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Origination by Farmers Guardian, Unit 4, Fulwood Business Park, Caxton Road, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9NZ. Printed by Warners Midlands, The Maltings, Manor Lane, Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH. No responsibility can be accepted by Dairy Farmer for the opinions expressed by contributors.
the editor
Welcome to the rst issue of 2025 as we look ahead to this year’s rst major industry event – Dairy-Tech. Held once again at Stoneleigh Park, this year’s event aims to provide visiting farmers with an insight into the latest innovations on o er.
ese new products and technologies continue to be hugely important to the dairy sector, as the industry continues to face ongoing challenges around farm labour availability, the environment and the weather.
As well as this focus on technology, new to the event this year is the Down to Earth Hub,
which joins the well-established ‘Innovation’ and ‘Dairy’ hubs. is new area will drill down into the principles behind the regenerative farming approach, which is gaining traction from a number of farmers who already have, or are looking to, transition to these types of systems.
In this month’s edition we also have a special feature looking at maize. Although maize planting is some way o yet, we have asked the experts what farmers should be asking when choosing their varieties for 2025.
And nally, please take a look at page 66, where our recruitment expert provides the answers to some of the most-asked farm sta -related questions and concerns.
What’s inside?
Public pus methane-r
Concerns over the use of methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer has shown the importance of public approval in the industry’s net zero efforts, after Arla’s announcement it was trialling its use on 30 farms.
Following an announcement from the dairy co-operative, posts circulated online with worries about the safety of the additive.
An Arla spokesperson said Bovaer had already been extensively and safely used across Europe and at no point during the trial would there be any impact on the milk it produced.
The Food Standards Agency confirmed milk from cows given Bovaer as a feed additive to reduce methane emissions was safe to drink and had undergone rigorous testing.
As the concerns circulated online, many dairies were keen to distance themselves from the use of Bovaer and capitalise on anyone looking for alternatives.
Enquiries
Robert Graham, managing director of Graham’s Family Dairy, said he had received a large number of customer enquiries about Bovaer and had posted on social media to state that Graham’s farms
Meadow Foods profits reduced sale process
JMeadow Foods has reported a pre-tax profit of £20.6 million for the year ended March 31, 2024, down from £24.6m in 2023, on a turnover of £488m. Turnover fell from £588m in 2023.
The dairy business incurred non-recurring transactional costs associated with the successful sale process to Fairfax Financial Holdings during the year which has impacted profitability, reported as about £3.2m.
During the year ended March 31, 2024, turnover fell primarily as a result of volatility in like-for-like milk prices, the company’s principal raw material.
Meadow said its underlying business remained strong and volumes were stable.
Raj Tugnait, chief execeutive of Meadow Foods, said: “These strong results were achieved despite a continued challenging highinflation environment.
Dedication
“Fairfax Financial Holdings ownership gives Meadow a strong and long-term backer to realise Meadows’ plans. I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by teams across the business.
“These outcomes position us well to continue investing in new facilities, acquisitions [for example, Naked Foods] and product development, enabling us to grow sustainably and better serve our customers.”
hback on educing additive
Many dairies were keen to distance themselves from the use of Bovaer and capitalise on anyone looking for alternatives.
were not using it. He said this was not about giving an opinion.
He said: “Our job was to give customers the facts – we do not add it.”
Prof Elizabeth Magowan, past president of the British Society of Animal Science, said it was safe and had gone through all the safety mechanisms, but that scienti c rigour may not give the industry the social licence for acceptance in the UK.
She said the fallout from the
debate had ‘surprised’ her given the ‘rigour’ of research carried out and showed the importance of engaging with society.
Communication
Prof Magowan said: “ is has highlighted the need for the supply chain to be on the front foot of communication, with the fact that approved feed additives have passed thorough safety testing and are needed to maximise the reduction in
the carbon footprint of meat and milk.
“But society must decide then whether that it is something they nd acceptable or not.”
She said the messaging from the public could be considered confusing and con icting.
She said: “Society at large want low carbon, low methane milk. But when solutions are presented, to achieve those principles – there is massive pushback.”
Michael Oakes’ New Year Honour
JFormer NFU dairy board chair Michael Oakes has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours list for services to dairy farming.
Mr Oakes sat on the NFU Dairy Board for nearly 14 years, two as vice-chair and eight as chair, and was a driving force in bringing forward dairy contract legislation.
Mr Oakes made the difficult decision to quit milking in 2024, starting a new venture rearing beef cattle.
NFU dairy board chair Paul Tompkins said he had always gone ‘way above and beyond in his efforts to support the sector’.
Mr Tompkins said: “As chair of the NFU dairy board for eight years, Michael was a key driving force behind a number of high-profile issues, none more so than helping to get legislation laid in Parliament to ensure fair and transparent contracts for all UK dairy farmers.
“Michael also worked tirelessly on the Dairy Roadmap, helped set up the Dairy Export Taskforce, fought for support funding for dairy producers during Covid-19 and has always been instrumental in raising awareness of mental health throughout the farming industry.”
Agri-Kit Equipment
Farmers light up countryside as opposition to IHT continues
Farmers lit up the countryside on New Year’s Eve, with beacons shining across the country to show the re is still raging in the countryside.
Organised by those behind the London protest in November, farmers were encouraged to light res on December 31, as the industry looks to keep up pressure on the Government to make changes to its proposals on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief.
e NFU was also looking to keep momentum with its lobbying e orts, with a banner campaign to place signs in prominent locations on farms across the UK as a reminder to politicians and the public of the impact of the Autumn Budget.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw used his New Year’s message to re ect on the stark picture of the challenges from the past year, including ‘volatile input costs, commodity prices at record levels in some farming sectors and on the oor in others, a reduction in direct payments and one of the we est periods in decades’.
He said: “To cap a wretched year, we saw a Labour Government, which, a er 14 years in opposition, promised to reset its relations with
British farmers and deliver a muchneeded li to farmer con dence.
“Instead, it delivered an in ationary Budget and all but removed the tax reliefs for agriculture property and business property.
“In all my years in the industry I have never experienced the anger, despair and sense of betrayal following the Chancellor’s announcement to changes to Inheritance Tax which has long protected farming’s ability to pass on farm business to the next generation, thereby protecting food producing businesses and the nation’s food security.”
He added the ght was ‘far from over’.
He said: “Ultimately, this needs to be sorted out by the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves with a solution sought that will mitigate the extreme human impacts of this indefensible family farm tax policy on the current holders of those businesses, for whom, up until October 30, the best tax advice was to hold their farm until death. Rest assured, we will keep ghting to nd a solution.”
Governments not recognising
the ‘unintended consequences’ of the decisions they have made and will make going forward was outgoing NFU Scotland president Martin Kennedy’s biggest fear looking ahead to 2025.
Eternal optimist
However, Mr Kennedy said the ‘eternal optimist’ in him made him convinced the industry could get the UK Government to change their position in 2025. He said: “For as long as it takes, we will keep ghting this until we do get that change.”
Funding for new heat stress analysis tools
JGalebreaker and Smartbell have been awarded a second grant by the Digital Dairy Chain to deliver further research into the impact of heat stress on housed dairy herds in Cumbria and the South and West of Scotland.
e insight gained from this research will inform the development of innovative digital tools which will allow farmers to analyse the risk and impact of heat stress on-farm, with
the aim of improving animal welfare and productivity.
e latest grants, managed and awarded independently by the UK’s national innovation agency, Innovate UK, were part of a competitive funding round which has allocated £1 million to groundbreaking projects across the country.
Working in partnership with researchers from Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Galebreaker
and Smartbell will deliver the Analysis of Sco ish Housed Environments for Dairy project.
SRUC’s research ndings will be used to develop an app and a digital design tool which allows farmers to quickly analyse on-farm data and take appropriate action to minimise the impact of heat stress.
Galebreaker’s technical director Andrew Gardner believes the project’s on-farm data will lead to
be er building designs which are optimised for variable climate conditions and more resilient to future climate change.
He says: “With the average livestock building lasting more than 30 years, this project helps demonstrate how existing structures can be modi ed to deliver be er conditions which help housed animals thrive and how newbuilds can be designed to withstand future climate challenges.”
Beacons were lit across the countryside on New Year’s Eve to show that the fire was still raging in rural Britain.
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DAIRYTalk
Ifan Roberts
Ifan Roberts is a new entrant who is in the process of establishing a contract farming agreement milking 500 block calving cows alongside his business partners, with the aim of improving the land farmed and encouraging other people to participate in the industry.
“ I realised how fortunate I am to have such a great support network
As I look back, 2024 was a year of lots of change for me, my business and farming in general in more ways than one. e year began with helping to calve 900 cows in early spring at Houghton Lodge in Leicester. I then went along with my fellow Nu eld scholar cohort to our contemporary scholar’s conference in Brazil.
Following this I oversaw the rst six weeks of breeding at Houghton Lodge, before I embarked on an intense personal travel experience for my Nu eld scholarship which started in mid-June and saw me travel to New Zealand, China, Chile and the USA over an eight-week period. At the same time I was helping my business partners put together proposals for three Farm Business Tenancies, which we sadly did not reach the interview stage for.
I then spent six days at home to re-adjust before being asked to go and help at a farm which may have a joint venture opportunity, and since then have not looked back.
Ups and downs
Life is full of ups and downs and frustratingly just as I was ge ing to grips with the new farm a week a er taking over from the previous manager, I broke my ankle. Not ideal.
Two weeks a er this and due to time constraints
Last year included travel to New Zealand, China, Chile and the USA.
with bovine TB and the threat of bluetongue looming, myself and my business partners had to co-ordinate an on-farm herd dispersal of more than 300 cows to make room for my 280 cows that I acquired during my time at Houghton Lodge. It was around here that I realised how fortunate I am to have such a great support network, from the farm team to family to friends to business partners. Since then, we have added 90 in-calf heifers and 110 cows to the herd and they have se led into their new environment incredibly well.
We are now as a team looking ahead and are busy making preparations for the upcoming calving season, while also making changes to infrastructure to help the farm reach its full potential.
e support boot and crutches are long gone and I now also need to chip away at writing my Nu eld report.
Another thing I am excited about is the fact that we have employed and retained two very capable people on the farm. ey are always on time, positive minded and haven’t wasted any precious energy protesting about the job at hand.
ey are quickly becoming what makes this farm tick and are great examples of the type of people that new entrants to our fantastic industry could and should try to emulate.
Robert Reed
Farming 405 hectares (1,000 acres), a mix of tenanted and owned land at Gatcombe Farm, near Seaton, Devon, Robert Reed and his family milk 350 all-year-round calving Holstein cows via five robots and are achieving average yields of 12,000 litres.
“ I hope 2025 is the year that our Government realises that they need a farmer every single day to live and eat
As with all farmers, the weather is one of our biggest influences on nearly everything we do. Last year, we started first cut on April 18 and managed to do six cuts. On our light soils, 2024 has been an exceptional year for grass growth, the grass only started to give up once for a short period in June and silage quality and quantity have been very good.
We managed to drill some maize on April 24, not knowing if this was correct as the forecast was not great. We then finished drilling the rest on May 9.
With an extra five tonnes per acre and 10 days difference in harvest date, it really shows how important the drilling date is on our land. Managing to get a cover crop in after maize harvest this year was also trying.
Looking forward to 2025, apart from the out-of-control weather, for us labour is going to be a big challenge. We have lost a member of staff recently who is changing careers and, despite advertising for a replacement, we have had little reply.
In the past, we have taken on someone looking for a career change into farming, but with the minimum wage increasing again this spring, you need a lot of confidence to invest and train someone. Trying to find skilled staff gets harder and harder.
For one reason or another we are going to be short on dairy replacements for 2025. Therefore, it is likely we will need to purchase some extra heifer replacements.
Conscious
We are very conscious of TB when purchasing replacements and with BVD and Johne’s both challenging us at the moment, we need to work even closer with our vet to make sure we do not bring in any extra diseases.
We ended 2024 on a high when just before Christmas we sold 25 home-bred two-year-old Angus dairy steers at Sedgemoor, with one bunch making £1,925.
Looking ahead to this year, we do not want to see milk prices drop, as like many dairy farmers, we still want to make investments into the farm, in particular in our slurry storage and management.
It has taken us two-and-a-half years to achieve planning permission for a new slurry store. We went for a high-spec concrete store with a cover, thinking we would get a grant and this store would sort our storage requirements for many years to come.
We have already been turned down for one grant, and now not knowing if any grants will still be available, we might need to revisit the planning and apply for a simple earth bank lagoon. There is nothing wrong with this option, but I can see farmers having to put covers over the earth bank lagoons in the future to stop emissions, which is looking to be a big challenge.
I recently did a farm walk run by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, which was attended by a local environmental officer who explained that our area has very high phosphates in the rivers.
They now have satellites passing over every three days, with the data assessed using artificial intelligence, and the ability to zoom in to see the tractor treads in the field gateways. They can see all of this from the comfort of their offices.
I have recently stood down from the position of our local NFU branch chair. This has been very interesting for me and something way outside of my comfort zone.
With what is going on at the minute with Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, there will be a massive amount of NFU time spent with MPs informing them how much this will affect the farming industry.
I take my hat off to any farmer who gives up their time on numerous boards for the NFU. We owe them a lot.
When I was younger, for many years, my father always used to say ‘you will be alright, because everybody has to eat’. But with everything which is going on now, I do not think our current Government can see this.
I hope 2025 is the year that our Government realises that they need a farmer every single day to live and eat.
JANUARY 2025
The Harrison family milks 1,200 cows across three units with some of the milk made into ‘Sussex Charmer’ cheese in a collaborative enterprise. Wendy Short reports.
The three British Friesian/Holstein Friesian herds managed by the Harrison family are based within a threemile radius of Horsham in West Sussex, with the autumn block calving units all operating on the same system and producing a yield average of 6,500kg at 4.6% bu erfat and 3.6% protein.
e cows are divided into herds of 550, 450 and 250 head on the three units.
A British Friesian/Holstein breeding policy has been in place for the past decade, explains Charles Harrison, who is based at Pallinghurst Farm, Rudgwick.
He farms in partnership with his brother Neil and their three cousins – Tim, Mark and David Harrison. His uncles, Peter and Jonathan, have o cially retired, but are still actively involved in the business.
“We have tried several experiments with di erent breeds,” says Charles.
“In the late 1990s we went down
Simple system replicated on three Sussex dairy units
the Holstein route, but fertility fell below target and we switched to British Friesian bloodlines.
“ e Jersey was later introduced on a criss-cross programme and milk solids were successfully increased, although there was a penalty to pay on yields, as well as cull cow and calf value.”
Breeding
Charles says the current programme is ‘working well’.
He says: “Managing a large number of cows across three separate units means breeding a cow that will t the system, rather than designing a system to t the cow.”
e calving season runs from late August until late October and female sexed semen is used to produce 350 replacement heifers each year.
e lower end is put to male sexed Aberdeen-Angus or conventional British Blue semen, and the beef cross calves are sold at about 10 days old.
e youngstock groups are reared on two separate sites by dedicated sta members and heifers are calved at 24 months.
“We are using CowManager tags for heat detection to replace the previous system, where females were checked for bulling activity up to ve times a day,” he says.
“ e results have been pleasing, with 91% calving within the rst eight weeks. It focuses labour input and also means that we can o er sizeable groups of beef cross calves of a similar age to producers with batch rearing systems.
“Longevity is satisfactory at an average four or ve cows over a lifetime.”
Cows are fed on self-feed silage, which is made up of 50:50 grass and maize, with no purchased concentrate feed o ered.
Charles says: “Rapemeal and wheat are bought in for at-rate parlour feeding at an average cost of £240 per tonne, including delivery.
