Farmers Guardian Dairy Supplement 21 February 2025

Feed additives may have stolen the headlines recently, but scientists point out there is considerable research ongoing looking at a myriad of options to help reduce methane emissions from farm animals. Katie Jones reports.

While there has been considerable interest in the use of Bovaer, the only approved feed additive for reducing methane emissions in lactating animals, scientists say that other options including slow-release boluses, vaccines and breeding should not be forgotten.

Speaking at a background briefing organised by the Science Media Centre, Dr Sinead Waters, senior researcher in host microbiome interactions at the University of Galway, said she had been involved in a number of feed additive studies, but these concentrated efforts on indoor systems.

She said: “Feed additives do well when fed consistently. But for grazing systems we need to come round to developing and using new products. That is where my work comes in on slow-release products such as boluses.”

‘Holy grail’

Dr Waters added these slow release boluses were the ‘holy grail’ in terms of delivering a feed additive.

She cited long-term studies being carried out in New Zealand by Ruminant BioTech looking at methane-inhibiting bolus technology.

In this case a slow-release, biodegradable bolus sits in the animal’s rumen, releasing a controlled dose of a methane inhibitor for up to six months.

Recent trials on cattle showed a 75% daily methane reduction for 100 days from a single treatment.

It is hoped this product will be commercially available to New Zealand farmers by 2027.

Dr Waters said this product would be subject to strict safety testing as it contains bromoform, which is also present in red seaweed. Bromoform has been used in feed to reduce methane emissions, but also has a potential carcinogenic effect.

She added: “There would need to be considerable safety testing, but the bromoform would be at a low enough dose that it would not be bioavailable.

“We are probably a few years off this technology being available in the UK, but our research efforts and focus should be on this area.”

Dr Waters said these slow-release feed additives could be used in collaboration with other mitigation including breeding strategies.

Prof Richard Dewhurst, head of the dairy research centre at SRUC, said New Zealand also provided the test bed for research into the breeding of low-emitting animals, with the coun-

Ongoing research into methane reduction

try having a particular focus on sheep breeding.

He said: “Genetic progress is much slower than feed additives but is cumulative. There are two approaches to breeding for lower emissions; direct and indirect.

“As an indirect approach to breeding for reduced methane, we see a large variation in feed intake. The more feed a cow consumes, the more methane it will produce, so there is considerable interest in cows that can convert feed into milk efficiently.”

This, he added, was where breeding indexes, such as Feed Advantage, come in, as farmers aim to breed the most feed-efficient cows.

There is a considerable interest in cows that can convert feed into milk efficiently

PROF RICHARD DEWHURST

The direct route uses genomic predictions along with existing breeding techniques to accelerate genetic progress, and he used SRUC’s Cool Cows project as an example of this.

“This project uses genomic assessment alongside existing production and environmental efficiency indices to select elite, methane-efficient heifers for breeding. IVF and sexed semen is used alongside this to accelerate genetic progress.

“This is not genetic modification, this is regular breeding using genomics to help us identify elite animals and existing breeding tools to reduce genetic intervals.”

Vaccine

As well as feed additives, research is currently underway in developing a vaccine for methane emissions.

Prof John Hammond, director of research at The Pirbright Institute, said he was working with an international consortium to build scientific evidence for a vaccine that can reduce the activity of methane-producing microbes in a cow’s stomach.

He said: “Vaccination is a widely accepted practice that is auditable and can be used in combination with strategies, such as chemical inhibition, selection for low methane genetics, or early-life interventions to alter microbiome composition in livestock.”

He added the proof-of-concept project will allow researchers to explore mechanisms for antibody-driven inhibition of methanogen growth, establishing the number and characteristics of methanogen antigens which trigger an immune response, and understand the number and antigen binding strength of antibodies.

Speaking about the recent public furore over Bovaer, Dr Waters said there needed to be a greater focus on communication with farmers and the public.

“Communication is key. We need more communication with the public on the use of these technologies to show they are safe and trials have been going on for years.”

