MILKING CONSIDERATIONS

Careful budgeting and persistence are the key requirements to the success of once-aday milking systems. Wendy Short reports.

Weighing up once-aday milking

Once-a-day milking has the potential to achieve a yield average of 4,000kg/cow, with solids averaging 320kg/cow and peaking at 400kg for the top performers, according to LIC consultant Piers Badnell, speaking at an AHDB Dairy webinar.

He said rst lactation cows would show the most signi cant year one production decline of 21-25%, while the gure for mixed age animals was 16-21%. He estimated that milk yield and quality would return to close to former levels within three or four years.

Producers considering a move to once-a-day milking should make

Piers Badnell

detailed projections, including a sensitivity analysis to show the nancial e ect of the initial production losses and milk price changes, for example. ey must also be prepared to make a long-term commitment.

Mr Badnell said: “Some produ-

In the field David Williams, Clwyd

JFarm profitability has been maintained since the Williams family, of Clawdd Offa Farm, Mold, adopted once-a-day, with grazing access problems and the desire for a lifestyle change the two main factors which prompted the 2011 switch for the 275-strong Jersey cross black and white herd.

The holding is split by a busy commuter road and it requires three people to safely move the spring-calving cows back to the parlour.

David Williams, who farms with his wife Carol, daughter Vicky and his sister-in-law Sue Pope, said once-a-day allowed for a more relaxed lifestyle, as well as eliminating the need to employ outside help. Cost reduction and a good milk solids contract were the two elements he considered essential for success.

He said twice-a-day milking produced an average 4,260kg yield, with milk solids at 8.5%. In the first once-a-day year, volume fell by 10% and milk solids by 4%. He added that production currently stood at 4,116kg/cow, cers who switch to once-a-day will underestimate rst year losses and do not fully realise the cost savings which are required. ey will su er the rst year ‘pain’ and pull out before production starts to climb in year two. ey will fail to reap the bene ts if they return to twice-a-day milking.”

He pointed to a range of advantages o ered by a switch to once-aday, although performance varied widely between farms. e bene ts

with a milk solids percentage of 9.25% on a grass-based system supplemented with palm kernel feed.

Mr Williams said: “Once-a-day highlights poor performers and in year one 7% of cows were culled for unsuitability. They were taking too long to milk, going dry or laying down fat.

“We no longer worry about yield volume and focus only on solids production. Once-a-day has taken pressure off the system and given us more time to look after the herd.” included a be er work/lifestyle balance and a lower dependency on a racting or retaining sta .

No capital investment was required, infrastructure would last longer and it could be an a ractive option where herds were regularly grazed long distances from the parlour.

Once-a-day could also help rectify cow fertility issues and o ered savings on labour, electricity, general dairy expenses and vet and

In the field Keith Da

JKeith Davis, of Lydney Park farm, switched to once-a-day for half of the herd in 2012, followed by a move to full once-a-day for the 860 cows in 2013. However, the loss of a profitable solids contract led to the farm reverting to twice-a-day last year.

He explained the Jersey crosses calve in a 12-week block from mid-February, with the emphasis on milk from forage on a 299-hectare (738acre) grazing block which is part of a large estate.

Despite the growing interest in once-a-day milking, questions need to be asked to make sure it if suitable for your system.

breeding costs, as well as a lower rate of depreciation associated with herd value and machinery.

Producers who were considering the system should pose a number of questions, he added.

Robust

“ e business must be robust enough to sustain the e ect of a milk yield reduction in the rst year. ere may also be a bulk somatic cell count increase of 20,000-40,000 cells/ml, so any existing mastitis problems should be recti ed rst.

“Autumn-calving herds have a higher cost structure and a housed situation would increase pressure on mastitis and cell counts. It is be er suited to spring calvers with a high milk from forage potential.

“If you are a ‘tank watcher’, it may not be for you. However, once-a-day is working very e ectively on some units and there is growing interest in the system.”

vis, Gloucestershire

Mr Davis said: “When we moved to once-a-day we had a good cheese contract. First year yields dropped from 4,500kg to 3,500kg and milk solids went up slightly. Overall once-a-day yields were 3,850kg and milk solids at 350kg/cow. Today the herd average is 4,700kg, with 460kg/head of milk solids.”