Charles Harrison
“ e mix is fed 50:50 with minerals in the winter months, changing to a 3:1 ratio of wheat and rapemeal towards the end of lactation. At grass, the cows are given 1kg of the blend to encourage them into the parlour and it is also fed to the youngstock.
“During the turnout period, the ration and paddock allocation are manipulated to supply an overall 17% protein diet.”
Conditions
e region receives an annual rainfall of about 850mm and the farms are on heavy Weald clay. Nevertheless, an early turnout can be achieved says Charles.
“ e maize grown close to the steadings is undersown with Italian ryegrass. It will be subject to a degree of soil structure damage, but the land will be worked again before going back into maize production. e youngstock graze on herbal leys, which we
Some 70,000kg of milk is turned into an annual 70 tonnes of the family’s own brand of ‘Sussex Charmer’ cheese.
believe help to prevent the risk of mineral de ciencies.”
Turnout traditionally runs from mid-March until late
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salt for maize and wholecrop
October and the herds calve outside. “ ere have been four consecutive wet springs followed by summer droughts, so it has been
di cult to manage the grazing pa ern,” says Charles.
“Turnout was delayed this past season, but the undersown grass
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came into its own and the cows were moved to the paddock grazing rotation in early April.
“ e weather also a ected silage-making and rst cut was delayed until the end of May, which reduced quality.”
e ca le housing received a major overhaul in the 1990s, and the 250-cow unit has recently been rebuilt, to bring the cubicle shed and parlour under one roof.
e 60-point rotary parlour for the 550-cow herd has been upgraded and a 24:48 parlour has been installed for the 450-cow herd.
“Another development is the
addition of roof covers for the silage pits,” says Charles.
“Self-feed silage feeding is cheap and e ective, but the downside was having to deal with the large volumes of dirty water generated.
“ e rainwater is collected before being ltered and UV-treated for the cow troughs and for wash down.”
Cheese production
Some 70,000kg of milk is turned into an annual 70 tonnes of the family’s own brand of ‘Sussex Charmer’ cheese, which has won a gold award at the National Cheese Awards on numerous occasions.
e product is sold online and to delicatessens, plus some of the large supermarkets, including Waitrose and Marks & Spencer. Surplus milk goes to Arla.
Charles says: “ e cheese is matured for 14-18 months and combines the creaminess of a mature farmhouse Cheddar with an Italian hard cheese.
“A er maturing for 14-18 months, it can be eaten in the same way as a standard Cheddar or grated over pasta like parmesan.”
e brand was launched in 2008, following a speci c request by a local cheesemaker for milk from the Harrison family’s cows.
He says: “He commented that cheese yields rose by about 10% when our milk was used for production. e Twineham Grange cheese factory was originally Italian owned, but our venture started in partnership with the manager, Rob Bookham. e business also makes bu er, and the products are marketed through our website.
“We have looked at adding other cheese varieties. However, like our dairy units, the goal is to keep it simple. Cheese production is a sideline, but it gives us a valuable insight into the retailer aspect of the supply chain.”
Supported by a dozen sta members, each family member is assigned a speci c role within the farm business and all operations are carried out in-house, with
Farm facts
rThe family started producing milk in 1952 when Charles Harrison’s grandfather Roger bought a dozen heifers rThe family business, which trades as R. Harrison and Sons, also includes a trading estate, where they run a cafe specialising in cheese on toast made with Sussex Charmer rThe farmland utilised by the dairy units covers 809 hectares (2,000 acres)
the exception of slurry and dirty water spreading.
Charles says: “We e ectively have one more sta member than is strictly needed and it has allowed one of the herdsmen to take on a more managerial role.
“ e rota is designed so that everyone can work a ve-day week, to promote sta retention, and it helps that we can provide accommodation on the estate. We have a very good team at present and our aim is for people to retire with us.
“Sustainability is another important issue, and solar panels have been installed on two of the dairies to supply a large proportion of the electricity. We have looked at the possibility of adding ba ery storage, but we are waiting until technological advances improve the reliability factor.”
Cows are fed on self-feed silage, which is made up of 50:50 grass and maize.
Female sexed semen is used to produce 350 replacement heifers each year.
HOW THE USE OF DATA IS INFLUENCING DECISION-MAKING TO HELP DRIVE PERFORMANCE AND PROFITS
More promising milk prices are providing some comfort to dairy producers after a challenging year.
Nevertheless, a focus on small adjustments, improved feed e ciencies and maximising the use of homegrown forages, will be key to help increase margins, while maintaining herd health and performance.
FEED INTELLIGENCE
Making use of on-farm data is key to tailoring strategies, and one crucial principle is to apply feed intelligence to understand the baseline of rations and make the most out of homegrown forages.
Near Infra-Red (NIR) spectroscopy services, for example, provide accurate predictions of the nutritional components of feedstu s, to help optimise diet formulation and ensure quality control.
Forage quality represents a key parameter to maximising profitability, and the use of NIR technology for on-farm silage analysis is vital throughout the season.
Changes in silage quality can be vast, across not only the cuts but clamps or bales. The best quality forage should be targeted at the animals with highest performance requirements.
Regular analysis will highlight initial quality along with potential losses during storage. Not only does this allow the ongoing ration to be amended, but can also give opportunities to improve future stocks, by addressing harvesting and storage issues.
MYCOTOXIN TESTING
Assessing forages and feeds for mycotoxins is another vital part of data analysis on farm. With mycotoxins being invisible to the eye, it is easier to proactively assess for their presence than having to react to their negative e ects on performance and recoup the additional costs of this.
These e ects vary depending on which mycotoxin is present but can act on a number of areas of animal health including reproduction, digestive tract issues and milk related issues.
The minimal cost of sending a sample of forage or TMR for testing, far outweighs the costs of reduced litres across the herd, missed conceptions, veterinary bills and in the worst-case scenario, dumping of the milk tank.
MILK RECORDING DATA
Milk recording is one of the most valuable decision-making tools available to dairy farmers, and the producer can draw key findings from this data.
The most obvious is the prevention of the spread of contagious mastitis. Detecting new infections early, and monitoring trends in somatic cell count (SCC) is possible with regular milk recording.
It is also possible to make key decisions for selective dry-cow therapy, providing farmers and vets with valuable information to make accurate decisions for the sustainable use of antibiotics.
Another crucial benefit is the ability to help review overall nutrient e ciency, while the monitoring of milk urea nitrogen (MUN) gives an understanding of how e ciently cows are digesting dietary protein, and can provide an indication of the potential cause of hoof health and fertility issues.
Milk recording also allows for the development of breeding strategy on farm, both in selecting the most profitable cows to breed the best replacements, but also in identifying herd KPIs for improvement, to be considered during bull selection.
Increasing the herd’s productivity and e ciency, can reduce the carbon footprint of every litre of milk.
EFFICIENCY AND PROFITABILITY
By making best use of on-farm data to drive decision-making, dairy producers can take advantage of various data streams to help support feed e ciencies, herd health and responsible production, while meeting contract requirements and yield and performance targets.
NDF Distribution Autumn 2023 v Autumn 2024
DAIRYMatters
‘How the Bovaer bother should bring us together on sustainability’
Dr Emma Gregson is the environment manager at Dairy UK. Here she talks about the importance of taking action to reduce methane emissions, and in particular discusses Bovaer.
Unless you have been hiding in a barn, by now you’ll be well aware of the furore caused by Arla’s Bovaer pilot announcement. Thankfully now we’re starting to see some calm, it’s a good time to reflect on why it’s so important we mitigate the impact of methane emissions and how we can best communicate such innovations to those in the industry, as well as outside.
Food production represents about one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, with onethird of this attributed to livestock and fisheries. Here in the UK, dairy accounts for 2.8% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The majority of these emissions happen at farm level and are mostly in the form of methane –released during enteric fermentation and manure management. Globally, 40% of methane emissions are from agriculture.
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global
warming potential 27 times greater than carbon dioxide over 100 years. It is, however, a short-lived gas that breaks down in the atmosphere within around 12 years.
Biogenic methane forms part of a natural cycle, breaking down into carbon dioxide (and water) that is taken up by grassland to be eaten by ruminants. A steady population of ruminants will therefore result in a constant concentration of methane within the atmosphere.
Long-lived gases
The impact of short-lived gases on global temperatures is therefore very different from the cumulative impact of long-lived gases. To prevent further climate change, net zero emissions of long-lived gases are required alongside steady or declining emissions of short-lived gases.
The dairy sector clearly does not have a license to continue releasing methane. The inescapable reality is that food production, of any kind, has a significant environmental impact, and for us to reach net zero, mitigations must be explored.
Reducing agricultural methane emissions is a key tool in reversing the damage done by nonbiogenic emissions. The nature of short-lived gases like methane means that a decrease in emissions will have a greater impact on climate change than an equivalent decrease in carbon dioxide emissions within the 21st century, and policymakers are acutely aware of this. The Global Methane Pledge, launched at COP26, is a commitment to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030.
Many dairy processors and their customers are signed up to the Science Based Targets initiative, with a commitment to 30% reduction of on-farm emissions by 2030. Through the Dairy Roadmap, the UK’s dairy sector has committed to limiting Dr
Emma Gregson
The
“ Innovations such as Bovaer are part of a toolkit that will help the sector to protect its legacy and build a sustainable future
global warming to 1.5degC, with zero contribution from the dairy sector by 2050.
In order to achieve these targets, a combination of actions throughout the dairy supply chain is necessary.
On-farm improvements to productivity; removing deforestation and land conversion from supply chains; renewable energy; improvements to slurry management; genetic selection and methane-reducing feed additives are all part of this combination.
As the old saying goes: a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on, and this appears to hold true with the events following Arla’s Bovaer pilot announcement.
As has already been said, but bears repeating: Bovaer has been around for 15 years, has been comprehensively studied, it is approved by all our relevant food safety authorities and is supported by Defra. It is a legitimate lever to use in mitigating emissions.
Understandably, farmers are worried which has in some cases resulted in knee-jerk reactions online. ere is a clear role for Government, regulatory bodies, processors and sector associations to reassure farmers and ensure decisions are based on science, rather than conspiracy theories and misinformation.
As an industry, we all need to come together and
support each other in making the decisions that are best for our own businesses in reaching net zero.
We also need to work together to provide a uni ed message to consumers about the safety and nutritional quality of our products, alongside positive communication about how the dairy sector is reducing emissions.
Social media storms
But all of us – as representatives of the industry and as citizens – have a duty to ensure that we are not swept up by social media storms, hearsay, misinformation or outright falsehoods.
It’s vital we have an enquiring mind and a healthy dose of scepticism when we see the sorts of posts we have seen over the past few weeks. We need to look to our regulatory bodies, our scientists and our colleagues for the facts of the ma er – and ourselves take steps to challenge misinformation where and when we see it.
Doing so is essential in protecting the reputation of our products, and the consumer. A er all, without consumer con dence, there’s no dairy industry full stop.
We truly have some of the best and most sustainable dairy products of anywhere in the world, and innovations such as Bovaer are part of a toolkit that will help the sector to protect its legacy and build a sustainable future.
inescapable reality is that food production has a significant environmental impact, and for us to reach net zero, mitigations must be explored, says Dr Emma Gregson.
Housing hygiene and routine footbathing both play an important role in preventing digital dermatitis infections on-farm. Katie Fallon reports.
Prevention key to managing digital dermatitis
Abacterial skin infection caused by a group of bacteria called treponemes found on the skin around the feet, digital dermatitis is a common cause of lameness among UK dairy ca le.
Passed from cow to cow through the environment, digital dermatitis can cause lesions on the foot, o en around the back of the heel, but can also a ect the skin between the toes at the front of the foot.
e prevalence of digital dermatitis across UK dairy farms is variable, which vet Will Gratwick, of LLM Farm Vets, says is largely dependent on environmental factors such as slurry management in housed conditions and footbathing routines.
Mr Gratwick says: “A lot of cows have treponemes on their
skin without being lame. Some have small, low-grade lesions and are a carrier of the disease.”
He says it is not just the presence of the bacteria on the skin which causes digital dermatitis, as the environment also has a role to play.
He says: “If the skin is wet and dirty then the treponemes are more likely to proliferate as they grow be er when they are not exposed to oxygen.”
Mr Gratwick says the development of digital dermatitis is also linked to a cow’s immune system, which is an emerging area of research.
He says: “Digital dermatitis can o en are up a er calving because the cow is under stress. Many heifers and dry cows will be infected but not lame, however a er calving it will are up due to the stress of calving and milk production. is is why
If you have a 200-litre footbath, you will need to change it after every 200 cows. But again it will depend on how dirty cows are WILL GRATWICK
it is important to include these animals in a footbathing programme.”
To identify and diagnose digital dermatitis, Mr Gratwick advises identifying lame cows and checking their feet to nd out exactly what the problem is.
He says: “You can also screen for it by examining cows’ feet in the parlour, but unless it is a severe case, it is quite di cult to see if the feet are dirty. You would need to wash and closely examine all feet to identify how many cows are infected.”
Scoring system
He says lesions are graded based on a scoring system called the M-score and can be anything from small lesions, which can heal completely, to large, active lesions or chronic lesions, which are up again in the future.
And while digital dermatitis is more curable than many other types of lameness, such as sole ulcers and white line disease, Mr Gratwick says for a lot of cows the infection will reoccur.
He says: “It might improve signi cantly, but more o en it will go to a mild chronic stage and reoccur, so prevention is important.”
He says: “Digital dermatitis will not normally tear through a herd like a disease outbreak.
“It waxes and wanes depending on the environment and footbathing routines, and how e ective farms are at spo ing and treating cases and managing stress.”
With many treatments available
An emerging area of research is looking at the links between a cow’s immune system and the development of digital dermatitis.
on the market, Mr Gratwick advises farmers to speak with their vet on how best to treat digital dermatitis in their herd. He says topical treatment of lesions is required, and antibiotic sprays are licensed and well tested. He says lesions need to be cleaned and dried before applying the antibiotic spray, with a second coat applied once dry.
He says: “ is is easily done in a foot crush, but can be done in the parlour and will need to be repeated for a couple of days until healed.”
Prevention is key in managing digital dermatitis, with footbathing particularly important in controlling the spread of infection.
He says: “ ink of it like mastitis. e footbath is the teat dip and the spray is the mastitis tube.
“You would not expect a cow with mastitis to be cured by pu ing teat dip on, but it is still really important for controlling mastitis. e same goes with the footbath, it will not cure digital dermatitis, but it will kill any bacteria on the skin.”
How o en cows need to be footbathed depends on herd size and the
environment, with dirtier environments o en resulting in more cases of digital dermatitis and, therefore, requiring more footbathing.
Mr Gratwick says: “ e key thing is that the footbath is e ective.
“It needs to be set up in a way that all four feet will be submerged in the bath and ideally 12cm deep to cover enough of the foot.”
He says it is also important for footbaths to be clean, with one cow per litre a general rule of thumb.
He says: “If you have a 200-litre footbath, you will need to change it a er every 200 cows. But again it will depend on how dirty cows are.”
Chemicals
He says using the right concentration of chemical in footbaths was also important and advised measuring the footbath’s dimensions and volume to work out the right percentage of chemical.
Mr Gratwick says: “Another really big thing is making it easy. How is the footbath drained and cleaned? Where is the chemical stored? If you have an easy system to drain it, clean
DO YOU REALLY KNOW HER?
it and re ll it at the right concentration, you are more likely to do it.”
If using automated footbaths, Mr Gratwick advises ensuring they are well maintained, calibrated properly and checked regularly.
