – what’s working in the field
The role of infrastructure, cow flow and paddock design in grazing performance
Key system decisions and trade-offs affecting milk from forage and grazing days
Practical lessons, benchmarks and open discussion on what can be applied on farm

This event is designed to be practical, honest and discussion-led, giving you the opportunity to walk the system, challenge ideas, compare approaches and take away practical actions you can apply within your own grazing system.

Whether you're already heavily focused on grazing or looking to improve grass utilisation and milk from forage within your system, this event will provide practical insight, peer-to-peer discussion and real-world decision-making from a working dairy farm.

A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Shropshire: Healthy starts to entering the milking herd

Thu, 21 May 2026 17:16:30 GMT

Join us at Bentley Ford Farm for an informative event focused on optimising efficiency in dairy heifer rearing, helping ensure youngstock enter the milking herd ready to achieve their full potential.

We’ll explore the key factors that influence growth, health, fertility and lifetime performance, with practical insights to support better decision-making at every stage of rearing.

The goal is simple: to help farmers rear dairy heifers that not only hit productivity targets, but go on to enjoy long, healthy and profitable careers in the herd.

At this event, we'll review youngstock performance and facilities at Bentley Ford Farm with youngstock specialist Ginny Sherwin and farm vet James Marsden.

We will cover

Utilising on-farm data to determine maximum performance
Management and environmental factors that ensure success
Youngstock housing and how this can affect your heifers

A light lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Speaker profiles

Ginny Sherwin

Ginny Sherwin graduated from the University of Cambridge in 2011 before completing a farm animal internship at the Royal Veterinary College and moving into private practice.

She later undertook a dairy herd health residency at the University of Nottingham, becoming a European Specialist in Bovine Health Management in 2017.

Alongside starting a lecturing role in 2018, she completed a PhD in 2020, investigating the ecology of Streptococcus uberis.

She is now a Clinical Associate Professor in Farm Animal Medicine at the University of Nottingham, with research focused on practical, evidence-based approaches to improving youngstock health and performance.

James Marsden is a director and dedicated farm animal vet who has specialised in herd health, fertility, and production efficiency for nearly two decades.

James Marsden

After graduating from Bristol in 2006, he moved from mixed practice into farm-focused work, joining the team that later became Shropshire Farm Vets.

He completed a Diploma in Bovine Reproduction at the University of Liverpool in 2010, strengthening his expertise in optimising dairy and beef systems, an area he continues to be passionate about, alongside improving animal welfare and overall farm profitability.

Flock foundations roadshow – Early decisions, lasting gains

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 14:55:00 GMT

Flock foundations roadshow – Early decisions, lasting gains

Buitelaar calf rearing open day

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 12:03:34 GMT

Hear first-hand from the farm manager, the Buitelaar team, nutrition specialists and Oxbury Bank, who'll be offering insight into both technical and financial considerations of calf rearing.

Join us to:

See how calf housing design supports calf health and performance
Learn more about milk powder feeding protocols and how consistency drives performance
Gain practical insight into evidence-led rearing strategies that can be applied on farm

There will also be an opportunity for Q&As, networking and seeing systems working in real conditions.

The day will finish with lunch and refreshments.

To register your place, please call or email the details below.

Cheshire: From grass measurement to grazing decisions (part 2)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:33:12 GMT

During this two-part series, you’ll learn how to measure grass accurately and use that information to improve grazing management.

Please note that you must be able to attend both events in this series: 23 April (Warrington) and 30 April (Macclesfield).

During this practical, on-farm event, dairy consultant Gaynor Wellwood will explain and demonstrate how to use plate meters.

She’ll also show you how grass measurements can be used to make better grazing and paddock allocation decisions.

Using grass data to allocate paddocks

Interpreting grass cover data
Identifying paddocks ready for grazing
Target pre- and post-grazing covers
Ranking paddocks and planning grazing rotation
Matching grass supply to livestock demand

Includes practical exercises using data from your farm.

The two sessions in this series are spaced one week apart to allow you to practice measuring grass on your own farm between sessions.

Outcomes

By attending, you will be able to:

Confidently use a plate meter
Measure and record grass cover accurately
Interpret grass data
Use measurements to make informed grazing decisions

Important information

Refreshments will be provided at registration from 10:15am for a prompt 10:30am start
Lunch is not provided, please bring a packed lunch
If you have a plate meter, please bring this with you
Bring grass reading from your farm with you

To book, visit the first event in this series: Cheshire: From grass measurement to grazing decisions (part 1) | AHDB

Cheshire: From grass measurement to grazing decisions (part 1)

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:52:34 GMT

During this two-part series, you’ll learn how to measure grass accurately and use that information to improve grazing management.