Prior to once-a-day being implemented, the herd comprised 1,000 cows, milked through a 32-point rotary parlour.

He said: “We realised we could not continue with these numbers without a new parlour, but there was a reluctance to make the investment.

“Once-a-day worked well until the farm lost the favourable solids contract.

Seasonality clause

“It was replaced by one with a seasonality clause which meant we lost 7.5ppl at a crucial production period.

“A new contract is in place, but the figures no longer stack up for once-a-day, despite its potential advantages.” Spread-a-Bale®

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Here we mark the launch of the fourth, and potentially most important, year of our #ThisIsAgriculture campaign, at a moment in time when showcasing careers throughout the industry has never been more crucial.

Careers in agriculture: The time is now

The unforeseen events of the past two years have put farming firmly in the public spotlight for a host of different reasons.

Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdowns played an enormous role in transforming the value consumers place on home-grown food, the British countryside and job security.

Unprecedented school closures and a shift towards online learning enabled farming organisations to reach a record number of young children and teenagers and give them access to workplaces which were usually off limits.

Add to this the burgeoning issues of the environment and climate change and there are now opportunities for the taking to highlight the cutting-edge work our industry is doing to play its part.

Together, all these factors have captured the attention and imagination of a huge demographic from the younger generation to teachers, consumers and tourists. But now the industry faces a considerable challenge in how to maintain this interest as life returns to normal.

Setting the scene

An increased awareness of food provenance can undoubtedly be traced back to the panic-buying witnessed in the lead-up to the first lockdown.

Carl Edwards, director of education and public engagement at Linking Environment and Farming (Leaf), says: “One of the consequences of the pandemic was that it reawakened people’s interest in food and made them truly value it. We don’t know what we’ve got until it’s gone or limited.

“This put farming in the spotlight and highlighted its importance to us all in society. Going out on Leaf Open Farm Sunday and listening to the conversations that young families were having with their local food producers and farmers made it is clear to me that they have a renewed sense of appreciation for what our industry does.”

The crucial role the countryside played in safeguarding people’s physical and mental health will not be forgotten in a hurry.

A survey commissioned by Farmers Guardian as part of the #FarmingCAN campaign found that as many as 71% of people said they felt fortunate to be able to access the British countryside.

And a survey by Censuswide for the NFU revealed that 87% of respondents said visits to Britain’s farmed landscape had improved their wellbeing over the past year.

Nearly half said they valued the British countryside and farmland more since the pandemic began and 84% agreed their visits had made them appreciate the role farmers play in creating our iconic rural landscapes.

Job security was also at the forefront of people’s minds and farmers’ roles as key workers highlighted their important place in society.

Josh Payne, chief education manager at the NFU, says: “At the end of the day, everybody has to eat. That will never change.”

Climate change

However, the pandemic is not the only crisis on people’s minds. The fight against climate change is a key driver for young people and an increased awareness of the positive work the farming industry is doing in this area has started to have an impact.

Soil Association farm adviser Jerry Alford says: “New ideas and entrepreneurial thinking have always been welcome in farming and the need to focus on how we can use soil and farming systems to sequester carbon, improve soil health and the climate is a great opportunity for the next generation of farmers.”

Carl agrees that young people are interested in the effect of what they eat and buy on our climate and they are keen to play their part.

He says: “I see a real desire to learn

Inspiring the next generation in statistics

● Science Farm Live! reached about 223,000 students at 1,476 schools/homes ● During Science Farm Live!, 682 questions and 454 shout-outs were submitted in advance, with a further 3,495 comments and questions submitted using the live chat ● Most of the teacher feedback (83%) rated Science Farm Live! as seven or above out of 10, with more than half of the feedback scoring the event 10/10 ● Linking Environment and Farming worked with more than 1,000 teachers – 100% said they felt more confident and able to deliver more food and farming work in the classroom ● A total of 71% of people feel fortunate to be able to access the British countryside (Source: Savanta Comres survey for Farmers Guardian’s #FarmingNow campaign) ● 81% appreciate the role farmers play in creating our iconic rural landscapes (Source: Censuswide survey for NFU) ● 47% value the British countryside and farmland more since the Covid-19 pandemic began (Source: Censuswide survey for NFU) more about sustainable food production, the technology behind it and how it impacts on climate change.”

Research by Leaf Education has seen an astonishing five-fold increase in engagement this year from its work with young people on-farm, in schools and online.