Automated scrapers
Hygiene is also important for preventing digital dermatitis, with automated scrapers in sheds o en a risk factor due to waves of slurry going over cows’ feet.
Mr Gratwick advises keeping the housed environment clean and dry, with ventilation and drainage important to achieving this, areas which are o en overlooked.
Finally, Mr Gratwick says the role of genetics in preventing digital dermatitis is an ongoing area of research, with a genetic index now available to help select bulls with a lower risk of digital dermatitis in their daughters.
He says: “Exactly how it works is not yet fully understood, but it is likely to do with the immune system of the cow, making some cows more resistant to digital dermatitis.”
Rearing healthy calves requires precision and dedication – qualities that Lis and Matt Stephenson have honed over nearly a decade at their farm in Cumbria. Dairy Farmer reports.
Commitment to calf welfare drives success
Since taking on the tenancy of Winter Tarn Farm, Crosby Ravensworth, Cumbria, in 2015 as rst-generation farmers, Lis and Ma Stephenson have made strategic investments and worked through their share of trial and error to create an e cient, well-functioning dairy operation focused on cow and calf health.
Starting with just 70 cows, they have transformed the 405-hectare (1,000-acre) tenanted farm into a highly productive enterprise, now milking almost 900 Holstein cows year-round and supplying milk to Arla.
eir investments, made possible with support from Oxbury Bank and initially the Let’s Farm Foundation, span the entire farm, including new cubicle sheds, a covered collecting yard, a four million gallon slurry lagoon, a dedicated maternity and
hospital unit, and a state-of-the-art 54-point Waikato milking parlour.
However, one of their most signi cant recent undertakings has been in calf housing, which has been key to ensuring the future strength of their herd.
Today, the Stephensons operate three calf sheds: the rst built ve years ago, with two more recently completed, together providing space to house more than 200 calves at any one time.
Biosecurity
Designed speci cally for calf health and welfare, each building incorporates features such as open fronts, Yorkshire boarding on the sides and back for optimal ventilation, excellent drainage and at least ve square metres of space per calf. Space between each of the calf sheds further enhances biosecurity.
When upgrading their calf hous-
ing, they dedicated time to visiting farms across the UK and US, consulting experts and learning best practices for calf care.
Mrs Stephenson visited Wisconsin to see dairy farms, including one with 12,000 cows.
She says: “It was fascinating to see how they managed so many calves, especially in consistently cold weather.
“I took valuable insights from there, particularly the importance of fresh air and the use of calf jackets year-round and adapted these ideas to suit our own operation.”
All calves at Winter Tarn Farm now wear a calf jacket in the colder months from birth until they outgrow them at about ve to six weeks old.
“Calves are be er equipped to use their energy to grow and thrive when they do not have to channel their energy into keeping warm,” says Mrs Stephenson.
where they explained that if you were feeding a high-quality milk powder you could increase the amount fed.
“I tried this with the product I was using, and as soon as I did, the calves developed scours. at is when Lucy advised me to check the product ingredients and it turned out to contain vegetable proteins rather than milk proteins.”
Mrs Stephenson has since switched to feeding Carr’s Billington Vitality milk replacer – a 50% skimmed milk replacer. It is made with 100% dairy protein and digestible fats, optimising growth from day one.
Mrs Stephenson says the di erence when switching to Vitality was like ‘night and day’.
“Calves just performed be er; they had more shine and seemed more resilient,” she says.
All calves wear a calf jacket in the colder months from birth until they outgrow them at about five to six weeks old.
Mrs Stephenson also worked closely with Carr’s Billington youngstock specialist Lucy Shaw to help ne-tune youngstock management, admi ing it was trial and error in the early days, particularly with feeding.
“We have used a range of milk replacer products from di erent manufacturers over the years, with mixed results,” she adds.
“Lucy then took me to a talk on milk powders and energy levels,
“When calves were disbudded, they used to be subdued for a couple of days, but now they bounce back much faster.
“ e calves have a very playful nature which shows that their energy needs are being met, which I think also helps make them more resilient and stave o any bugs.”
Calves are fed either via a teated bucket or through one of two automatic milk-feeding machines, with each calf receiving up to nine litres
A dedicated calf kitchen maintains the highest cleanliness standards when preparing milk.
a day, and the teat bucket-reared calves receiving eight litres a day over two feeds.
For the teated bucket-reared calves, a Holm and Laue Milk Taxi is used to mix the milk powder to the correct consistency and temperature, ensuring calves receive the same product at each feeding.
Calf kitchen
ey also have a dedicated calf kitchen to maintain the highest cleanliness standards when preparing milk.
Dairy cross beef calves are fed using a teat bucket. e Stephensons want to encourage early growth when calves are most e cient at converting feed, thus maximising returns when sold through Carlisle auction at about 42 days old.
Calves receive four litres of tested colostrum within the rst hour of birth, with a vacuum line installed in the maternity pen to allow the cow to be milked immediately and provide high-quality colostrum to
Farm facts
r900 milking cows
rAll-year-round calving
rCalves weaned at 11-12 weeks and then moved to a dedicated heifer rearing facility on one of their other tenanted farms
rMilking three times a day, with cows yielding 14,000 litres and heifers 10,000 litres at 4.2% butterfat and 3.5% protein
the calf, and a bank of pasteurised colostrum is also available.
Dry cows are vaccinated with a Rotavec Corona vaccine to protect the calf from diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, coronavirus and e.coli, and calves are fed transition milk for three to four days post-calving before moving on to milk replacer to ensure this immunity is passed on to the calf.
Calves are also vaccinated for pneumonia at ve days, ve weeks and again at weaning at 10-11 weeks old.
Mrs Stephenson says that, as the future of the herd, giving calves the best start is crucial.
“If a calf has a health setback, they do not always catch up, which can make them more prone to bullying if they are smaller and can delay rst service and age at rst calving.
“We want calves to be t and thriving so they can perform well in the herd,” she adds.
Lis Stephenson and husband Matt designed the calf sheds after visiting farms around the UK and the US.
A low cost of production model is favoured by Sean Webster, who is aiming for high profits in a country determined to increase milk production. Chris McCullough reports.
Chasing lower yields and higher profits
Zimbabwe’s dairy industry is on a continual quest to increase its national production and reduce reliance of expensive imported milk powder that is draining the country’s nances. In order to achieve this, the Zimbabwean Government has been incentivising dairy farmers to increase their production by o ering help with education, genetics and a drive to encourage more young people into the sector.
Zimbabwe was once a net exporter of milk and dairy products, producing over 250 million litres of milk per year in the early 1990s.
rough a number of political disasters, including the land grabs by the former late president Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s dairy production fell drastically, but is now on a surge and o cials are hoping that the country can reach self-su ciency levels.
e country requires 131 million litres of milk each year to be self-sufcient and is on track to surpass that target by the end of 2025. During 2023 Zimbabwe produced 99.6 million litres and should hit production of 115 million litres in 2024.
Zimbabwe has a total dairy herd of around 60,500 animals, of which 39,800 are milking cows. However, it is the cost of production, elevated by high feed costs, erratic electricity supply and veterinary medicine costs, that thwarts a pro table dairy business there.
Low-cost model
One farmer that is trying to beat the system is Sean Webster who set up Mafuro Farming back in 2018, under a low-cost pasture-based model.
Sean was born in Zimbabwe and grew up on the family’s tobacco farm in Mvuruwi, north of Harare.
Just before the land grabs happened Sean’s father had sold the farm and leased land back, but the family, being white farmers, had to move to Harare when they were no longer welcome on agricultural land.
A er a period travelling around New Zealand, where he gained experience milking cows, Sean saw an opportunity to set up a dairy business back in Zimbabwe.
With the aid of the Zimbabwean government who leased land, and the backing of a number of banks, Mafuro Farming was born and is owned by Innscor Africa Limited, a major food producer in Zimbabwe.
Sean says: “We currently have 600 hectares under irrigation on two farms in Zimbabwe; one in Mashonaland and one in Midlands.
“Right now we have a total of 2,500 dairy ca le in our herd across the two farms. ere are 1,400 cows
milking with an average yield of 18 litres per cow per day throughout the year. Our bu erfat is 4.2% and protein is 3.2%.”
He adds he is looking to breed a Jersey Holstein cross with an average size of about 450kg.
“I am looking for a smaller framed, hardier animal that has the best feed conversion possible for our environment and business model.”
With the average cost of production in Zimbabwe hovering around
Mafuro Farming was established in 2018 to help produce a much needed milk supply for Zimbabwe.
Sean Webster has 45 staff working on the two dairy farms in Zimbabwe.
Sean Webster
Farm facts
rCows are yielding an average of 18 litres per cow per day at 4.2% butterfat and 3.2% protein
rMilk is sold to ProDairy for 60-65 US cents per litre (48-52ppl)
rHeifer calves are kept on the farms as replacements and bull calves are sold or given away to local villagers who need the meat in their diets
60 US cents per litre (48ppl), Sean’s low cost business model ensures he makes a pro t.
He says: “I am chasing lower yields with higher margins with our system. All our cows graze outdoors all-year-round, on pasture and are semi-free-range. Our elds at Mafuro consist of a blend of perennial pastures, cereals and legumes.
“ e cows are moved daily across pastures with the use of temporary
farms at Mafuro Farming.
electric fences. We can top up the grazing with a concentrate ration depending on season, high energy in winter and high protein in summer.”
Sean says the business employs 45 sta , excluding senior management and administration sta .
Sean has invested heavily in his two farms over the years, particularly in the milking machinery.
One farm uses a Waikato 30point swingover parlour system and
the other a Waikato 55-cow rotary system. Both use a milk management system by A Milk in Israel.
Sean has ambitious plans to expand his business into neighbouring countries that do not practice the low-cost feed model.
He says: “Our system is very competitive and gives us the opportunity to enter those markets. Costs of production are increasing worldwide but we have the business model
that can result in higher pro ts.
In Zimbabwe, the biggest problems we have currently are the inconsistent supply of power and energy as well as the lack of veterinary products, as most are imported and hard to come by.
“From a nancial side, money here is expensive to borrow and the terms are short, making it di cult to start up as dairy, which is usually a long-term investment.”
There are 1,400 milking cows across the two
Leeds sons dominate AHDB genomic rankings
Former top 10 sire, Denovo 20893 Harmony, has edged his way into the number one position in the new young Holstein sire ranking for Pro table Lifetime Index (£PLI), published by AHDB. He is one of ve sons of Denovo 2776 Leeds in the top 10, re ecting the heavy use of this high production and health bull as a sire of sons, and generally building on his sire’s milk quality and environmental credentials.
With a genomic PLI of £928, Harmony excels for production, with a Predicted Transmi ing Ability of 1,109kg milk, 57kg (0.13%) fat and 41.8kg (0.05%) protein, and has an outstanding FeedAdvantage of 300. is means his daughters are e cient converters of feed into
milk and are expected to consume, on average, 300kg less dry ma er in one lactation than daughters of a bull with a FeedAdvantage of zero. Calculated in part from the bull’s DNA and in part from his daughters’ expected smaller size than average (Maintenance Index is -29), this all contributes to their lower carbon footprint, expressed through the bull’s EnviroCow of 5.2 – the best of the Holstein breed.
New entrant
e new entrant in second place is T-Spruce Denovo Zest, a paternal half-brother of the number one sire. Zest transmits good udder health (-14 SCC, -1 Mastitis), a high Lameness Advantage (LA) of 2.8 and a PLI of £920. He also has the equal highest Type Merit of the top 20 bulls at 1.24.
Top 10 Holstein bulls with genomic indexes ranked on £PLI
Two further Leeds sons ll third and fourth position, the rst being the outstanding protein transmi er, Denovo 20723 Columbia, who has been edged down from his former number one position, now with a PLI of £902. And completing the quartet is fourth-ranking Denovo
20771 Segment, another strong production sire, whose PLI is £901. New in h position is Badger Siemers Day Trip (PLI £895), which transmits exceptional daughter lifespan (+180 days), great udder health (-2 Mastitis) and shorter than average gestation length (-3).
LS = Lifespan; FI = Fertility Index; Feed Adv = Feed Advantage; Env Cow = EnviroCow; TM = Type Merit.
Top Holsteins hard to beat when compared across breeds
JWith breeding choices complete in most autumn calving herds, attention is turning to herds calving next spring, who can look to the new Spring Calving Index (£SCI) ranking to make their breeding choices. Black and whites feature heavily in this across-breed ranking, as despite the penalty they may incur for size and
any inferiority in their milk quality compared with some other breeds, their high kg milk solids potential, alongside the improvements they have made in udder health and fertility, can be difficult for other breeds to match in an overall selection index when compared in a ranking across breeds.
As such, we see a leading Holstein sire, Bomaz Platt, taking
the lead, thanks to outstanding milk solids production, superb improvements to daughter cell counts, and good daughter fertility, combining to earn him an SCI of £653. Similar features see the dominance of the second and third placed bulls – notably including superb daughter fertility and mastitis resistance in secondplaced Progenesis Wimbledon (SCI
£644) and substantial reductions in cell counts from third placed Winstar Graziano (SCI £630).
Those who prefer to emphasise the Jersey in their tight block calving, grazing-based, spring calving herds, will find the high-flying VJ NR Hauggaard Nibali Nibiru also features in the top 10, with an SCI of £556.
Jared Haskel 3rd, dam of Denovo 20893 Harmony.
Kettle tops daughterproven Holstein rankings
Milk solids improver
Bomaz Ke le has climbed to the top of the daughter-proven Pro table Lifetime Index (£PLI) rankings. is son of De-Su 14222 Kenobi stands out for his combined fat and protein of 93.6kg, which is backed by +0.29% fat and +0.21% protein.
Now with 208 UK milking daughters and many more internationally, his £PLI has risen to £847. is move edges long-time leader Genosource Captain into second position, now with a £PLI of £799. Captain’s 1,274 UK daughters help earn him the accolade as the highest milk transmi er in the top 20, now with a Predicted Transmitting Ability of 1,235kg.
He combines this with a favourable Maintenance Index (-29) and a Type Merit of 2.08.
Westcoast River, an established bull at the top of the £PLI rankings, now ranks third (£PLI of £782) and remains one of the best health transmi ers of the breed.
Bomaz Pla is a new entry in fourth position, having graduated from the genomic young sire list with a £PLI of £779. He combines an impressive daughter Fertility Index of 13.5 with high milk solids (+0.29% fat, +0.16% protein).
Just one point behind, Hul-Stein Cowboy climbs into h place (£PLI £778) with strong udder health features (-28 SCC, -3 Mastitis).
Both Pla and Cowboy have favourable scores for maternal calving ease (1.5).
Moving from just outside the top 10 and into sixth place is Winstar Graziano (£PLI £762), a bull with high milk fat (+0.34%) and good daughter fertility (12.5).
Regaining his place in the top 10 is FB Kenobi Targaryen (£PLI £750), one of the best protein transmi ers of the breed at 41.2kg and o ering strong reductions in somatic cell count (SCC -30). ree years a er leading the £PLI ranking, Progenesis Wimble-
don now ranks in eighth position with exceptional milk quality gures (+0.32% fat, +0.23% ptn) and -3 Mastitis.
Also holding top 10 places are Denovo 14744 Gine a and Denovo 16219 Aladdin, with £PLIs of £723 and £722 respectively.
Source: AHDB Dairy. CBL= Cogent Breeding; GEN = Genus ABS; SMX = Semex. £PLI = Profitable Lifetime Index; SCC = Somatic Cell Count; LS = Lifespan; FI = Fertility Index; Feed Adv = Feed Advantage; Env Cow = EnviroCow; TM = Type Merit.