Please note that you must be able to attend both events in this series: 23 April (Warrington) and 30 April (Macclesfield).

During this practical, on-farm event, dairy consultant Gaynor Wellwood will explain and demonstrate how to use plate meters.

She’ll also show you how grass measurements can be used to make better grazing and paddock allocation decisions.

Measuring grass with a plate meter

Why measuring grass is important for grazing performance
How to use a plate meter correctly
Understanding grass cover (kg DM/ha)
Taking accurate paddock measurements
Calculating average grass cover

Includes hands-on practice using a plate meter in the field.

The two sessions in this series are spaced one week apart to allow you to practice measuring grass on your own farm between sessions.

Outcomes

By attending, you will be able to:

Confidently use a plate meter
Measure and record grass cover accurately
Interpret grass data
Use measurements to make informed grazing decisions

Important information

Refreshments will be provided at registration from 10:15am for a prompt 10:30am start
Lunch is not provided, please bring a packed lunch
If you have a plate meter, please bring this with you
View details for the second workshop

Cumbria: From field to feed barrier – Silage strategies for dairy success

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 16:47:53 GMT

Join us at Moorhouse Hall Farm for a practical, farmer-led workshop with Dave Davis, focusing on how getting silage-making right can help you better prepare for the season ahead.

Home-grown forage is the cornerstone of dairy cow nutrition.

Great quality silage costs the same to produce as poor quality silage, but the impact on cow nutrition, health, milk production and the farm's overall cost of production per litre is huge.

When so much is at stake, quality grass, harvesting practices and clamp management are critical.

The focus for this event is for you as a farmer to review and discuss your silage-making practice and what steps you can take to ensure excellent quality silage and reduce wastage.

Our hosts, the Bailey family at Moorhouse Hall Farm, consistently produce first-class silage with minimal wastage.

Our speaker, Dave Davies, is an internationally recognised expert with both farming and scientific research experience.

In this workshop, Dave will highlight the most important practices and ingredients in getting it right and minimising wastage.

We'll examine silage samples, look at quality across the clamp and discuss best practice and non-negotiables to minimise wastage from the field to the feed passage.

We hope you can join us at AHDB SDF Moorhouse Hall Farm with silage expert Dave Davies for a practical, science-based, farmer-led workshop on best practices, top tips and decision making to make the most of your 2026 crop.

In this workshop, we will look at:

Right crop, right time to meet your needs
Clamp preparation and ensiling practices
The science of good fermentation
Insight into how small, low-cost decisions can deliver big financial returns

You'll leave with clear, practical actions you can apply straight away to help turn your silage into a profit driver, not a hidden cost.

A light lunch and refreshments will be included. Please include any dietary requirements on booking.

Speaker profile

Dr Dave Davies (BSc PhD) is the son of a dairy farmer. He graduated from Aberystwyth University and then conducted a PhD at Manchester Uni linked with the Grassland Research Institute at Hurley.

From there, he spent 20 Years at IGER/IBERS in Aberystwyth, where, prior to leaving, he was head of forage and feed conservation/preservation and was lead of the Agricultural Outreach team for the whole institute.

In 2010 he left academia and established Silage Solutions.

Dave is a world-renowned silage scientist and practioner and has been lucky enough to travel widely across Europe and beyond, educating and learning from farmers.

He still conducts research projects. His over 35 years of experience have resulted in a broad spectrum of knowledge gained from both his science and agricultural backgrounds.

He is no more at home when in front of a silage clamp discussing anything and everything about silage.

Gloucestershire: Setting up heifers for a profitable lifetime

Thu, 22 Jan 2026 12:30:50 GMT

*Sgroliwch i lawr am yr iaith Gymraeg*

How you rear your youngstock today directly shapes the health, productivity and profitability of your herd tomorrow. Getting management, housing and nutrition right early on can save you money, reduce disease and give your heifers the best chance to reach their potential. The good news is that it all starts with the areas you can control on your farm.

Join us for a practical, hands-on workshop where you’ll learn how to make every calf count. You’ll see how small but important decisions, from detecting disease early to managing ventilation and feeding, can have a big impact on growth, health and future milk performance.

You'll hear from consultant Jamie Robertson, who will share his expertise on youngstock health and ventilation. Jamie will provide practical insight into creating the right housing environment to support calf performance, reduce disease pressure and set animals up for long-term success.