And on the value of these technologies to the farmer, Dr Waters said she believed that the use of a feed additive, for example, would need to be incentivised.

She added: “We had expected there to be a performance benefit as well as a methane reduction, but we are not seeing that. We can not expect farmers to pay for the technology themselves if they are not seeing a performance benefit or are not being paid to use the technology or product.

“This will have to be a policy decision to pay farmers [for using the feed additive], or make it a requirement of some of the support schemes.”

PICTURE: CHARLES SAINSBURY-PLAICE

Bolus technology could provide an answer to reducing methane in grazing systems.

Ultrasound lung scanning can be a quick and effective diagnostic tool for monitoring calf respiratory disease and pointing to treatment options. Wendy Short reports.

Dairy Ultrasound lung scanning provides instant results

The main advantage of ultrasound lung scanning is that it can be carried out with the same instrument used for pregnancy diagnosis, says Jenny Marmion, of Cheshire Farm Vets.

She adds: “Every farm vet will carry a portable ultrasound scanner as a matter of routine, and about five years ago it became common to use these scanners for live lung examination, also known as thoracic ultrasound scanning.

“The scanner head is positioned in between the ribs, to show an image of the left and right lungs. This technique provides a snapshot of lung condition, and the results are instant.

“The vet will be looking for lesions, which show up as brighter images compared with normal lung tissue. Alternatively, what is referred to as consolidation may be visible. It is a solid area which oxygen is unable to penetrate, and it is displayed on the screen as a wide, highlighted area against a background of normal lung tissue.”

Scoring system

Some vets will use a scoring system to categorise lung damage levels which are revealed by the scan.

And Ms Marmion says the process will help the vet to give a prognosis, as it adds to the range of information about the calf’s condition. Other indicators include nasal discharge, rapid breathing and high temperature. In cases where severe damage shows up on the image, it may affect decisions on whether to continue to invest in further treatment.

Ms Marmion adds thoracic ultra-

sound scanning also allows subclinical cases to be identified.

She says: “In these cases, calves that are not showing any clinical signs of respiratory disease, but are revealed to have lung lesions on scanning, can be detected and treated appropriately.

“These subclinical cases are known to have reduced growth rates. Therefore, if they can be pinpointed at an early stage and given the right treatment growth rates, as well as general health, can be improved.”

Another use for the scanning technique is to check whether treatment has been effective.

“Calves will often recover following a respiratory illness, although the lungs may not fully heal in severe cases. Nevertheless, it can be encouraging to conduct a second scan and find that the images reveal significant improvement, which could mean that no further action needs to be taken.

“I have seen cases where a calf is quite badly affected, with fairly serious lung changes, but a second scan has pointed to a good rate of recovery and healing,” she adds.

Lung scanning is not used routinely across all practices, and vets new to the technique may require some training, Ms Marmion says.

“The training is relatively straightforward, and it is mainly aimed at mak-

It is widely accepted that lung damage will have a negative effect on calf performance

JENNY MARMION

ing sure that the probe is positioned accurately and that the internal lung landmarks are identified, but all vets will be able to interpret the results after examining the images.

“Both sides of the calf’s chest will need to be scanned, and with repetition the procedure will only take a couple of minutes.”

Use in adult cows

Thoracic ultrasound scanning can also be used for adult cows, she adds.

“It is not commonly used for adult cattle, but it can be helpful where there is a history of respiratory disease, and new clinical signs have been reported,” she says.

“However, it could also be conduct-

ed if a group or four or five cows were showing signs of respiratory disease, for example.

“On one occasion, I found approximately 40% lung consolidation in a dry cow that was displaying symptoms. It had been treated with antibiotics for the same condition 12 months earlier. In this case, the scanning confirmed that severe lung pathology was present. The cow went on to calve successfully and was removed from the herd at the end of its lactation.

“It is widely accepted that lung damage will have a negative effect on calf performance. In the same way it will also depress milk yields, especially as dry matter intakes will be reduced in a sick animal.”