Stability through the other dairy breed rankings
rJersey: The new Jersey Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) ranking represents something of a reshuffle, with all former top 10 bulls remaining in the top 12, making way for just two newcomers high on the AHDB-published list. Moving up to take control is VJ Kibsgaard Jocko Jojo, with a £PLI of £477
reflecting good production figures (418kg milk and 38.5kg fat plus protein) alongside a favourable Mastitis Index of -2.
rAyrshire: Similar stability in the Ayrshire ranking sees all five of the top bulls retaining exactly their previous positions. Holding on at number one is Tontine Astorwell, a UK-bred bull with
extreme production figures (809kg milk), good udder health (-15 SCC) and a £PLI of £532.
rFriesian: A similar stability exists in the Friesian £PLI ranking, with Bloemplaat Hoeve Ewoud retaining its lead (£PLI £300) and continuing to stand out for high protein (11.7kg) and good somatic cell count (SCC -10).
rYoung Friesians: The Friesian £PLI ranking for young genomic sires shows a similar stability, with just a minor re-ranking among the top five bulls. Former number four, Wyevalley Veritas, rises to the lead, continuing to show excellent health traits (HealthyCow £163) and earning a £PLI of £323.
Top 10 daughter-proven Holstein bulls ranked on £PLI
Bomaz Kenobi 8823, paternal sister to Bomaz Kettle.
Healthy Progress: New Data Highlights the Impact of AHV Herd Health Plans
In a competitive industry where every cow’s productivity matters, AHV’s proactive, data-driven, approach is proving to be a game-changer for dairy farmers committed to smarter, more sustainable practices.
The latest report documenting progress on farms following AHV’s Herd Health Plan strategy reveals strong results: healthier cows with significantly improved fertility, better udder health, and reduced need for antibiotic treatments.
Quantifying Performance: Data Collection and Analysis
AHV collected data from farms that had been on Longevity and Udder Health Plans for at least 6 to 12 months, including all farms with data available (14 farms with fertility data, 20 farms with SCC data and 12 farms with udder health data, including 2,774 cows. Each farm was benchmarked against its own historical performance (e.g. the same period of the year preceding the health plan).
While other management factors may co-influence data trends, consistency of trends witnessed across
a wide array of farms is informative and would strongly suggest an ‘AHV Health Plan effect’. Trends were tested for statistical significance across all available farms using appropriate statistical tests (e.g. non-parametric Friedman tests and linear regression models).
Key Results: Significant Improvements
Enhanced Fertility
• Conception Rates: Improved by an average of 12% (95%CI 8.7-15.4) across all 14 farms- see Table 1 (p = 0.001).
• Days Open: Reduced by 14.7 days (95%CI 10.718.7), meaning cows are getting pregnant faster and productivity is rising- see Table 1 (p = 0.0002).
Better Udder Health
• The 20-farm dataset showed an overall significant reduction in the percentage of cows with SCC > 200,000 cells/ ml (p < 0.0001) with a 50% reduction in cows with SCC > 200,000 cells/ml within the first seven months, stabilising at this lower level as shown in Figure 1.
• Because animals are
Table 1. Conception rates (1st service) and average number of open days for 14 farms calculated over the ≥ 6-12 months during which they were on an AHV Longevity HHP and compared to the same time frame before the HHP commenced (n = 2774 cows).
healthier, clinical mastitis cases per 100 cows per year decreased by 42% on average (95%CI 27-69%), with 11 out of 12 farms reporting fewer infections.
Reduced Antibiotic Use
• At the same time as mastitis rates dropping, the amount of antibiotic treatment dispensed to cows for mastitis declined by an impressive 62% (95%CI 46-91%). This reduction is directly attributed to improved animal health, resulting in fewer infections, and the effectiveness of AHV’s natural, quorum-sensing science-based solutions.
What These Trends Mean for Your Farm
The data speaks for itself: AHV Health Plans are highly likely to keep your cows in the herd for longer while clearing out the sick pen.
In today’s dairy industry, improving sustainability and reducing the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are increasingly emphasised and enforced through milk contracts. The future of dairy depends on preventative animal health solutions that reduce reliance on antibiotics.
AHV Health Plans provide a clear route to achieving these goals, ensuring that your farm becomes not only more profitable but also resilient, responsible, and aligned with the evolving standards of the industry.
Ready to maximise your herd’s potential and keep your cows healthier for longer? Contact our team today at 01769 772070 or visit ahvint.com/en to get started!
Fig 1: Average percentage of cows in the herd > 200,000 cells/ml on 20 HHP farms. Error bars represent 95% Confidence Limits.
ROBOTICS
A switch from parlour milking to robots in 2021 has led to improved grassland management and herd health for dairy farmer Mike Noonan. Dairy Farmer reports.
The Knockaunlour Farm Partnership is based north of Cork and milks 65 cows through one DeLaval VMS robot.
e 21.8-hectare (54-acre) farm is managed by Mike Noonan and his wife Margaret, who are the third generation and farm in partnership with Mrs Noonan’s parents.
e old 10-unit parlour has been removed to make way for calving pens, and the robot was installed in an existing building along with an intricate series of permission gates which enable the farm to operate an A, B, C grazing system.
Mr Noonan says: “When we milked through the parlour, cows would graze for 12-hour periods day and night.
“ is has been reduced to eight hours, which is helping us to manage our grass paddocks more e ciently and make more milk from forage.”
e A, B, C grazing system sees cows moved around three paddocks throughout the day.
Robotic milking drives whole farm efficiencies
To reach B, the cows come through permission gates and visit the robot when permission is granted.
Milking is is repeated for the cows to visit paddock C and some cows will be milked two or more times a day depending on yield.
Mr Noonan says: “It has been a challenging year for grass. Temperatures have been low, so grass has been slow.
“ is led us to bring the cows back to the shed to be bu er fed on zero-grazed grass in summer, but the herd is also able to graze
C paddocks when there is su cient good quality grass.”
Mr Noonan says that when grass is good, the herd will take 40% of their grass intake from paddock A, 40% from B and 20% from C.
He says: “ e ideal is to see the cows grazing a grass cover of
rYields average 5,500 litres per cow per year rButterfat 4.31% rProtein 3.51%
rSomatic cell count of 80
1,300-1,400kg/ha. When grass is too strong, we take it as baled silage because leaving the cows to graze strong covers makes them stay out too long, which has an adverse e ect on grass regrowth for the next rotation.”
At some points in the season, he also changes C grazing to
rKnockaunlour Farm Partnership
Surplus grass is baled and fed during winter.
ROBOTICS
zero-grazed grass, which is fed out in the shed.
He says: “ e zero grazer is handy to have, but I do not want to use it too much because of cost and time. Being able to bring fresh grass to cows and protect the grass leys when it is wet is a big help and it also keeps yields up when grazing is more di cult.”
Focusing on milk solids to
drive milk e ciency has made best use of the A, B, C grazing system and the robots. e farm’s milk solids have risen from 3.3% to 3.48% and yield per cow per year is up to 5,500 litres.
Mr Noonan says: “Our 54 acres is split into 25 paddocks, with 22 assigned to A, 20 to B and 12 acres to C. It has been a period of adjustment, but the damage has been signi cantly
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Milk solids have risen from 3.3% to 3.48% since moving to robot milking.
Mike Noonan farms 21.8 hectares (54 acres) north of Cork.
ROBOTICS
reduced and the additional fencing, while time-consuming to install, is much quicker than the time it took to milk the herd in the parlour.”
It would take him more than an hour twice a day to milk the herd through the old parlour. is time has been used to improve the grass leys, put up the fences needed to implement the A, B, C system and take on more grassland management.
He says: “We have our own baler now and because we only feed out baled silage it has really helped us manage the land and improve silage quality. Not relying on contractors is also a cost saving and has enabled us to bale when grass is as its best.”
He says that changes to the system have not been implemented to grow the herd, but instead consolidate the system and make it more e cient.
He says: “ e shi to robots and the new grazing system has been made to make the farm more manageable. Our daughter is not likely to take the farm on, so we have built a system which
could potentially be taken on by a tenant in the future.”
DeLaval’s DelPro system provides him with data which the previous parlour was unable to o er. is has helped to manage the ration, spot mastitis cases earlier and react
to other cow health concerns faster. He says: “I do not want to overthink things by using the technology too much, but it is useful to help guide our decision-making.
“With the parlour, we fed a at ration to the whole herd,
but the robot’s feed to yield has helped us to save on concentrate and also dry cows o quicker.”
A simple red, amber, green signalling system indicates incomplete milkings and cow health concerns.
He says: “We can spot if high-yielding cows are showing early signs of mastitis, and our somatic cell counts have come down to just 80.
Mastitis
“We are reacting to mastitis cases at least two days earlier, which is saving time and money. I can treat some cases with udder mint, or we can use a tube if it looks worse.”
Above all, the quality and pace of life has changed since introducing the robot.
Mr Noonan says: “I live six miles from the farm, so would have to be up at 5.30am and would not nish until 7pm seven days a week.
“I now have more time to make other farm tasks, such as slurry application and baling, possible, which is saving money and enabling us to live a more manageable life.”
The A, B, C grazing system sees cows moved around three paddocks throughout the day.
The farm’s 65 cows are milked through one DeLaval VMS robot.
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MAIZE
Last year was a tricky year for maize, and as thoughts will soon be turning to 2025 crops, we have spoken to experts to get advice on variety selection, how best to establish the crop, and the viability of crimped maize.
Drilling and harvesting about 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of maize every year, in addition to their own 100ha (250 acres) of production, has given Warwickshire contractors and growers Trive and Sons of Boultbees Farm, Atherstone, valuable insight into how to get the best out of the crop.
Cu ing 1,600ha (4,000 acres) of silage each year and processing caustic-treated wheat alongside their maize operation means their business success is very much dependent on the production of high-quality feed and forage for dairy cows, says Alistair Trive .
“It is ironic that although we no longer have dairy cows of our own, a large part our business’ success is still very much reliant on the quality of feed and forage we produce,” he says.
“It just happens to be for other people’s herds now rather than our own, but dairy farming remains very much at the heart of our operation.
“Each year we produce about 3,500 tonnes of maize silage which is marketed through Feedstock Supplies and ends up on dairy farms across the UK, with eight to 10 articulated lorry loads of silage leaving the farm each week.”
Like an increasing number of arable-based farming businesses, maize plays an important role in the rotation at Boultbees Farm, says Mr Trive .
“Maize is a great break crop and an important ally in controlling weeds in our predominantly cereals-based rotation. In any year, we are probably farming about 450500ha of combinable crops,” he says.
“Cu ing back on oilseed rape as a result of ea beetle problems has also produced more room for the maize.”
e maize usually ts in behind a second wheat, with one of the key lessons learned in recent years being
With maize increasingly being grown in arable-based businesses, best practice for achieving the highest yields and feeding quality is no longer the sole preserve of milk producers. Dairy Farmer reports.
Arable-based approach to maize production
the importance of matching cultivations to soil type, says Mr Trive .
“ e land is usually le as winter stubble a er the wheat and can range from clay through to medium loam and on to very sandy conditions, so we tend to winter plough on the heavier land and direct drill on the lighter soils, but it does depend on conditions,” he says.
“Farmyard manure [FYM] is applied in the spring and then worked in with a Sumo Trio before digestate is applied, and we [then] use the Sumo again. Maize is a hungry crop so we try and feed it as much as possible.
“Typically, the maize gets 40 tonnes per hectare of FYM, 30cu.m/ha of digestate and 95kg/ha of Diammonium Phosphate down the spout at drilling. We also apply about 160kg/ha of urea to make sure the crop has enough nitrogen.”
Variety choice
Variety choice is crucial too, he believes, with the farm’s location 122 metres (400 feet) above sea level, meaning they tend to use slightly earlier varieties than their central location might suggest.
“ES Myrdal from Grainseed was the star in 2024 despite the very
wet and cold conditions, and it also performed really well in the much warmer and drier conditions of 2022,” says Mr Trive .
“ at is really reassuring in terms of its resilience and ability to deliver high yields across the wide range of growing conditions we now seem to experience.”
Last year, the variety’s yield peaked at 72.5t/ha (29t/acre) with an average of 56.25t/ha (22.5t/ acre) against a ve-year average for all varieties of 40t/ha (16t/acre), he says.
He adds: “We drilled it at 110,000 seeds/ha on May 3 and it went on to
Maize plays an important role in the rotation for contractors and growers Trivetts and Sons, based at Boultbees Farm, Atherstone.
produce exceptionally large plants with big cobs, and the crop was harvested on October 3 at a dry matter [DM] of 29-33%.
“We probably could have left it for another week or so and got it to our target 33-36% DM, but that earliness is really valuable when you want to get a wheat crop in behind it.
“In the clamp, it had an analysis of 30.1% starch and 11.7 ME, so it has got the quality as well as the yield we look for, which means it is probably going to become our mainstay variety over the next few years.”
Earliness
Emily Pick of Grainseed says growers are increasingly looking to varieties that combine earliness with high yield potential and feeding quality.
She says: “If you look at weather trends over the last 30 years, we see more maize heat units each year, but we are also seeing a lot more variability of conditions within individual seasons, which
can check the maize at key times in its growth cycle.
“Resilience, therefore, becomes more important than outright yield, and this is a characteristic associated with early and ultra-early varieties rather than the later-maturing maize types.
“While earlier varieties were seen historically as choices for only the more marginal areas of the country, they now have an increasing role to play in maize production across the UK, precisely because of the climate changes we are seeing.
“So, a variety like ES Myrdal, which is a large-cobbed group 8 maize variety, combines the best of both worlds by having high yield and excellent disease resistance, but with greater resilience than a later maturing variety.
“Areas of the UK in more northerly or exposed areas should go for varieties in maturity groups 10 to 12, such as Faith, and still get the same benefits of high yield and reliable maturity.”
VISTA PRE-T
”SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED MILK PRODUCTION AND COMPONENTS” *
WHAT DOES VISTA PRE-T DO?
Increases forage digestibility allowing for greater feed utilisation and nutrient release.
HOW IT WORKS
Vista Pre-T is a forage pre-treatment applied into the feed wagon.
+ Pre-T disrupts the fibre surface in forage leading to the formation of holes or pits.
+ This creates increased adhesion sites for fibre digesters in rumen.
+ Which speeds up rumen fermentation and increases forage digestibility.
+ Results in increased performance & feed efficiency.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
By increasing digestibility and energy potential of the ration, farmers have the flexibility to push for extra performance, or reduce feed costs by relying on energy from home-grown forage. By maximising feed efficiency, farm sustainability and profitability are optimised.
* Effect of Vista
I would rather spend the money and effort on getting clamp management as good as we can
ALISTAIR TRIVETT
Mr Trivett believes how you go about ensiling maize is another overlooked area of the crop’s management and admits to not being a keen advocate of silage additives.
Silage clamp
He says: “I would rather spend the money and effort on getting the clamp management as good as we can. So, we will probably put an extra tractor on at the clamp than strictly necessary and make sure we are using good sheeting and enough of it.
“We always use a side sheet and
this year are using a good-quality, high-oxygen barrier in the shape of Silostop Max, which is then weighted down with green secure cover nets, which are also weighed down by tyres as our clamp is quite exposed to the wind.
“All in all, you have got to get as many areas working in your favour possible and there is absolutely no point in putting all the effort into choosing the right variety and being careful with your management if you are then going to accept 10-15% wastage in the clamp.”
WHERE A FUTURE FARMERS THRIVE
“With increased stocks from the improved harvest with Dignity maize, we’re in a much better position!”
Robert Symms, Dorset
Crimped mai boosting star
Crimped maize is a nutritious addition to total mixed rations and can be made by setting aside part of the forage crop. Dairy Farmer reports.