What you’ll get from the workshop:

How to spot early signs of disease and protect your herd before problems take hold, which will include a calf lung scanning demonstration showing how to detect respiratory issues early
Practical tips for housing, ventilation and building design to keep calves healthy and growing
Feeding and nutrition strategies that set your heifers up for success, the “non-negotiables” that pay back in growth and performance
Insights from vets and specialists on turning good management into measurable results
Opportunity to ask questions and see demonstrations of best practice in action

You’ll walk away with practical actions you can apply straight away to improve calf health, growth rates, and long-term herd profitability.

Light lunch and refreshments will be included, please include any dietary requirements on booking.

This event is part of the UK Dairy Carbon Network project, which gives you access to practical, farm-tested approaches that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving efficiency and profitability on commercial dairy farms.

Paratoi heffrod ar gyfer oes broffidiol

Mae’r ffordd rydych yn magu eich stoc ifanc heddiw yn effeithio’n uniongyrchol ar iechyd, cynhyrchedd a phroffidioldeb eich buches yfory. Gall mynd ati’n gynnar i ofalu bod y dulliau rheoli, yr adeiladau a’r maeth yn iawn arbed arian, lleihau clefydau, a rhoi’r cyfle gorau i’ch heffrod gyrraedd eu potensial. Y newyddion da yw bod y cyfan yn dechrau gyda’r pethau y gallwch eu rheoli ar eich fferm.

Ymunwch â ni ar gyfer gweithdy ymarferol lle byddwch yn dysgu sut i wneud i bob llo gyfrif. Byddwch yn gweld sut y gall penderfyniadau bach ond pwysig, o ganfod clefydau’n gynnar i reoli’r awyru a’r bwydo, gael effaith fawr ar dwf ac iechyd, a’r gallu i gynhyrchu llaeth yn y dyfodol.

Byddwch yn clywed gan yr ymgynghorydd Jamie Robertson, a fydd yn rhannu ei arbenigedd ar iechyd stoc ifanc ac awyru. Bydd Jamie’n darparu gwybodaeth ymarferol ar greu’r amgylchedd lletya iawn i wella perfformiad lloi, lleihau clefydau, a sicrhau bod anifeiliaid yn ffynnu dros y tymor hir.

Y budd a gewch chi o’r gweithdy:

Sut i adnabod arwyddion cynnar clefydau a gwarchod eich buches cyn i broblemau waethygu, gan gynnwys arddangosiad sganio ysgyfaint lloi yn dangos sut i ganfod problemau resbiradol yn gynnar.
Cynghorion ymarferol ar gyfer lletya, awyru a chynllunio adeiladau i gadw lloi yn iach a sicrhau eu bod yn tyfu
Strategaethau bwydo a maeth a fydd yn paratoi eich heffrod i lwyddo, yr ‘hanfodion’ sy’n sicrhau twf a pherfformiad
Cyngor gan filfeddygon ac arbenigwyr ar droi rheolaeth dda yn ganlyniadau mesuradwy
Cyfle i ofyn cwestiynau a gweld arddangosiadau o arfer da ar waith

Mi fyddwch chi’n gadael gyda chamau ymarferol y gallwch eu rhoi ar waith ar unwaith i wella iechyd a chyfraddau twf eich lloi, a phroffidioldeb hirdymor eich buches

Darperir cinio ysgafn a lluniaeth. Nodwch unrhyw ofynion deietegol wrth archebu os gwelwch yn dda.

Mae’r digwyddiad hwn yn rhan o brosiect Rhwydwaith Carbon Llaeth y DU, sy’n darparu mynediad at ddulliau ymarferol, a brofwyd ar ffermydd, sy’n helpu i leihau allyriadau nwyon tŷ gwydr, gan wella effeithlonrwydd a phroffidioldeb ffermydd llaeth masnachol ar yr un pryd.

Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:55:10 GMT

Join us for “Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together” at Bryce Mackellar’s farm in Stafford.

This practical, farmer-focused event will showcase how integrating sheep into arable rotations can boost soil health, improve crop performance, and support ewe nutrition over winter. Through a guided farm walk, expert-led workshops, and plenty of networking, attendees will explore the real-world benefits of grazing cover crops, fodder beet, and early-stage cereals.

Whether you’re an arable farmer looking to enhance sustainability, a sheep farmer seeking better grazing options, or an adviser working in regenerative systems, this event offers valuable insight and collaboration opportunities. Come along to learn, share experiences, and see mixed farming in action.