Carl says: “A hybrid approach is required to provide opportunities for young people to learn directly from real-world experiences, where they can question, learn and challenge farmers and become inspired to enter our sector.”

Education initiatives across the industry seized upon the potential online learning provided to give students a unique insight into farming.

NFU’s Science Farm Live! ran on March 8-12 this year and connected a staggering 223,000 students with the Great British countryside and with the people who look after its landscapes, animals and farms through four interactive broadcasts.

These broadcasts included a trip to a sheep farm for Lambing Live, Future Farming Robots with researchers from Harper Adams University, watching chicks hatch with Eggucation and a farm vet visit on a dairy farm.

Josh says: “When it comes to how we solve issues around agriculture, such as the supply chain and labour, a lot will require new solutions and new ways of thinking.

“These kids are the ones we want to do it. We need to get to them now and show them that if they want to be

a robotics engineer or programming artificial intelligence they can do that within agriculture.”

Student numbers soar

This unique set of circumstances has already had a tangible impact, with agricultural colleges around the country reporting an increase in the number of students opting to study agricultural courses.

CLA president Mark Bridgeman says: “A career in the agriculture sector can often be overlooked by those without a direct family link to farming.

“But at this critical time when there is an increasing focus on the environment, climate change and sustainable farming, it is no surprise that agricultural colleges are seeing growing interest from young people.

“Perhaps some students feel inspired by the work farmers did to feed the nation during the pandemic or were able to make the most of our glorious countryside for long-distance walks. After all, stewardship of our natural environment is an honour and a responsibility many would wish to share.”

In 2004, Otley College had just five farming students. By 2020, 63 learners were enrolled on farming courses at the newly-named Suffolk Rural, which is now run by Suffolk New College.

Holly Williams, head of land-based studies at Suffolk Rural, says: “This year we have already eclipsed these figures and we are still enrolling students up until the middle of October.”

She believes a number of factors may have contributed to this rise, but says TV shows such as Countryfile and more recently Clarkson’s Farm, have played a key role.

She says: “These shows have got people talking about agriculture, which is fantastic. I also think the industry is more inclusive and that can be seen by the fact that we have more students who did not grow up on a farm joining our courses at Suffolk Rural. It is great to see a higher number of female students enrolling.”

What next?

In order to capitalise on the increased interest and positive feeling towards the industry, experts agree organisations working together is essential.

Josh says: “Continued collaboration is key. Agriculture is made up of lots of smaller organisations and everyone is doing different things, but we need to talk to each other and put on a united front for schools so we can get the best bang for our buck. We do not have the same level of funding as some of the bigger industries out there.”

Carl agrees for more collaborative working.

He says: “We need to work together to help join the circle and offer exciting and motivating experiences to empower our young people to make informed decisions about the hugely varied and rewarding careers our industry has to offer.”

Holly says: “I guess the message to everyone is to keep working together and keep being creative to help fly the farming flag.

“Now is not the time to sit back and think that the job is done. Now is the time to put our collective foot on the accelerator to encourage more and more people into our fantastic industry.”

Josh is keen to highlight that increased appreciation for the countryside and home-grown food are not luxuries accessible to everyone and the industry needs to join forces in order to reach those children denied such experiences during the lockdowns.

About #ThisIsAgriculture

FARMERS Guardian has joined forces with key industry stakeholders from across the farming sector to promote careers in agriculture, collaborating with industry bodies and industry partners to see how and where we can work together to shape the political agenda, drive educational reform and provide learning resources.

Articles will feature in Farmers Guardian to help agricultural businesses and farms understand recruitment and staff retention challenges and practical ideas they can adopt to mark the evolving changes which are happening in the careers, skills and training arena.

Local surroundings

He says: “We saw a lot of people becoming more aware of their local surroundings, but that was largely within middleclass environments. Those who had the budget were going out more, growing food at home, baking and cooking and those aspects of society now have a greater understanding. In some areas, however, it made little difference.”

And there is still an important role the individual farmer can play.

Josh says: “Do your part. You have your own kids, grandkids and people you know who are teachers. We’re doing excellent work, but a lot of people still don’t know about it. Don’t be afraid to get in touch and offer to talk to students about your life.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Visit FGinsight.com/ThisIsAgriculture