Forage maize and grass silage yields and quality have been variable over the past few seasons, and some growers have made late-season decisions to set aside some of their crop for crimped maize production. Andrew Cook, of seed breeder KWS, says while it may not suit all farm situations, units with lighter soils and the potential for an early harvest may nd it useful for boosting ration starch content.
“Many producers are focusing on home-grown ration ingredients to reduce their reliance on purchased feeds,” says Mr Cook.
“Crimped maize is widely used in countries like the Netherlands, France and Denmark, and it is produced on a number of UK dairy holdings, yielding nine to 12 tonnes/hectare of fresh grain.
“As long as the correct preparations are made, producers will have the option later on in the growing season to turn a percentage of their forage maize into crimped maize, if they wish. It is particularly appropriate in years when grass and/or maize quality is predicted to fall short of expectations.”
Andrew Cook
Maize silage is widely recognised for its contribution to rumen health and yield productivity, but it is far exceeded by crimped maize in terms of nutritional analysis, says Mr Cook. An average load will contain 65-70% dry ma er (DM), with a starch content of 70% or more and an average ME of 14.5 MJ/kg/DM. e grain is threshed from the cob, leaving the stover and stubble behind. It is later crimped on-farm, breaking open the grains to expose the endosperm and enhance digestibility.
Crimped grain contains bypass starch at roughly 25-30%, ranking it above maize silage and wholecrop cereals.
Rumen-friendly
“Crimped maize is very rumenfriendly, balancing rumen pH and posing a lower risk of acidosis when compared with the more rapidly digested barley and wheat starch. Its bypass starch is digested in the small and large intestines, reducing rumen load,” adds Mr Cook.
“As it requires a specialist header as an add-on to a standard combine harvester, producers will need to check for machinery availability on the area. However, contractors in the appropriate regions have responded to demand by gearing up with the necessary kit.”
e key to making successful crimped maize lies in selecting the right location and variety.
Mr Cook says: “Lighter soils in elds which quickly reach optimum sowing temperatures in spring are favoured for crimped maize.
“Heavy soils are less suitable, and
ze useful for ch content
consideration should also be given to the farm’s typical maize harvest date, as the crimped maize will be taken a few weeks a er the silage maize. It is di cult to pinpoint the exact timing for crimped maize harvesting, as a lot will depend on individual farm situations.
“Early varieties will t the bill, as they have been bred speci cally for their ability to reach maturity in as li le as 130 days, compared with mainstream varieties which can take up to 160 days. Low brackling and lodging scores will aid with ease of harvest.”
He points to a seed rate of 90,000 seeds per ha if growers are planning to make crimped maize or would like the exibility of being able to turn some of their forage maize into crimped grain a er planting. It will suit both end uses without compromising forage maize yields.
e high DM content of crimped maize means that it comes with no associated drying costs and no requirement for handling e uent, says Mr Cook. e feedstu should be
An average load of crimped maize will contain 65-70% dry matter with a starch content of 70% or more.
well consolidated to prevent aerobic spoilage, and he suggests the use of an additive to improve fermentation and increase aerobic stability.
KWS has a range of multi-purpose hybrid maize varieties which are suitable for both silage and crimped maize.
“ ey have been extensively tested for crimped maize production to ensure they score highly for standing power and grain yield as well as threshability, which is a relevant trait when it comes to harvesting,” says Mr Cook.
KWS Marcopolo
Emma Dennis, of Procam, recommends the dual-purpose variety KWS Marcopolo to clients looking to make both forage and crimped maize.
She says: “KWS Marcopolo has an FAO, or maturity rating, of 190, so it falls into the category of early/maincrop varieties. As a forage crop, it has a yield average of 19.9 t/ha DM and a starch content of 31.8%. It also has a proven track record for good-quality crimped maize production.”
Wayne Bean, Newcastle upon Tyne
MAIZE
With almost 70 varieties on the NIAB UK Descriptive List for forage maize and many new unlisted varieties in trials, selecting the right maize variety can be tricky. Dairy Farmer reports.
Maize is still the top performing forage crop with signicant potential for market growth under the Sustainable Farming Incentive, says Hutchinsons agronomist Jim Clark.
Mr Clark, who has been working with maize growers in Cumbria and South-West Scotland for 15 years, says he also believes maize is still the key break crop for wheat, due to its ability to achieve higher gross margins than most other crops.
However, he adds that when it comes to selecting the right variety, the path is not always a clear one.
He says: “Maize does not travel well, so what you o en nd is that varieties that performed well in one region of the UK do not necessarily replicate that performance elsewhere due to di erences in weather and soil types.
Improved
“ e agronomic standard of maize varieties has also improved tremendously during the past 10 years and, while that is a positive, it also makes variety choice more di cult given there is now a bigger talent pool for growers to consider.”
He adds that when he began regional maize trials some 20 years ago, 30 to 40 varieties would be trialled, from which possibly six to eight varieties would perform well and go on to be recommended for on-farm trials with customers.
Now, he says it is important to look far more closely at yearon-year consistency, separating
I can see a future trend towards earlier maturing, dualuse varieties
JIM CLARK
Navigating the maize maze
the very good varieties from the good ones by extending regional trials over two years before recommending a new variety to farmers.
He says: “Following some challenging growing conditions for maize in recent years where a lack of summer sunshine has o en resulted in the FAO maturity date of many maize crops stalling, many growers are once again facing di cult late-season harvesting conditions.
“Given these weather pa erns could become the ‘new normal’ I would certainly advise growers to look at earlier maturing varieties for 2025, given the potential weather problems when harvesting later-maturing varieties.
“I can also see a future trend towards earlier-maturing, dual-use varieties and predict that many maize growers may even trade o
a small percentage of yield in order to li their crops two to three weeks earlier, if adverse harvest conditions continue to persist in the future.”
When weighing up the key statistics on the Descriptive List, Mr Clark says he also advises growers to look at both starch content and dry ma er yield rather than focusing solely on fresh-weight yield.
Usage
And he says other key considerations should be usage (grain, biogas or feed) and what is intended to be sown a er the maize (wheat, a cover crop or something else).
He adds: “If you are intending to grow maize on rented land, then you must soil sample before planting and get the nutrition strategy right from the get-go. Ultimately, it is all about what suits your farming
system best and managing expectations.
“With results in from this year’s HLH maize trials, it is worth highlighting the new maize variety Hagrid, marketed in the UK by independent seed breeder Elsoms Seeds. High-yielding, with an excellent DM percentage, it de nitely looks one to watch.”
Supporting Mr Clark’s views on the complexity of varietal choice in the UK maize market, Daniel O , product manager maize international for German breeder Saaten Union, sees the strong historical link between successful maize varieties bred in Germany that then prove well-adapted to UK conditions, as a good starting point when selecting the right variety.
He says: “Saaten Union has a trials network of more than 70 locations, including three in the
Jim Clark advises farmers to think carefully about which variety of maize best suits their system and soil conditions.
We trial in locations where we can expect stressful conditions. For example, on very light and sandy soils
DANIEL OTT
UK, across 16 countries with more than 6,000 trial plots, so we know we have the right tools to breed varieties that can thrive in UK soils and climatic conditions.
“We also deliberately trial in locations where we can expect stressful conditions. For example, on very light and sandy soils, cold, heavy soils and in sites with li le annual rainfall, to test drought stress during owering. Having
access to a large, diverse range of new varieties, we are then able to tailor these varieties to speci c end use markets such as energy maize, silage or grain.
“While the number of the varieties on the UK Descriptive List is signi cant, in Germany we have 252 silage and 184 grain varieties along with many other EU-registered varieties available to growers, so the decision-making process is
just as, if not more, complex from a numbers perspective.”
And, Mr O says, for UK growers, usage, FAO maturity dates and yield are still key factors supported by an understanding that the UK climate may mean later harvest dates now becoming the new normal with growers leaning towards the use of earlier-maturing varieties.
Mr O says: “Having experi-
enced a lot of success in the UK with SU Neutrino, a high-yielding biogas variety, we have now successfully launched SU Addition, a multi-use earlier-maturing variety that produces high-energy, highly digestible quality silage for feeding, biogas and corn-cob mix.
“It is UK registered, available to farmers for the 2025 season and is speci cally bred to perform consistently in UK conditions.”
Maturity dates and yield are key factors for farmers to consider with maize.
DAIRY-TECH PREVIEW
Dairy-Tech returns once again to Stoneleigh Park where visitors will be able to view new innovations, concepts and products. Dairy Farmer looks ahead to this year’s event.
New Down to Earth Hub at Dairy-Tech 2025
This year, DairyTech will see the launch of the Down to Earth Hub, a new speaker area, focused on sustainability, looking at the concepts which can be implemented on farm to ensure farmers are in line with future industry legislation when it comes to reducing
our carbon footprint. e hub, sponsored by Kingshay, will house four sessions; carbon, soil, biology and plants, all of which will be presented as dynamic panel sessions.
e decision behind the new hub continues to ensure the event is meeting the needs of modern dairy professionals,
regardless of their system size or type, by providing exposure to a whole range of ideas, concepts and new thinking aimed at maximising business e ciency and productivity.
Dairy and Innovation Hubs is year will see the Dairy Hub theme focusing on
future-proo ng and cost of compliance, with sessions looking at perspectives when it comes to lending, politics and Catchment Sensitive Farming. ere will also be panel debates from Kite Consulting and AHDB looking at future compliance and how your levy is being spent when it comes to this.
This year’s Dairy-Tech event promises to be even bigger and better, with a new Down to Earth hub added to the schedule.
Dairy-Tech
rWhen: February 5, 2025
rWhere: Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, CV8 2LG
rTickets: All visitor tickets booked in advance are sold at a discounted rate of £20, with free tickets, and further concessions, for RABDF and Women in Dairy members; tickets purchased on the gate are £25.
rDetails: dairy-tech.uk, or office@rabdf.co.uk
e Innovation Hub’s line-up of speakers will cover topics such as data and how it should be used to inform wise business decisions; how we are making progress when it comes to dairy cow lameness; practical use of genomics in breeding and the bene ts of using blood and milk analysis for early pregnancy diagnosis; labour solutions
and what can be implemented to alleviate the pressures around sta shortages.
e hub will conclude with a session on the role of microorganisms in dairy, uncovering the truth behind them and addressing whether additives are money well spent.
Hall 3 will also house a training area, where training provider LANT will cover topics on cow signals, mobility scoring and health and safety on farms. Dairy-Tech is set to be one of the most
Think Hygiene, Think Progiene
e event will host a portfolio of new product launches with a wide variety of products, services and concepts being showcased.
Healthy Feet Zone
As lameness continues to lead as a priority within Defra, and its Animal Health and Welfare
Pathway, the Healthy Feet Zone will return, this year it will be led by EkoHoofcare and NACFT.
l
l
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New products to be unveiled at Dairy-Tech
There will be a number of new products on show at this year’s Dairy-Tech. Hannah Morgan takes a look at a selection of these innovations.
Liquid probiotics and postbiotics to support gut health in cattle
JA new range of liquid probiotics and postbiotics for calves is being launched by microbiology company Precision Microbes. Unlike traditional probiotics, Precision Microbes delivers live beneficial bacteria in a liquid formula, combined
with postbiotics, which are bioactive compounds produced during fermentation.
Bolus technology provides insights
The liquid format is designed to be highly palatable as well as easily absorbed postconsumption, and the product aims to deliver immediate and long-lasting support for gut health, boosting immunity and enhancing overall health in dairy calves. It can be used in calf diets from day one and works out at about £16/calf from birth up to weaning.
JA new digital assistant service has been developed by dairy health management system provider SmaXtec. It is designed to work alongside its TruAdvice technology, which is powered by artificial intelligence.
rMore information from precisionmicrobes. com/sectors/animalhealth/calves
Large-scale plastic calf housing unit
JCalf-Tel will be showcasing its largest plastic calf housing unit to date, the Calf-Tel Mammoth.
Measuring 2.1 metres tall by 3m wide by 3.5m long, the unit offers 10.5sq.m of space.
Ventilation
Designed with optimal ventilation in mind, it features a large front opening, two rear windows and six roof portals in total. Consisting of only
four structural components, it promises simple assembly and transportation.
Its twin-sheet thermoformed plastic base is reinforced with steel and designed to be easy to move across varied terrains. The unit will be available from spring 2025 and is expected to retail in the region of £2,500/unit.
rMore information from calftel.com
The digital assistant works using a ruminal bolus and provides data, such as inner body temperature and water intake per cow, from the reticulum.
Based on millions of data points, it is designed to give farmers preventative disease indication notifications for
mastitis, milk fever and ketosis before clinical signs become visible, as well as other information including insemination windows and calving alerts ahead of time.
The service generates automated management lists and customised reports, which are accessible via a smartphone or PC.
The bolus is priced at £30/cow and guaranteed for life, with the software required starting at £3/month on a per cow basis.
rMore information from smaxtec.com/en
and make the most of the rumen buffer that gets the job done
Maximise milk yield without the risk of SARA with OmyaFeed C MgO, a palatable rumen buffer made from finely ground natural minerals. It can be used as a preventative or curative solution for SARA in high-yielding dairy cows fed a high starch, low fibre diet.
Just 130g of OmyaFeed C MgO per cow per day is required for effective rumen health, compared with more than double the amount of sodium bicarbonate/calcium carbonate mix.
This saves money and creates space in the ration for further feed materials. OmyaFeed C MgO is very cost effective at under 7p/cow/day.
To find out how you can milk the advantages of OmyaFeed C MgO, contact: David Bonsall on 07773 180664 or email david.bonsall@omya.com.
DAIRY-TECH PREVIEW
New 180-litre milk kart
JJFC Agri will be showcasing its new 180-litre milk kart with mixer and pump.
Some of its key features include the ability to custom dispense milk volumes and mixing cycles, an easy-to-use interface, a combined charger and mixer cable, a recessed drain-off and filter for easy
drainage and maintenance, a new body shape, and an easy-clean lid.
The larger capacity allows for 60 calves at a rate of three litres/calf to be fed on one mix.
The retail price was yet to be confirmed at the time of print.
rMore information from eu.jfcagri.com/en-gb
Tool aids cluster liner performance
JA new diagnostic tool has been launched to help farmers maintain high milking performance by ensuring liners and pulsators are always working at their best.
MIPulse monitors the condition of pulsators and the vacuum line 24/7, saving the need to carry out multiple testing several times per year and enabling problems to be spotted and resolved quickly before issues affect cow or milking performance.
Information is also provided for milking point failure alert and milking time recording. MIPulse monitors can be
installed on all brands and types of parlours as a bolt-on to existing set-ups, or designed into future installations.
Data
Data can be viewed remotely via an app on a PC or smartphone with an internet connection.
The monitors retail at £500/point, with the app constantly updated as needed. rMore information from milkrite-interpuls. com/mipulse.htm
Precision update to HerdVision
JHerdVision is introducing HerdNutrition, a resource designed to bring a new level of precision to group feeding and, in turn, herd management.
The HerdNutrition function builds on HerdVision’s individual body condition score (BCS) and mobility data by tracking BCS trends for individual groups of animals.
Any collective changes to BCS within each group are
reflected in the data, which has been built into a new metric designed to enable producers and their nutritionists to finetune diets to the precise requirements of each group. This is in order to maximise feed conversion efficiency and replace previous estimations based on diet formulation/management or environmental factors.
rMore information from herd.vision/
Update to lameness detection service
JHoofcount is set to add a block and bandage function to its lameness detection device PediVue, designed to further aid prompt lameness management and treatment.