What the meeting will cover

Benefits of sheep grazing on cover crops and early-stage arable crops
Impacts on tillering, weed control, and crop performance
Soil health improvements from integrating livestock
Nutritional strategies for pregnant ewes grazing stubble turnips/fodder beet
Knowledge exchange between arable and livestock farmers
Practical demonstrations during the farm walk

Speakers

Amanda Bennett – Senior Environment Manager (soil health & nutrient management)
Bek Hirstman – Agronomy & Environment Manager
Nerys Wright – Sheep consultant

Session timings

10:00 – Arrival
10:30 – Housekeeping and introductions
10:45 – Presentations – providing the context
12:00 – Lunch and networking
12:50 – Leave for farm walk
13:00 – Farm walk
15:00 – Close

Are there any points available?

BASIS

Is the event free to attend?

Yes - funded by your levy

Food available & time

Lunch provided at 12:00

Bedfordshire: Cover crop connections

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 08:24:06 GMT

Cover Crops – what are the benefits from both sides of the fence?

Suffolk farmer James Bucher will share his experiences of cover cropping and integrating livestock within the arable business, while William Beattie (WMB Livestock) brings his experience of grazing agreements with arable farmers across East Anglia.

Whether you’re arable, livestock or mixed, come along to this event to:

Find out how arable and sheep farmers can benefit from grazing cover crops – whether working separately or together, what are the practical tips for making cover crops work for your farm business?
Hear what Shuttleworth’s AHDB cover crop trial results say so far about soil health and livestock nutrition
Get regional updates from Anglian Water, Oakbank and your local AHDB Knowledge Exchange Managers
Listen to local farmers sharing their experiences and ask your questions to the panel – the wins, the challenges and everything in between

Important information

Registration and refreshments will be available from 10am, with presentations starting at 10.30am.

This event is free to attend with BASIS, NRoSO and RoSA points available.

Lunch will be provided but registration is required for catering purposes.

Please dress appropriately for a farm walk.

Smart starts: Unlocking lifetime value from every calf

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 09:18:28 GMT

Join us for a practical, on-farm event exploring how to get the most from every calf, from birth to beef, as part of GB Calf Week in collaboration with the Farm Net Zero Project.

This interactive day will feature three focused talk stations, each led by industry experts, designed to help you improve calf performance, boost lifetime value, and meet market requirements. You’ll have the chance to hear the latest evidence, see best practice in action, and discuss ideas directly with speakers and fellow farmers.

Talk stations include:

Breeding and carcass quality – Producing animals that deliver (Victoria Ashmore, AHDB): How to match the right bull to the right cow for calves that hit market specs, with the carcass traits that add value – supported by data and practical on-farm decision-making.
Feeding – Balancing efficiency, carbon & profit (Hannah Jones, Farm Carbon Toolkit): Explore ration options, greenhouse gas impacts, and profitability, and discover how nutrition choices can work for both the bottom line and the environment.
Getting the right start – Setting calves up to thrive (Emily Linton, Castle Vets): Key steps in early life management to secure health, growth, and long-term productivity, plus how to monitor success and avoid post-weaning setbacks.

Why attend?

Gain practical, evidence-based ideas you can take back to your farm.
See how small changes can deliver big improvements in calf outcomes.
Network with fellow dairy and beef producers.
Support the launch of the GB Calf Strategy: Right Calf, Right Start

Record keeping and expert advice

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:21:48 GMT

Record keeping and expert advice

How to monitor the performance of a dairy diet

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:26:04 GMT

How to monitor the performance of a dairy diet

Water management for dairy cows

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:44:37 GMT

Water management for dairy cows

Formulating dairy diets

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:32:54 GMT

Formulating dairy diets

Rationing essentials for dairy diets

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:12:21 GMT

Rationing essentials for dairy diets

The right system, the right life: Finding the right grazing and calving system

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:27:02 GMT

The right system, the right life: Finding the right grazing and calving system

Ceredigion: Optimising pasture performance for profit and sustainability

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 13:51:47 GMT

Join us with pasture consultant Andre Van Barneveld for an on-farm, forward-thinking event that will focus on optimising the grass you grow and use – not by simply growing more, but by getting more value and saving on cost from every hectare.

With regulatory limits on nutrient use in Wales, now is the time to focus on efficient pasture management that boosts productivity while enhancing environmental outcomes.

What to expect at this event

Topics this event will cover include:

Smarter nutrient management under Welsh regulations
Understanding and resolving soil compaction issues to unlock grass growth
Making better use of nitrogen – not less, just smarter
Improving pasture utilisation and grazing efficiency

This event is open to anyone aiming to develop a more efficient grazing system. It is designed to help you prepare for future challenges by offering practical tools to boost productivity, improve efficiency, and strengthen your farm’s environmental resilience.