Thoracic ultrasound scanning is another tool in the toolbox for vets to use to identify respiratory illnesses in cattle, Ms Marmion adds.

“Previously, the only tools for use in a farm setting were a thermometer and a stethoscope to listen for respiratory rate and sounds, combined with a visual assessment of a suspect case.

“Today, a simple scan can add to the available diagnostic procedures. With respiratory illnesses one of the most common calf health problems, thoracic ultrasound scanning can only be of benefit to dairy farmers, given the appropriate situation,” she says.

PICTURE: JOHN EVESON

Jenny Marmion

Thoracic ultrasound scanning can detect subclinical respiratory disease.

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Weaning dairy calves later and providing the correct nutrition from birth is key for calf rearing. Amanda Cornforth-Smith reports.

Reap the benefits of ensuring calves get off to the best start

Alongside good hygiene, not rushing weaning and ensuring calves have access to highquality colostrum and sufficient milk in their early days is good practice and will encourage youngstock to thrive, says Jessica Yeomans, technical calf and youngstock specialist at Wynnstay. However, she adds that these practices must also align with your farm management system.

Ms Yeomans offers a reminder that calf rearing begins with colostrum.

She says: “The calf needs to be given high-quality, clean colostrum within the first two hours of life.

“This will give them the best chance and improve their absorption of immunoglobulins. They should be fed this at 10% of their body weight – so for a 40kg calf, this equates to four litres, helping them to get off to a good start.

Transitioning

“In an ideal world, keeping them on the colostrum and then transitioning onto milk over five days is best, but it can be a challenge, practically speaking.

“The milk needs to be clean and Johne’s-free and will give added protection for the calf’s gut.”

Allowing calves to drink freely before weaning, while also introducing a dry feed alongside milk early on, will also provide long-term benefits.

HOW TO USE A BRIX REFRAC

“I would encourage no restriction on access to milk for the first two weeks of life,” says Ms Yeomans.

“Calves should be getting six to eight litres or more a day, but I would let the calf decide how much it wants and let them feed to their appetite during their early life. This will help improve the calf’s health, have a better feed conversion ratio and a positive impact on daily liveweight gain. No other industry, like pigs or poultry, limits the feeding of their young animals.

“Checking they have had adequate colostrum transfer is another good practice which can improve

People can make the mistake of thinking that getting enough milk is okay for the calf’s fluids and that milk is a substitute for water, but it is not

JESSICA YEOMANS

daily liveweight gains. Plus, giving them a good-quality calf starter little and often from birth is a good idea, as long as it is kept fresh.”

Natural behaviour

Allowing calves to feed on demand will not only have a positive impact on their physical development, but it is also advisable from a welfare perspective. It encourages more natural behaviour, which in turn will help avoid possible infection or illness, says Ms Yeomans.

CALIBRATE refractometers before each use and make sure they are free from visual dirt and contaminants such as manure. Also check for any cracks or breaks in the glass. Here is some stepby-step advice on using a Brix refractometer to test the quality of colostrum from your dairy cows:

■ Calibrate the refractometer before every use. Put two to three drops of distilled water on the glass surface

■ Lower the cover over the sample so the water spreads across the entire surface without any air bubbles or dry spots

■ Wait 15 seconds before taking a calibration reading – this allows the sample to adjust to room temperature

■ Hold the refractometer up to natural light while looking down the eyepiece. Avoid fluorescent light sources

available from day one is key; it helps the rumen to develop. If calves have plenty of water they will eat more starter feed, as both are processed in the rumen.

“People can make the mistake of thinking that getting enough milk is okay for the calf’s fluids and that milk is a substitute for water, but it is not, as milk is processed in the abomasum.”

Delaying weaning to allow a slower transition can also have its benefits, adds Ms Yeomans.

She adds: “If you think about a hungry calf, it will wander around, unsettled, and try to suck on other things like gates and so on. This then gives a higher risk of picking up bad bacteria and infections. If it is full, a content and well-fed calf will play and sleep, and that is what we want to see.”