The system works via a high-speed camera fitted to the Hoofcount automatic footbath. This captures
images of moving hooves, which a filtering algorithm then assesses using artificial intelligence (AI).
AI was used to train PediVue to identify when a block or bandage had been applied to a treated hoof, in order to monitor it and subsequently remind the farmer of the
agreed time to remove it. This is with the aim to avoid any further hoof-related issues, which could otherwise lead to more complex health problems.
Images are collected daily and stored in a cloud-based database, which can then be
downloaded as required. PediVue is available to customers on a subscription model. The new feature will be added to existing customers’ accounts free of charge.
rMore information from hoofcount.com
Continues over the page...
DAIRY-TECH PREVIEW
Automatic feed belt system
JNew to the UK, an automatic belt feeding system, Feedstar, is an alternative to the
conventional feed passage for feeding out rations to livestock. Each system is specially
adapted to the requirements and structural conditions of the farm it is installed on, and
Reduce stress in cattle and improve productivity
JStudies consistently show that cattle experiencing stress lose weight, show more disease issues, display reduced response to vaccines and have poor productivity.
Many routine on-farm tasks can raise stress levels in cattle, such as weaning, dehorning, castration, branding, transportation, moving groups, vaccination, calving, being dried off and breeding.
In cattle, a pheromone called Maternal Bovine Appeasement Substance (mBAS) has been identified that functions to reduce the impact of stress and the production of cortisol, also known as the ‘stress hormone’.
FerAppease is a newly available synthetic analogue of mBAS and is being launched to UK farmers at Dairy-Tech 2025. Created specifically to mitigate stress in healthy calves and adult cattle, FerAppease is widely used in US dairy and beef production systems, with over 15 million doses sold in
the last 12 months. The cost benefit of FerAppease has been proven when used at high stress events, and also when cattle are being handled during routine tasks.
FerAppease is applied topically to the skin above the muzzle and back of the poll. It is then inhaled to deliver the same level of comfort an animal would have with their mother, therefore mitigating stress. The response has been shown within 30 minutes of application and lasts at least 14 days.
The best way to evaluate stress in cattle is to measure cortisol levels in hair. Work carried out at Texas A&M University demonstrated that calves treated with mBAS (FerAppease) had lower cortisol levels than a control group with no application.
Multiple studies have shown that using FerAppease at weaning can lead to over 13.6kg more liveweight in cattle
offers space- and cost-saving benefits.
For example, an extra row of cubicles might be able to be fitted in existing barns, or the volume of a new barn could be reduced at the planning stages because the belt removes the need for a passageway wide enough for a tractor and mixer wagon.
Feed surface
Cows can consistently eat off a smooth PVC surface, with residual feed removed as the belt reverses at each new feed.
rMore information from feedstar.com/en, or tim-gibson.com/product/ feedstar-feed-system/int
at six weeks post-application (compared to untreated calves). Similar results have been shown in weaning dairy calves and beef from dairy.
FerAppease is available from your vet. It is a non-medicinal
product and a prescription is not needed.
rMore details can be found on Stand P110 at DairyTech, where there will be a competition running to win one of nine 10-dose packs.
This year’s NMR RABDF Gold Cup finalists have been announced. Dairy Farmer takes a look at each of the six finalists ahead of the awards presentation at Dairy-Tech.
Final six in the 2024 Gold Cup revealed
Ruth and Stephen Ashley (P.J. and P.E. Ashley and Son), Condover, Shropshire
JStephen and Ruth Ashley’s progressive approach to their dairy business and attention to detail have earned them and their team a finalist place. This family-owned business, now run by the second
generation, has taken big strides to introduce new innovations during the past decade. The husband and wife team took on the 162-hectare (400-acre) dairy unit, based near Condover, in Shropshire, in 2011, with Stephen’s parents, Pat and
Peter, remaining in the business partnership.
A key development was the introduction of an automatic milking system. The first robot was installed in 2013 and a second was added in 2016.
The all-year-round calving herd is fully housed. Cows are fed a partial mixed ration comprising grass silage, maize, hay, concentrate blend and minerals. Cows are fed according to yield with a 16% protein concentrate, at an average rate of 0.184kg per litre of milk, through the milking robots.
This ration and management system supports the high-yielding herd, which ranked third in NMR’s top 1% nationally for the year
ending September 2023, with a combined fat and protein production of 1,002kg. Annual production is currently 14,941kg of milk per cow.
The breeding policy is based on producing high performance, long-lasting cows with balanced conformation.
Sexed semen has been used on the best heifers and cows and the Ashleys are now genomically testing to improve the accuracy of selecting animals for replacements.
Health and fertility standards are high. Only 2% of calves fail to calve as heifers, and the herd’s mastitis rate is just four cases per 100 cows per year.
Harper Adams University Future Farm, Newport, Shropshire
JKate Robinson and her team manage the 400-cow Holstein herd, which is part of the University’s Future Farm. The dairy operates on 227-hectare (560 acres) and is run by five full-time staff.
Although the dairy unit is not a ‘typical’ farm, and is involved in research and teaching activities, it is expected to perform commercially and achieve exceptional industry-based standards.
The team of staff is a vital ingredient in helping to achieve this and efforts are made to create a good working environment.
The all-year-round calving herd is fully housed and fed a total mixed ration. Cows are milked through a 40-point internal rotary parlour, three times a day.
During the past two years improvements have been made to the facility, such as milk-rite clusters and wash plates, new variable pumps, a back flush, and parlour fans.
The University has also invested in cow housing, adding fans, automatic scrapers, cow brushes and an automatic footbath.
The herd’s breeding plans were revised in 2018, moving away from a production-based strategy and towards health and longevity.
With a target to achieve net zero across the University’s Future Farm by 2030, the focus is moving to improve grassland management and forage and a move to breed a more grazing type cow, with sexed Montbeliarde and Viking
Red semen used on a small proportion of the herd.
Calves are reared on the farm and most beef calves are kept through to finishing on the beef unit. Calf mortality is low, with a 1.96% mortality rate in heifers from birth to first calving.
P.J. and P.E. Ashley and Son (left to right): Mark Price, Dave Beckett, Stephen Ashley, Ruth Ashley and Alex Gwyther.
Harper Adams University Future Farm team (left to right): Chris Ruffley, Kate Robinson and Alice Sault.
PREVIEW DAIRY-TECH
Presentation
JPresentation of the Gold Cup, along with other breed and lifetime yield awards selected from Gold Cup entries, will take place on the NMR stand at 4pm.
Mark Lovatt (E.A. Lovatt and Son), Broughton Astley, Leicester
JMark, with his father Edwin and wife Saffron, run the 268-hectare (662-acre) unit, which supports their 220-cow herd, plus 140 followers, and around 230 head of beef animals from the dairy herd.
Mark makes full use of home-grown feed, with high-quality forage production central to the success of this business.
A firm focus on feed efficiency, with 41% of milk produced from forage in this all-year-round calving Holstein herd, is helping to improve the unit’s carbon footprint.
Milk yield per cow is currently 44kg per day from a 15% crude protein ration.
Dry matter intakes are at least 27kg per cow per day from a partial mixed ration comprising 60% maize and grass silage, and home-grown arable crops.
Cows are fed once a day, with feed pushed up automatically every two hours.
Three Lely A5 robots were introduced in 2019 and a fourth was added in 2022 to allow herd expansion.
Health and fertility are key in the quest for improved herd efficiency and sustainability.
Breeding healthier and robust cows, while promoting milk yield and quality, will support herd longevity longer term, and the use of sexed semen and genomic testing is accelerating genetic gain in the herd. These criteria are also fundamental in securing the long-term viability of the dairy business.
Biodiversity is an important part of the farm’s future and current plans, supported with countryside stewardship and Sustainable Farming Incentive schemes, continue to develop this.
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Mark Lovatt
DAIRY-TECH
Ben and John Oakley, G.E. Oakley and Sons, Whitchurch, Shropshire
JFather and son team John and Ben Oakley manage a herd of 195 mainly Holstein cows, plus a few cross-breds, and 115 followers, with the help of one full-time staff member.
The unit comprises 100 hectares (247 acres), which supports summer grazing and forage production for the autumn-calving herd.
Beginning in August, more than 80% of cows calve by the end of October.
The herd is housed during the winter and fed a partial mixed ration comprising grass and maize silage, fodder beet, and a 25% protein blend.
An 18% protein cake is fed to yield through the parlour.
The focus on this unit is to increase milk from homegrown forage and improve crude protein use in the diet, with the aim of reducing levels fed
in concentrates to between 16% and 18% while, at the same time, maintaining milk yield and quality.
Milk from forage, which is now at 51%, has increased by almost 1,000 litres in the 12 months to March 2024, while concentrate use per cow has reduced by 15% and is currently 0.26kg per litre.
Another priority is to reduce their electricity usage by adopting
heat recovery systems and possibly solar panels.
Breeding plans aim to produce more efficient cows that are good foragers and can convert this part of their diet into milk while also producing their body weight in milk solids. Milk is sold to a local cheesemaker, so constituents are important.
Herd expansion is planned and
Newley Farm, Bishop’s Hull, Taunton, Somerset
JNewley Farm, near Taunton in Somerset, has been in the Venn family for 101 years and is now under the guidance of fourth generation Will Venn.
The dairy herd now numbers 690 milkers, which are a mix of 550 Holstein and 140 Jersey cows.
Will’s great grandfather bought the 24-hectare (60-acre) farm in 1923. His grandfather built up the dairy and also ran a milk delivery round that was subsequently sold.
After a period of rationalisation and restructuring, Will now runs Newley farm in partnership with his wife Kate and father Tim,
supported by a dedicated team of staff who live locally or on site.
Most work, including silage making, is carried out in house.
The unit’s 280ha (692 acres) supports the all-year-round calving, fully housed herd with grass and maize grown for silage and wheat produced for feeding
will be from home-bred heifers in this closed herd. They have recently taken on a neighbouring block of land that will allow them to increase cow numbers to 240 and rear youngstock – both dairy and beef calves – on site.
Plans are also in place for a new slurry store and shed to accommodate the expanding herd. back to the cows. A further 80ha (198 acres) of maize ground is rented.
Strides to improve the yield and milk quality and breed a more consistent herd of Holstein cows started with the use sexed semen in 2014.
The introduction of 50 Jersey cows, bought from Will’s uncle in 2018, and a commitment to buy his newly calved heifers for 12 months have boosted the herd’s average milk quality from the Holstein baseline of 4% fat and 3.4% protein.
Committed to expanding the dairy business, the family has undertaken significant improvements in facilities since 2016 including a purpose-built cow shed for 320 cows and a slurry tower, and more recently another cubicle house, collecting yard shed, parlour, tank and handling facility.
John (left) and Ben Oakley.
The team at Newley Farm, including (front row, fourth from left) Tim Venn, Will Venn and Kate Venn.
Joe, Andrew and Matthew Rowe, Tredinnick Farms, Two Waters Foot, Cornwall
JThree generations of the Rowe family – Joe, son Matthew and grandson Andrew – run a 450-cow cross-bred herd, plus 250 followers, as well as a 300-head beef enterprise, forage crops and renewables on their 370-hectare (914-acre) unit.
A group of 200 cows are
milked through four Lely robots with the other 250 cows milked twice a day using a conventional 24:48 herringbone parlour.
The Pro Cross breeding programme, now in its third year, uses Norwegian Red, Montbeliarde and Holstein genetics to produce strong, fertile, healthy and
long- lasting cows. Cows calve in two blocks of 12 weeks, beginning January and June.
High annual rainfall challenges the forage crop planning and some of the 75ha (618 acres) of maize grown is under film to promote germination and growth.
The 250ha (618-acre) of grass
used for silage and grazing includes 18ha (44 acres) of herbal leys, grown as part of a Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme as a valuable forage for the dairy cows, and a further 40ha (99 acres) of wheat is grown to feed to cattle.
Monthly reports form the basis of discussions with their vet and nutritionist, and action reports, for example selective dry cow lists, are drawn up.
The farm, of which the dairy herd is the main enterprise, employs three full-time staff and relief milkers alongside Andrew, Matthew and Joe.
With the purchase of a neighbouring farm, comprising 78ha (193 acres) and buildings, expansion of the dairy herd is on the cards and the team will be integral in its success.
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Left to right: Andrew, Matthew and Joe Rowe.
MACHINERY
Is the latest Side Throw variant from Spread-a-Bale a practical and functional option to operate in places the original machine may have struggled to cover? James Huyton takes a closer look at the Midi XL Side Throw on-farm to find out.
The Spread-a-Bale is certainly no stranger to the agricultural market, with various iterations spanning more than 25 years of production.
But what it does claim to be is a tried-and-tested product that holds favour with a long string of operators internationally, with one of the manufacturer’s largest footholds being in Germany.
Spread-a-Bale claims one of the biggest successes of the product is its simplicity and functionality, with models capable of ing to most loader and handling
Spread-a-Bale’s latest variant offers side-throw capabilities both left and right, up to eight metres, offering greater operator visibility over forward discharge.
Side Throw by Spread-a-Bale put through its paces
equipment currently on the market. However, even with its market success, the original forward-throwing Spread-aBale did not suit every building
and farm. Launched earlier this year, Spread-a-Bale’s latest variant looks to set the record straight by o ering a side throw option for their
Micro, Mini, Midi and Maxi ranges.
Dairy Farmer took the Midi XL ST (Side row) on test to see how the model performed.
Overview
JSpread-a-bale operates the same universal design throughout the range, with 21 different handler brackets available to suit the machine and manufacturer, and nine different loader options.
With eight U-bolts holding headstock brackets in place, users can quickly and simply swap brackets to suit a machine, or a machine upgrade if needed.
For the test, we operated with a cone and pin unit. Two hydraulic pipes offer flow and return to the sequence valve, which controls the machine’s main functionality.
A diverter valve provides directional control of the
Mounted by eight U-bolts the headstock mounting plate can be easily changed to suit carriage.
working head – traditionally, Spread-a-Bale rotors would operate in a single direction.
For the purposes of the side throw variant, the manufacturer has opted for multi-directional functionality, allowing the side throw unit to discharge bedding both left and right, or forwards once selected.
The XL in the test machine’s name indicates the machine’s length, with the larger XL capable of handling square bales up to 2.8 metres in length compared to 2.5m on the standard variant.
Both machines will handle square bales from 1m in length and round bales up to 1.6m in diameter.
The feed belt drive motor was felt to be exposed, protruding from the machine’s outer extremity.
Drive comes from the operating machine’s double-acting spool, with the Spread-aBale’s sequence valve directing oil flow in operation.
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MACHINERY
Operating and handling
JAttachment of the machine is quick and simple.
Once locked in place, it is only a matter of coupling the two hydraulic pipes to the machine.
Bales are better positioned on clean, hard standing, with something to push against ready for loading.
When loading, the unit operates the retracting sequence lifting the working head out of the way, and operating the feed belt to draw the bale into the machine.
A blade-like edge aids getting under the bale, but without a wall to push against you can be left chasing the bale around the yard.
The preferred choice is to have the knots at the top of the bale to make it easier to draw the string out of the bale.
The main difference on the Side Throw variant is the directional guide on the front
of the machine, with four spring-loaded locking pins used to lock and position the guide in both left and right positions.
Once the guide is slid along its rail and locked into one of the two operational positions, the machine is set to work.
Visibility
From an operational point of view, the Side Throw variant offered far greater operator visibility when bedding up to the side compared to the forward throwing functionality.
The side shoot was found to create an obstruction for the machine’s forward throwing ability, limiting the spread pattern.
If the plate could be removed quickly and easily this would benefit spread pattern, but the machine’s ability to throw forwards is only a small benefit to a machine designed to throw bedding sideways into pens.