Use the contact details below for any enquiries for this event and click on the booking link to secure your place today.

Jamie McCoy, Senior Knowledge Exchange Manager – Dairy

Conwy: Optimising pasture performance for profit and sustainability

Fri, 23 May 2025 12:12:56 GMT

Join us with pasture consultant Andre Van Barneveld for an on-farm, forward-thinking event that will focus on optimising the grass you grow and use – not by simply growing more, but by getting more value and saving on cost from every hectare.

With regulatory limits on nutrient use in Wales, now is the time to focus on efficient pasture management that boosts productivity while enhancing environmental outcomes.

What to expect at this event

Topics this event will cover include:

Discussion on calving patterns – Exploring how the recent change in milk buyer may influence the host farm’s calving strategy, should a more level supply be considered instead of maintaining a spring block system?
Smarter nutrient management under Welsh regulations
Understanding and resolving soil compaction issues to unlock grass growth
Making better use of nitrogen – not less, just smarter
Improving pasture utilisation and grazing efficiency

Use the contact details below for any enquiries for this event and click on the booking link to secure your place.

Best-practice guide to outwintering

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 13:18:46 GMT

Best-practice guide to outwintering

Livestock Nutrition

Making grazing pay: Practical decisions from Moorhouse Hall Farm

Join us at Moorhouse Hall Farm, one of our Strategic Dairy Farms, for a practical, grazing-focused farm walk. You'll explore how grazing management, infrastructure and system decisions are shaping forage utilisation and milk from forage on a commercial dairy farm.

During the event, you'll learn about:

Shropshire: Healthy starts to entering the milking herd

Join us at Bentley Ford Farm for an informative event focused on optimising efficiency in dairy heifer rearing, helping ensure youngstock enter the milking herd ready to achieve their full potential.

We will cover

Speaker profiles

Ginny Sherwin

James Marsden

Flock foundations roadshow – Early decisions, lasting gains

Buitelaar calf rearing open day

Hear first-hand from the farm manager, the Buitelaar team, nutrition specialists and Oxbury Bank, who'll be offering insight into both technical and financial considerations of calf rearing.

Join us to:

Cheshire: From grass measurement to grazing decisions (part 2)

During this two-part series, you’ll learn how to measure grass accurately and use that information to improve grazing management.

Using grass data to allocate paddocks

Outcomes

Important information

Cheshire: From grass measurement to grazing decisions (part 1)

During this two-part series, you’ll learn how to measure grass accurately and use that information to improve grazing management.

Measuring grass with a plate meter

Outcomes

Important information

Cumbria: From field to feed barrier – Silage strategies for dairy success

Join us at Moorhouse Hall Farm for a practical, farmer-led workshop with Dave Davis, focusing on how getting silage-making right can help you better prepare for the season ahead.

In this workshop, we will look at:

Speaker profile

Gloucestershire: Setting up heifers for a profitable lifetime

Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together

Join us for “Grazing for growth: sheep and arable working together” at Bryce Mackellar’s farm in Stafford.

What the meeting will cover

Speakers

Session timings

Are there any points available?

Is the event free to attend?

Food available & time

Bedfordshire: Cover crop connections

Cover Crops – what are the benefits from both sides of the fence?

Whether you’re arable, livestock or mixed, come along to this event to:

Important information

Smart starts: Unlocking lifetime value from every calf

Join us for a practical, on-farm event exploring how to get the most from every calf, from birth to beef, as part of GB Calf Week in collaboration with the Farm Net Zero Project.

Talk stations include:

Why attend?

Record keeping and expert advice

How to monitor the performance of a dairy diet

Water management for dairy cows

Formulating dairy diets

Rationing essentials for dairy diets

The right system, the right life: Finding the right grazing and calving system

Ceredigion: Optimising pasture performance for profit and sustainability

Join us with pasture consultant Andre Van Barneveld for an on-farm, forward-thinking event that will focus on optimising the grass you grow and use – not by simply growing more, but by getting more value and saving on cost from every hectare.

What to expect at this event

Conwy: Optimising pasture performance for profit and sustainability

Join us with pasture consultant Andre Van Barneveld for an on-farm, forward-thinking event that will focus on optimising the grass you grow and use – not by simply growing more, but by getting more value and saving on cost from every hectare.

What to expect at this event

Best-practice guide to outwintering

Flock foundations roadshow – Early decisions, lasting gains