Making sure calves have access to clean water from birth should also be standard practice, says Ms Yeomans, as water is a vital component to help with the calf’s development.

“Weaning needs to be managed carefully; it does not want to be done too abruptly. I would advise doing it at three to four weeks as a minimum, but leaving it to 12 or 13 weeks would be more optimum to encourage dry feed intake over [that] time,” she says.

She says: “Water is often overlooked, but having clean water

Maintaining high hygiene standards is also vital for calf health –

TOMETER

■ As you look down the eyepiece, you will see a circular field with graduations down the centre.

The scale should read zero where the light and dark areas meet. If it does not, adjust using the calibration screw

■ Wipe the surface clean with a clean, soft cloth

■ Once dry, place a couple of drops of colostrum onto the glass surface and repeat the process

■ Take a quality reading for the colostrum

■ When you are happy with the reading, make sure you clean the slide and glass ready for next time

■ High-quality colostrum with a reading above 22% can be used or stored. Colostrum with a reading below 22% should be discarded

Source: AHDB

keeping feeding equipment clean is imperative, as is making sure calves are housed in a sanitary environment to help prevent disease.

“Newborn calves want to be in a clean and well-disinfected pen, with the pen thoroughly cleaned out after each calf leaves,” she says.

Bedding

“Deep straw bedding is good as it keeps them warm and offers protection. If a calf is sleeping in a wellbedded pen with its nose down, the straw will provide a barrier and help improve hygiene.

“Also, think about keeping the area draught-free but clean and well-ventilated. Disinfect all equipment and feed calves from youngest to oldest.

“If weaning is managed carefully, the results can be exciting,” Ms Yeomans adds.

SOLUTIONS

CALVING

Delaying weaning to allow a slower transition can also have its benefits for calf rearing.

PICTURE: JOHN EVESON

Denmark has about 2,100 milk producers, and of these just over 200 are organic. This figure has fallen by about 10% over recent years, with organic producer Peter Sivertsen believing this is a direct result of higher costs of production and low milk prices.

Mr Sivertsen, who is on Arla Foods’ board of representatives, says he decided to switch to organic production in 1998 when he started off milking 70 cows.

Now he is running a herd of 150 Danish Red cows and followers at Mannerup Mollegard near Roskilde, which he farms with his wife Lotte and three employees.

Mr Sivertsen is farming 300 hectares (741 acres), half of which is owned. About 250ha (618 acres) is in a three-year rotation of grass and arable crops including rye, wheat, rapeseed and barley, and the remainder is permanent pasture and wetlands.

Self-sufficiency

He says as a result of this acreage, Mollegard is almost self-sufficient in feed, with just some soyabeans bought in.

“When we are self-sufficient in feed, it means less climate impact as we do not have to transport the feed to and from the farm,” adds Mr Sivertsen.

Grass is usually cut four times a year and then ensiled in flat silos, which are covered with plastic until fermentation is complete after five to six weeks, after which the silage is ready for feeding. The grass is primarily of the ryegrass and red clover varieties.

“It has been shown in recent years that we get a better quality of clover grass after we have cultivated rapeseed in a field. And when we follow a grass ley with a crop of rapeseed, we are usually able to harvest about four tonnes of rapeseed per hectare, which I think is a fine result.”

Mr Sivertsen adds over the years they have found that rye is best for keeping a field free of weeds, as the plants cover the entire soil

Rising costs, in particular feed prices, coupled with lower milk prices are putting pressure on organic milk producers in Denmark. Aage Krogsdam finds out more.

Organic milk production under pressure in Denmark

quite early during growth. But he says it is more difficult to keep a wheat field free of weeds.