The Side Throw machine’s guide was easy to slide and lock into position with four spring-loaded pins.
Preparation was required for loading bales, with a wall or girder to push up against, so the feeder belt could draw the bale in.
DF verdict
JA business aspiring to gain the greatest operational efficiencies out of their equipment may favour the Spread-a-Bale system.
Farm operations looking to run a lean business could find the system a sensible option making better use of handling equipment, and reducing the need for a second tractor on a straw chopper.
The test machine had a 55-litre/minute oil flow requirement making it suitable for most farm handlers.
The Spread-a-Bale was simple and easy to use, and flow rate could be adjusted on the machine’s sequence valve to adjust the spread.
The test team did think a hydrostatic handler with independent hand throttle control could offer the most customisable and precise operation of the Spread-a-Bale.
Saying that, the test farm’s JCB TM320S handled the machine with ease.
One of the main comments that came from operating such an implement, was the overall operational length. With the Midi XL ST standing at 4,101mm in length, plus operating vehicle, weighing in at 1,150kg unladen, some questions were raised over the levering capability of the unit on the headstock if put beyond its parameters.
That said, the TM handled the loaded machine well.
One of the main benefits of the side throw system is its ability to throw bedding to the left, right and forwards.
This means you can work both sides of a feed passage without the need to turn and return in the opposite direction.
With a 1,780mm working width, the machine could easily access most buildings with the
operating vehicle size the only compromise to the machine’s access.
Notably, having side-throw functionality meant the Spreada-Bale could operate in tight corners and confined spaces, something machines only operating forward-throwing functionality may struggle with.
Varying consistency and type of bedding material will effect the machine’s throwing ability, with Spread-a-Bale claiming the machine will throw material between four to eight metres.
Consistently
The wheat straw used on the test farm consistently covered a distance of six metres (20ft), which was well suited to the pen size of the operation.
A notable feature of the system is the way the machine teases bedding and throws it without chopping it.
This both retained the straw length and had a noted difference in dust suppression compared to a straw chopper.
It is also claimed the retention of straw length helps the bedding last longer, reducing bedding up cycles.
The test machine did show an improvement in straw length compared to the test farm’s straw chopper.
But only a long-term comparative study would indicate any reductions in straw usage.
Overall, the Spread-a-Bale Side Throw was functional and practical, providing everything that was required from it on test.
Offered in a number of formats, the Side Throw could offer appeal in markets that may not have previously considered the machine due to lack of functionality in confined spaces.
The Side Throw’s reversible head forked fingers
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• Self-loading,
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MILKprices
Milk price increases slow down
JA er a run of nine months of non-stop price increases by some milk buyers, the pace has slowed considerably to the point where mostly only milk buyers on time lags are le to announce changes.
a total of 10 monthly increases with a hold for February and the slightest negative currency adjustment for April.
Following its 3 euro cents/kg (2.5p/kg) increase for November, Arla Foods found another 1c/kg (8.3p/kg) increase for December to string eight monthly increases in a row.
However, rather than being able to bask in the glory of such price positivity at the end of November, the company found itself re ghting social media, which had gone into a frenzy over the company’s announcement of its planned 30-farm trial with the methane suppressant Bovaer.
e euro cent increase, which is both for conventional and organic supplies, translates as 0.89ppl increase for our conventional manufacturing standard* taking the price up to 48.54ppl.
is price includes the guaranteed minimum supplementary payment of 1.295p/kg (1.334ppl), as well as the FarmAhead Incentive of 1.709p/kg (1.76ppl).
is increase nalises the overall increase for the year on 12.44ppl, delivered from
Arla has come back into form this year and has had the largest increase over the year of any milk buyer of those having declared a milk price for December to date. Its December price is 7.7ppl above its ve-year December average price of 40.84ppl.
Our liquid standard litre* increases by 0.86ppl to 46.56ppl, highlighting a yearly gain of 11.9ppl.
Organic
e euro cent/kg increase for organic milk takes our manufacturing standard litre price up by 0.89ppl to 58.53ppl, while our organic liquid standard moves up 0.86ppl to 56.16ppl, rounding o the yearly increases at 14.99ppl and 14.33ppl, respectively.
e Arla Directs also received the eurocent increase for January, making it one of a handful that will start 2025 on a price increase.
Having seen its 2024 milk price increase by 11.90ppl, our manufacturing price for January 2025 is propelled by a further 0.9ppl to 45.47ppl, while liquid is up 0.86ppl to 43.6ppl.
Milk price analyst Stephen Bradley on the latest milk industry developments.
2024 pricing not the norm
JThe price increases in 2024 will go down in history as a year which did not really adhere to the norm.
Firstly, the wet late spring and lower milk supply offfarm demolished any chance of milk prices being reduced in Q2, after which the intense producer recruitment and retention centred in the mid-southwest were felt far and wide, the reverberations of which translated into faster milk price increases than market returns would otherwise have allowed.
With most milk buyers having confirmed prices for December, the average price increase for 2024 across both our standard litres was 6.87ppl with our
liquid standard averaging 5.03ppl while manufacturing increases averaged 9.16ppl.
On the liquid side, one milk buyer performing well above the average was Crediton Dairy with an average price increase of 7ppl. The Devon dairy also increased its price by 0.1ppl from January 2025 to 44.1ppl following the introduction of its new carbon footprint bonus.
Pembrokeshire Dairy made eight monthly price increases in a row, and its 0.22ppl uplift for January 2025 takes our price up to 44.88ppl. Meanwhile the Dale Farm GB Cumbrian price increased 0.51ppl for December to 44.15ppl.
Retailer liquids reflect lower COP
JThe much less volatile retailer aligned prices with their cost of production trackers mostly ended the year lower than when they started reflecting overall lower farm costings.
M&S prices reduced the most, with its England and Wales price down 1.46ppl for the year, while Scotland and NI suppliers suffered 1.82ppl decline through having no participation in the retailer’s green fertiliser payment scheme.
The Tesco Direct price
for both Arla and Muller suppliers ended the year 1.29ppl lower, while the model of stability for 2024, the Waitrose price, ended 0.25ppl lower. Sainsbury’s, after all its monthly movements ending with 0.04ppl cut for December to 40.51ppl, finally ended the year 0.07ppl positive.
However, the co-operative price with the Muller Direct milk price in its tracker of three, along with Tesco and Sainsbury’s ended the year 1.56ppl higher.
& SCCs of 200,000/ ml, 1mltrs/yr on EODC (max vehicle accessibility) but before B pricing, balancing, seasonality, monthly profile payments, capital deductions or annual/part annual growth incentive schemes or supplements not directly linked to dairy market price movement.
MILK PRICES
‘B’ Price Indicators
*StoneXMilkprices.com UKMFE (net)
Notes to table
Prices for both
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Healthy cattle?
Arla tops the milk price league table for 2024
Defra’s milk price for October is 45.17ppl at 4.4% fat and 3.47% protein, which is up 2.1ppl on September. It is the highest price now since February 2023.
• Extremely energy-efficient: maximum only 530W/1A!
November’s price is also likely to increase again too, as milk prices increased by well over 1ppl on October, and fats and proteins from NML/NMR are thought to be similar.
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Tube ventilation
Fresh air for calves
• Healthier calves
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• Optimal air distribution without draughts
• Draws fresh, outside air into the barn
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• Improved air quality
December’s prices then increased by around 0.4ppl on November, with eight processors li ing their prices. However, these are likely to be the last positive moves for a few months yet, as commodity markets are trending down.
Arla leads the price table for 2024,
having paid an average standard litre price of 40.6ppl, followed by Dale Farm with a price of 40.1ppl. ey were the only two compan-
ies whose price topped 40ppl. e average non-aligned price for a 4% fat and 3.3% protein litre is about 39.1ppl.
MCVE falls, but cream income remains at record levels
JThe latest AMPE figure for November is 46.22p, which is up 0.73p on October, which equates to just over
Producer numbers down another 300 head, says AHDB 2024
JSome 300 producers have quit milking in the year to October, according to AHDB’s estimates of producer numbers, giving a total left of 7,200 in
42.22p, after an allowance for a processor margin and processing costs are factored in.
MCVE has dropped, however,
and is down just over 1p to 45.5p, giving a farmgate equivalent of about 41.5p. It is the first drop in the MCVE price since April, and from then until now, it has increased by just under 10ppl. AHDB’s cream income to a processor stands at 17.71p, on the back of a cream price of around £3.06/kg from the third week of October to the third in November. September, October and November have now posted the highest, second highest and third highest cream income prices on record, eclipsing September 2022’s 16.5p level.
GB, it says. Northern Ireland has another 2,500 producers, bringing the total to fewer than 10,000 – possibly for the first time.
Average milk volume per farm has now increased to 1.7 million litres per year, indicating a continued trend towards fewer but larger farms.
With commodity markets trending down, it appears as though there will be few positive milk prices moves at the start of this year.
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Volumes continue to break records
J
Milk volumes continue to set new record highs, with 25 days in October and 28 in November setting new record highs for the UK. GB saw only three record days in October and 22 in November.
Data from mid-December shows that UK milk volumes averaged just over 41 million litres per day, some 1.8m litres and 4.77% more than last year,
and 3.86% more than the long-term average.
GB milk volumes have averaged 33.9m litres per day, up 1.35m litres and 4.16% more than last year, and 2.4% more than the long-term average.
Northern Ireland volumes have averaged 7.07m litres per day, up 662,000 litres and 10.3% more than last year.
NEWProducts
This month’s new products section features a new slurry additive for the organic sector, a new teat dip technology and the return of a cattle parasite treatment to the UK market.
Robomol, a new molasses blend has been launched by ED&F Man, and is specifically formulated for use in robotic milking systems to help drive visit frequency and increase milk yields.
Developed in conjunction with nutritionists and robot users, Robomol has been formulated and produced to ensure it is easy to handle and pass easily through robot filters. A cost-effective source of sugars containing 64% total sugars in the dry matter, palatability has been further improved through the addition of a banana flavouring.
The improved palatability will help to encourage more robot visits per day, with sugars helping to stimulate rumen function and microbial protein production.
The inclusion of multiple sources of glucose precursors provides the high levels of energy essential for fresh calvers and high yielders.
Typical feed rates are 0.5-1kg per day and the product is available in 1,000litre IBC containers which are delivered on-farm. rMore information from 07485 192 774
Got a new product?
JNew products are featured in each issue of Dairy Farmer. Please send details and pictures to Katie Fallon at katie.fallon@ agriconnect.com, or call 07815 003 227.
Molasses blend to increase robot visits
has been formulated as a cost-effective way to encourage more robot visits per day.
New product for organic dairy systems
JSlurryForSoil, a slurry additive from Sylgen Animal Health, has now been approved for use in organic systems by the Soil Association.
The additive uses advanced microbial technology with microbes specifically chosen for their abilities to enhance soil and plant health and productivity. The formula contains 18 different
naturally occurring species, all with unique properties.
The bacteria and fungi in SlurryForSoil scavenge nutrients and enhance their bioavailability to plants through transportation in soils, making it beneficial for farmers who want to boost grass yield without using synthetic fertiliser.
Independent and on-farm trials showed SlurryForSoil
was proven to offer a return on investment ranging from 5:1-16:1, while reducing farm carbon footprints.
The additive is specifically designed for soil and plant health and is formulated to encourage and optimise natural processes and functioning of diverse biological webs.
rMore information from sylgenanimalhealth.com
Robomol
NEW PRODUCTS
Dectomax Pour-On returns to UK
JAfter a prolonged absence from the market, broad spectrum cattle parasite treatment Dectomax Pour-On is now back in stock and available for UK farmers to purchase.
The pour-on solution controls gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, eyeworms, warbles, sucking and biting lice, as well as mange mites and hornflies.
The product can
The product can be used strategically around housing and while stock are at pasture to manage parasite burdens, improve productivity and drive growth rates in youngstock.
The product comes in a ready-to-use solution and is easy to apply with an applicator gun while cattle are in a race or crush. It can be administered up to five weeks before housing and should be administered according to weight to avoid under, or over-dosing and to help prevent resistance development.
To purchase Dectomax Pour-On, visit your local agricultural merchant.
rMore information from 01256 353 131
New teat dip blending technology
JDipSmart is ADF Milking’s latest development in teat dip technology, which automatically blends concentrated sanitisers and skin conditioners with local potable water to create a teat dip that is customisable.
The DipSmart system creates a teat dip designed to ensure optimal teat condition at a low cost to farmers and the environment. The blended mix can be tailored to suit specific farm requirements and weather conditions, such as in the event of a high bacterial load, the sanitiser concentration can be increased to combat udder infection.
With the new DipSmart system, the active emollient
ratio can be easily adjusted on-farm by the operator, providing an advantage over standard pre-mixed teat dip.
Farmers can access the DipSmart control panel via a secure, easy-to-use smartphone app which enables real-time adjustment of the teat dip mix.
The app also monitors the amount of concentrates used for accurate stock management and cost control.
Concentrates are delivered in manageable packs that are easy to carry and store, eliminating the need for low loaders and fork-lifts.
rMore information from natalie.kohn@adfmilking.com or 01243 814030
METHANE
Moredun Research Institute has identified animal health as a key area of focus which could help the industry in reducing methane production from ruminant livestock. Katie Fallon reports.
Animal health important for reducing emissions
In a press brie ng organised by Moredun, the research institute’s scienti c director and chief executive Prof Tom McNeilly addressed the recent fallout surrounding the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer, and why animal health remained an important part of the solution in reducing the livestock industry’s methane emissions.
As an institute, Prof McNeilly said Moredun was well aware of the contribution ruminants played in methane emissions and the pressures the industry was facing. However, he said there was ‘no silver bullet’ to reduce these emissions, but a number of tools that could be used.
With literature showing methane-reducing feed additives could lower methane production by 30%, Prof McNeilly said they were a ‘useful tool in the toolbox’, but consumer backlash had been ‘noisy’ across the internet and social media.
He said: “Consumers are quite suspicious when something is mandated, but it is probably one of the most tested feed additives that there has ever been. In terms of the safety of the milk, I do not think there is any evidence to say the milk is less safe.
“ ey [the feed additives] do need to be fed very regularly and there is a cost associated with them, but there is no suggestion from the scienti c literature that they are dangerous to humans. ey biodegrade very rapidly in the rumen; hence, you have to feed them twice a day.”
Other tools which Prof McNeilly believed could help to reduce methane included the genetic selection of animals to produce less methane, and the manipulation of animal feed. However, animal health remained centre stage.
Prof McNeilly said: “Where Moredun comes in is that improved animal health is really critical. If you have ruminants that are producing methane with no productivity, such as neonatal losses and reproductive failure, they are huge issues in terms of methane emissions with no production.
“We are very much of the opinion that animal health should not be forgo en in this search for the silver bullet.”
Combination
Prof McNeilly added that success in reducing methane would be achieved through a combination of feed additives in some systems, genetics, feed manipulation and animal health solutions, particularly focusing on those big losses such as neonatal mortalities, lack of nishing and reproductive performance.
And while reducing livestock numbers could be considered a ‘simple’ way to reduce methane emissions, Prof McNeilly said this would ignore the need for food security.
“When we have such turbulent
political times, we would argue that having a strong livestock industry within the UK is really important,” he said.
“ e other point to make, which came out in the recent House of Lords report on methane emissions, is that if we decide to produce less meat in the UK, we are likely to o shore the problem to import meat from systems that are more environmentally damaging and have less welfare standards.”
While Prof McNeilly acknowledged farming systems needed to adapt to address biodiversity loss and methane reduction, he said a greater understanding of extensive livestock systems and regenerative farming, and their impacts on animal health, was required.
He said: “Regenerative and extensive farming systems will play a key role as grazing ruminants can increase biodiversity and soil health, but we are concerned that some of these farming systems have not been tested fully in terms of the unintended consequences: are some of these systems good for animal
health, such as reducing parasite burdens, or are some worse?”
In response to this, Moredun has set up an industry working group on Environmentally Sustainable Livestock Farming (ELF), tasked with evaluating di erent farming systems to ensure they achieve their environmental targets without any unintended negative consequences on livestock health and welfare.
Dr Phillip Skuce, principal scientist at Moredun, said the working group currently comprised representatives from Pasture for Life and the Nature Friendly Farming Network, conventional farmers, and researchers at SRUC and the James Hu on Institute, as well as key stakeholders including vets and farm advisers, NatureScot and the Sco ish Government.
Future research
Dr Skuce said the aim of the ELF group was to discuss and agree where future research should be focused and to identify gaps in knowledge that appropriate research and knowledge exchange could address.
PICTURES : Marcello Garbagnoli
Methane-reducing feed additives should be considered a ‘useful tool in the toolbox’ in the bid to reduce methane.
GOODEvans
‘And isn’t that so typical of today’s society, to blame someone else?’
This month, Roger Evans discusses passing the buck, the possibility that farmers may be better off not farming, and the humanising of animals.
Many years ago I had a le er from the county council. It wasn’t a nasty le er, it wasn’t one of those le ers that gives you an aggressive prod in the chest with a fore nger, but it was close to it, and I resented it.
It concerned a tree that was overhanging the road and the council considered it to be dangerous and that I should do something about it.
I resented it because it wasn’t my tree, it was a tree that belongs to a neighbour, although I could see why they thought it was mine as it was close to our farm entrance.
I was su ciently full of resentment to reply immediately. I wrote on the bo om of the le er ‘not my tree’.
I probably sent the le er o without a stamp.
A er all those years the tree has never been touched, it’s still the same. But that is probably not the end of the story. It’s all a blame game, it’s a paper trail. By writing to me, the council has passed on the responsibility – as far as they are concerned they have ful lled their responsibilities.
And isn’t that so typical of today’s society, to blame someone else?
I bet that all those people waiting for an NHS operation don’t all need one, they have been referred by their GPs who are afraid that if they don’t they will be held responsible. It used to be called passing the buck.
Gas prices
Just to set the scene, for several years now we have used our chicken sheds to produce point of lay pullets. Each batch of pullets takes 16-17 weeks, which means that you produce around ve batches every two years. e last batch of birds go out in the middle of December which means that we would receive the next batch of day-old chicks in the middle of January. I know there are a lot of ‘ifs’ in our thinking, but
the sheds have to be heated up to 33degC to receive day-old chicks, this costs a lot of money for gas. I know that you can start to reduce that temperature by 1degC a day a er three or four days, but I also know that it can be very cold in January.
If it’s cold in February or January it would cost a lot to heat the sheds. If we had a cold spell, and we could do, the only people to make any money out of the next batch would be the people who supply us with gas. Why should we take that chance? Why do all the work for nothing?
So we have said ‘thanks but no thanks’ and we are saying ‘no’ to our January batch. It’s a concept that I fear we will all have to get used to; the possibility that we will be be er o not farming compared with farming.
e big worry is that other pullet rearers will do similar calculations to the ones we have done and stop producing pullets as well. is could lead to volatility in pullet prices, a bloom or bust scenario, and as we all know farming means, and needs some, continuity.
Too many pigs?
When I was growing up, my father had an uncle who lived in Canada. He was supposed to be very wealthy. He had no children of his own and it was widely accepted in the family that he was to leave all his money to me. I don’t know why, I only met him once. Money didn’t mean much to me as a child, I was more concerned if my bike had a at tyre. Anyway, for years he sent me a pack of papers and magazines to read every week. One week the farming magazine carried a feature that there were too many pigs in Canada and there was to be a subsidy called ‘not raising hogs’. I thought at the time ‘we’ll never see that in this country’, but set-a-side is the same sort of thing. My dad’s uncle had ill health and moved to Florida. e doctors and hospitals had all his money.
“The only people to make any money out of the pullets would be the people who supply us with gas
I’ve always thought it to be one of my strengths that I could always see and understand someone else’s point of view. If you didn’t agree with them but you understood where they were coming from, you were be er able to agree against them.
But with this subject I am at some loss to understand it. Most weeks, we watch a TV programme about vets. By the care they take and the kit they use, their surgery must cost a fortune.
Rat surgery
We have seen them do complicated surgery, not only on cats and dogs, but on chickens, ducks, all sorts of wildlife and on one occasion even a rat.
eir clients seem to be ne with this and it is this humanising of animals that I don’t understand. e animals become one of the family and is treated as such.
We used to produce broilers and on many occasions we were taken to task about it. “I hear you produce chicken for the table?” we were asked.
“Well I don’t agree with the conditions you keep them in.”
And then in a couple of weeks time the same person would have a go at you because they couldn’t nd an oven-ready chicken for a ver. Contradictory or what. e last corgi we had was run over. Its pelvis was smashed. We took it to the vets and they lled it with painkillers. ey said that they couldn’t x it themselves, but they knew of a practice that could. is would cost about £2,000 plus injections plus transport. In the end we decided to have the dog put down. At no time had this been put to us as an option and when we decided on this course of action the practice nurses got decidedly ‘sni y’ with us.
I discussed this with a retired vet friend and he said we had taken the right choice. e dog would have almost certainly been doubly incontinent and the nurses shouldn’t have been judgemental.
I once took a sheep dog to be castrated and the vets insisted that he stayed the night ‘for observation’. I could have got him a room in a Travelodge for less money.
I once gave a home to a rescue dog. e rescue centre insisted in coming around to see if our house was suitable for a dog. I don’t remember anyone coming around to see if it was suitable for me, the missus and two kids.
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In the year to November 2, the total value of dairy retail sales rose by 0.1% to £11.412 billion, with the volume down 0.6% to 5.625 million tonnes, according to data from market researchers Neilsen, for AHDB.
Liquid milk accounted for 73.1% of that volume, but that quantity was down 1.9%, while the value of those sales dropped 5.6% to £3.454bn as average prices slipped by 3.7%.
Cheese retained its position as the most valuable dairy category, with a 2.4% increase in the value of sales to £3.781bn as volumes rose by 2.1% to 450,564t. But the fastest growing category was yoghurt and fromage frais – up 6.4% in volume to 682,000kg and 8.3% in value to £2.278bn.
Butter sales have fallen by 1.1% by volume and by 2.5% in value to £1.48bn in the last year, while cream volumes have increased by 3.2%, but a 4.9% drop in average prices meant a 1.9% decline in value to £419.4m.
Grace Randall, lead retail insight manager at AHDB, says: “We are seeing renewed growth in sales of yoghurt, although that follows a drop in demand last year because of the cost living crisis.
Inflation
“When inflation was high, shoppers paid less consideration to buying products with health or lifestyle benefits and were looking for value. As the increase in the cost of living eased, confidence has risen and demand for dairy products with more added value has increased.”
One category which has seen significant growth is the fermented milk product kefir. It grew by onethird in value in the year to June, according to Kantar, with volumes
The shift away from liquid milk consumption continues, with shoppers buying more cheese and yoghurt. Cedric Porter reports.
Return of added value products
up 26%. Sales of yoghurt kefir were up 27.5% by value and liquid kefir by 37.3%.
Ms Randall says: “Kefir is a product where there is a lot of added value involving relatively small volumes of milk. It lends itself to farmhouse production.
“Another trend we are seeing is increased cottage cheese demand, because of its health benefits, with exposure driven by social media posts. Such exposure can offer opportunities, but they can also be short-lived trends.”
The increased demand for cheese is part of a longer term trend, according to Ms Randall.
She says: “Cheddar remains the largest single cheese category, with shoppers continuing to appreciate its value and versatility as an ingredient as well as a snack.
“Sales of Stilton and other blue cheeses have declined a little, but one of the fastest growing cheese categories is speciality and continental cheeses.
“This means there could be opportunities for producers of British versions of continental cheeses.”
Butter sales are down, says Ms Randall, but there are still opportunities in the category.
“Butter can suffer from competi-
Another trend we are seeing is increased cottage cheese demand, because of its health benefits
GRACE RANDALL
tion from non-dairy spreads when shoppers are looking for increased value, but there is increased demand for more pure block butter packs, which could be an opportunity for specialist farmhouse suppliers.”
Liquid milk still dominates dairy sales in volume terms and AHDB has announced research into milk aisles in supermarkets and how products can be better differentiated.
Ms Randall says: “Some shoppers will pay for branded milk or that with special attributes, including longer shelf, organic or milk from grass-fed cattle.”
A recent report from Irish food organisation Bord Bia, based on 2,000 interviews with UK consumers by market researchers Kubi Kalloo, found shoppers favour Greek-style, low-sugar and flavoured yoghurts for children, rather than fruit-on-the-bottom yoghurt, cereal yoghurts or organic yoghurts.
remain strong advocates of dairy. They see it as entrenched, welcome and a growing part of their life.”
Three-quarters of those polled say dairy is a key part of a healthy and balanced diet, with a similar proportion saying it is a delicious party of daily life. However, there was some concern over the perceived animal welfare and environmental impact of dairy production.
The most important priority was not quality and value, but that children should enjoy their food and not develop food anxiety.
The second most important consideration was on price and value, while the least out of a list of 25 priorities was buying the highest quality product, even if it cost more.
Consumer groups
From the research, Bord Bia identified six groups of consumers, starting with the least adventurous when it comes to new products and ways of eating dairying, who they called ‘The Good Old Days’, through to the most adventurous, ‘Affluent City Living’. The six groups were:
rThe Good Old Days (20% of total) – Dairy is part of everyday life, with a focus on value, simplicity and knowing what they want.
rRetired and Restless (14% of the total) – Highly value dairy, but life has become more challenging.
rThrifty Families (16% of total) – Dairy is a family staple, but constantly challenged to balance taste, health and budget.
Source: Neilsen for AHDB
The same report stated: “The vast majority of UK shoppers
rLiving with Teens (19% of total) – Dairy is part of the rollercoaster of balancing changing nutritional needs and individual demands.
rGen Now (11% of total) –Stamping their values on the world, with greater demands for disruption in dairy.
rA uent City Living (7% of total) – e most dynamic dairy buyers, always looking for something new in terms of products, bene ts to them and the stories
around the food they consume. e increase in demand for yoghurt and cheese can be seen in import gures as consumers look for di erent avours. In the rst nine months of 2024, the UK imported 227,899t of yoghurt, according to HMRC gures quoted by AHDB. is was 35% more than the
same period in 2023, with the value of that trade up 32.6% to £391m.
Cheese imports increased by 4.1% to 338,829t, with the value up 3.4% to £1.538bn. e increased demand for yoghurt and cheese helped drive imports for the nine months up 11.5% to 939,387t, with the value up 7.9% to £2.537bn.
Dairy companies are always looking for innovations to increase sales, but in a social media-dominated world, care has to be taken.
Recently, Arla launched milk produced using the feed additive Bovaer. e feed ingredient has been developed by feed manufacturer DSM-Firmenich, which claims it can reduce methane emissions in ca le by up to 40%.
Despite approval by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), an online backlash quickly erupted, with claims that the product was dangerous and others that it was part of a global conspiracy inspired by Bill Gates, with social media users lming themselves pouring away Arla milk.
In response, the FSA said: “Milk from cows given Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink. Bovaer has undergone rigorous safety assessments and is approved for use in Great Britain.”
milk accounted for 73.1% of the overall volume of dairy retail sales in the year to November 2.
A new series from agricultural recruitment expert REAL Success will explore the common issues when it comes to recruitment, HR and succession.
How can I attract staff when recruitment is so competitive?
Dear frustrated farmer,
Ah, the joys of recruitment in farming –where nding sta can feel rarer than a dry day in November. But don’t despair; you’re not alone in this challenge. With some planning and e ort, you can turn your farm into a place where the best talent wants to work. Here are my top tips to help you a ract great sta , even in this competitive market:
1
Advertise positively and widely: First impressions count, and that applies to job adverts, too. Instead of just listing the role and responsibilities, sell your farm and the lifestyle it o ers. Why would someone want to work for you?
Talk about the team, the opportunities for growth or the beautiful countryside. Use photos or videos to show o your farm at its best. And don’t limit yourself to one platform – post the advert across social media, farming websites and local networks. Be ready for comments and applications from overseas, too; the internet has a broad reach.
2 Be prepared: Before o ering the job, make sure the paperwork is in order. Do you have a
Dear Paul,
I struggle to find and attract the right staff to work on my farm. It is so competitive out there, and I am constantly losing out to others who seem to have it all sorted. What can I do to stand out and make my farm the place where great people want to work?
Yours, A frustrated farmer
proper job description, employment contract and clarity on the worker’s employment status? is isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about looking professional and giving your new hire con dence in you as an employer. Remember, it’s a legal requirement in the UK to issue a wri en contract within two months of someone starting, so don’t leave it until the last minute.
3
Make a good rst impression: It’s not just candidates who need to impress; you need to impress them too. A messy yard or a break room piled high with washing up can send the wrong message. Spend some time tidying up
About the expert
JPaul Harris, founder and chief executive of Real Success, is a thought leader, inspirational keynote speaker and people management coach for agribusinesses, and the author of Happy Team, Happy Farm. rDo you have a burning question which would benefit from expert advice? Submit it to katie.jones@agriconnect.com
before interviews, it shows you take pride in your farm and value your sta . Be punctual and prepared on the day. If you’re late or ustered, you give the impression you’re disorganised.
4
Structure your interviews: Cha ing casually in the Land Rover while driving around the farm is tempting, but resist the urge. Start with a proper, structured interview, prepare questions about their experience, skills and why they want to work for you.
Once the formal bit is done, then take them on a tour. is lets you highlight your farm’s best bits while giving the candidate a feel for the place. Don’t forget to let your team know you’ll be showing someone around –no-one wants to walk into an awkward surprise.
5
Try before you buy (a trial day): A trial day or weekend is a great way to see if the candidate is the right t. It’s also a chance for them to decide if your farm is the right place for them.
It’s one thing to ask if they can drive a tractor or handle livestock, but another to prove it. Spending time on the farm gives you a clearer idea of their skills, a itude and how
they interact with your team – it’s a win-win for both sides.
6
Positivity ma ers: Talk about your team, your approach to farming and what you love about the industry. Positivity is infectious, and showing your enthusiasm will make candidates more excited about joining you.
7
Provide decent accommodation: If you’re o ering accommodation, make sure it’s up to scratch. ink of it this way: would you be happy for your family to stay there? If the answer is no, it’s time for some improvements.
Reasonable accommodation can make all the di erence when someone is deciding whether to work for you or another farm.
8 Set them up for success: Once they’ve joined, don’t just throw them in at the deep end. Prepare an induction plan for their rst three months, covering everything from health and safety to learning the ropes of your farm. New employees need time to se le in, so don’t expect perfection from day one. With the proper support, they’ll quickly nd their feet and be more likely to stick around, too.
Yours supportively, Paul
Paul Harris offers some top tips on attracting great staff.
5th - 6th March 2025
NAEC Stoneleigh
Low Carbon Agriculture 2024
The business event for forward thinking farmers, landowners and industry experts
Join us at the UK’s only exhibition dedicated to tackling agricultural climate goals and showcasing energy solutions to provide a sustainable farming future.
This vibrant business event brings together forward-thinking farmers, landowners, and industry operators to explore how the agricultural sector can contribute to the UK’s Net Zero goals.