Denmark’s dairy industry and agricultural emissions tax

■ Last year, Denmark announced it was to introduce the world’s first tax on agricultural emissions after months of negotiations with stakeholders, including farmers, for a livestock ‘fart tax’

■ From 2030, farmers will have to pay a levy of 300 kroner (£34) per tonne of methane, as per carbon dioxide equivalent, on emissions

from livestock, which will rise to 750 kroner (£84) in 2035

■ In Denmark, there are just over 2,100 milk producers with 546,000 cows, according to latest figures

■ There are just more than 200 organic dairy producers

■ The cooperative Arla Foods takes 99% of all milk in Denmark

He says: “The wheat plants are not as good at covering the soil as quickly as rye. Therefore, we have reduced our area down to wheat, and we have also found the cows can eat rye in the fodder very well.”

Grass silage plus fresh grass from grazing make up about 65% of the cows’ diet, while 25% is grain and the remaining part is primarily soya.

“We mix our feed ourselves at our mixing plant and feed once every day in the morning,” says Mr Sivertsen.

During summer, cows graze for a minimum of six hours a day with

access to the cubicle shed allowed after 2pm, after which they can enter the shed and be milked via two automatic milking robots. Cows are milked on average twoand-a-half times a day with each milking taking about six minutes.

Yields

Cows are currently giving an average of 33kg per day, with average annual yields of 11,000kg at 4.5% butterfat and 3.6% protein.

Mr Sivertsen uses genetics from Viking Genetics, which has good links with Finland and Sweden to access their genetics.

Peter Sivertsen runs a herd of 150 Danish Red cows and followers at Mannerup Mollegard near Roskilde.

He says: “The potential for good genes is limited in Denmark with only approximately 30,000 cows of the Red Danish breed. So to avoid inbreeding, the three countries have teamed up meaning the selection of good genes is considerably greater.

“We select the cows that have the highest performance and the best health and use sexed semen on these.

“We breed to get not only the highest performing cows, but also robust and therefore healthy cows.”

The average number of lactations is three, but Mr Sivertsen says the herd also contains some high-performing cows which have had up to six calves.

Looking ahead, Mr Sivertsen

We breed to get not only the highest performing cows, but also robust and therefore healthy cows PETER SIVERTSEN

says he fears the Danish Government’s tax on emissions, which takes effect from 2030, will have an impact on the number of dairy farms and he also worries about future legislation around nitrogen leaching.

■ The milking herd has free access to the cow shed at grazing which houses the farm’s milking robots and cubicles bedded with chopped straw and lime

■ Somatic cell counts are around 300,000

■ Milk price is about 4 Danish crowns/kg (44p/kg), with milk sold to Arla

Stillbirths

• Q Fever is endemic in GB dairy herds1

• It causes reproduction and fertility issues to cattle, sheep and goats2

• It is also a zoonosis, risking the health of those working with livestock

• It is caused by the bacterium Coxiella burnetti

• Infection is generally via inhalation but also via faeces, milk and vaginal mucous

• Coxiella b. can be carried on the wind3,4,5

• Coxiella b. is persistent, surviving up to 5 months in soil6

COXEVAC® suspension for injection for cattle and goats contains inactivated Coxiella burnetti strain Nine Mile ≥72 QF Unit*/ml. *Q-fever Unit: relative potency of phase I antigen measured by ELISA in comparison with a reference item. LEGAL CATEGORY: UK POM-V .

Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone.

References 1. Velasova M. et al. 2017. Herd-level prevalence of selected endemic infectious diseases of dairy cows in Great Britain. J. Dairy Sci. 100:9215–9233 2. López-Gatius F., Almeria S., Garcia-Ispierto I. (2012) Serological screening for Coxiella burnetii infection and related reproductive performance in high producing dairy cows. Research in Veterinary Science Aug. 93 (1) 67-73. 3. Hawker JI. et al. 1998. A large outbreak of Q fever in the West

Cutting soya from milking cow diets has been investigated at the University of Nottingham’s Dairy Research Centre. Jonathan Wheeler finds out more.

Redesigning diets to cut emissions

Owners of high-yielding dairy herds could achieve a triple benefit by removing soya from their herd’s diets, suggests new research from the University of Nottingham’s Dairy Research Centre.

The findings come after the university decided to revise the diet of its 420-strong Holstein Friesian dairy herd, which currently averages 12,932 litres per lactation.

The university worked with partners Wynnstay and Trouw Nutrition to redesign the diets with the aim of

cutting environmental emissions in line with the expectations of its buyer and end customers, Arla and Tesco. Soya had been a core component of the herd’s diet.

David Howard, Wynnstay’s head of dairy, says: “We have proven that cows can thrive without soya in their diet, which is a huge step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of dairying.”

feed fed via the milking robots being cut from 18% protein to 16%. At the same time, the overall starch level has been raised from 18% to 22.5%.

The first key benefit is that yields did not drop when soya was removed from the mix, with milk solids rising by 4.8%.

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While the previous diet enabled the herd to achieve high yields and was reasonably well balanced, there were some inconsistencies with high crude protein levels, high phosphorous and areas for subtle changes.

That provided a clear indication that it was failing to match the cows’ nutritional needs accurately enough.

So, in March 2024 soya was phased out, to be replaced by rumenprotected amino acids, protected rapeseed meal and rumen energy sources, with an alternative molasses product also being introduced.

The overall protein of the diet was cut from 17.5% to 16.7%, with the protein level of the compound

Milk urea fell from 249mg/litre to 176mg/litre, both strong indicators that the protein was being used better.

Cheaper

The second benefit is the fact that the replacement ration is cheaper than its predecessor.

The removal of soya and better utilisation combine to provide the third benefit – a significant cut in the unit’s emissions per litre of milk produced.

Making best use of home-grown forage is key and introducing multicut silage has helped improve quality and helped cut CO2 emissions per kilo of fat and protein corrected milk by 10%.

David Howard

Nigel Armstrong

Research at the University of Nottingham has proven that cows can thrive without soya in their diet.

Forage is grown on 220 hectares (545 acres) on the university farm and two satellite areas – 162ha (400 acres) at Bunny Park Farm and 65ha (160 acres) at Clifton – both about 10 miles away.

Since moving to the new diet, the cows have consistently out-performed their previous production levels thanks to the better balanced nutrition, says Mr Howard.

And he adds these findings could be replicated by other farmers.

“This approach benefits the environment and supports the farm’s profitability by increasing the milk gained from home-grown forage,” he says.

“Rethinking ration formulation with amino acid precision can unlock efficiencies and deliver better results for both cows and the planet

“If we can closely match the animal’s amino acid requirement, we can cut the amount of crude protein we need to feed. We are not wasting protein because we have everything in better balance.”

While some farmers might be sceptical and resist making such a change, Mr Howard says they should consider recent history to show it can be done.

Rethinking

ration formulation with amino acid precision can unlock efficiencies and deliver better results for cows and the planet

DAVID HOWARD

“Soya costs £340/tonne now, but when the price rose to £600/t a few years ago, plenty of them found a way of substituting it in the ration. That proves they can do it – that price rise forced them to think whether there was a better way of meeting their animals’ protein needs.”

He adds farmers need to tap into the same survival instinct now, particularly as processors are beginning to introduce price incentives for milk produced using soya-free diets, or are setting dates by which milk produced using soya will no longer be accepted.

Average

The country needs to continue trying to reduce emissions, Mr Howard says, even though UK emissions (at 1.24kg CO2 equivalent/kg) are well below the global average (3kg CO2 equivalent/kg).

At Nottingham, dairy farm manager Nigel Armstrong is now concentrating on further improvements.

At the moment, cows are producing 3,500 litres/head from forage, which Mr Armstrong says could be raised to around 5,000 litres/head.

Mr Armstrong adds that genomics are also being used to isolate desirable breeding traits, which include milking speed. He accepts that may mean some highly productive cows leave the herd, but having cows that suit the system is key.

University of Nottingham Dairy Research Centre

■ 420 Holstein Friesian cows (in-milk and dry)

■ Averaging 42.2 litres/day and 12,932 litres per lactation at 4.04% butterfat and 3.29% protein

■ Milked by robots with an average 3.2 visits/day and 1.6 refusals/day)

■ 364-day calving interval

■ Somatic cell count of 130

■ Teaching facility can accommodate 1,400 veterinary students and additional agricultural and animal science students from the university’s veterinary and biosciences schools

“The herd is much more even now and this shows in the results,” he says.

Dr Liz Homer, sustainability manager ruminants Europe at Trouw Nutrition, says it is important for dairy farmers to review all diet changes for their impact on productivity, profitability and the planet.

She adds: “How raw materials are sourced can have a huge impact. Soya produced with a land use change can have a footprint double of that produced without such a change.”

Analysis

She urges farmers to use accurate and frequent analysis to check how well the cows are using the feed provided to them.

“We need nutritionists to start using these figures on-farm and consider them when making changes to diets.”

And she says it is key that feed advisers review the whole diet and question why high emission raw materials are being used and consider where there is a better alternative.

“Feed is the biggest contributor to carbon footprint and there are quick wins to reduce emissions by review-

Dr

ing the diets, which can have a positive impact straight away,” she says.

Dr Homer identifies two other areas to improve production and emissions.

She says: “Firstly, pay close attention to how heifers are fed. You can reduce overall herd emissions by 6% by reducing the age of first calving from 26 to 22 months.

“And secondly, making better quality forage is a quick win. For every additional 2kg forage dry matter in a balanced diet, you can expect an approximate 2% reduction in emission,” she adds.

Liz Homer

Dairy

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers/National Milk Records Gold Cup finalist Will Venn has grown cow numbers over the past 10 years and aimed to make incremental performance improvements along the way. Wendy Short reports.

The 160 Jerseys produce at average yield of 7,224kg at 5.48% butterfat and 4.17% protein.

Following a 10-year expansion programme, cow numbers have reached the target number of 700 for Will Venn, who farms with his family at Newley Farm, near Taunton, Somerset.

The herd, comprising 550 Hol-

steins and 160 Jerseys, is run by Will alongside his wife Kate and his father Tim.

Will says: “Cow numbers have expanded from 220 milkers in 2014 and we have only just reached the target, which was chosen to maximise efficiency.

Decade-long journey of focused improvement

“Progress has been hindered due to bovine TB losses and restrictions. The accommodation has actually been ready since 2020. Shortly after, the new Boumatic 40:40 rapid-exit parlour was fitted.

“The Holsteins and Jerseys are pure-bred, although they are unregistered, with the Jerseys boosting butterfat levels and maize [being] grown for milk protein content enhancement to achieve our contract bonuses.

“The Holsteins produce 10,132kg at 4.48% butterfat and 3.58% protein, while the figure for the Jerseys is 7,224kg at 5.48% butterfat and 4.17% protein.”

The strategy, he says, is to make small, incremental changes for performance progress.

“The unit has been on a decadelong journey of focused improvement,” says Will.

“Butterfat and protein payments pay the bills and that is always at the forefront of decision-making.

“It is essential to set production targets, but behind every average figure is a range of numbers.

“Our approach is to work towards narrowing that range.

“For example, within the 22month heifer calving average there will be many heifers calving outside that timeline.

“We have managed to reduce the range from 19-27 months to 20-26 months, but there is obviously still work to be done.”

The two breeds are kept in separate cubicle groups in the fully housed herd, but are run together for the dry and youngstock enterprises.

Diet

Feeding relies on a simple diet containing grass and maize silage, home-grown, caustic-treated wheat and a purchased protein blend, with concentrates offered in out-of-parlour feeders.

Will says: “Concentrates are expensive, and we believe that [this] system allows a more targeted approach compared with inparlour feeding.

“It means that the high-yielders have 24-hour access, rather than limiting them to the six to eight

From left: Tim, Kate and Will Venn.

Butterfat and protein payments pay the bills and that is always at the forefront of decision-making. It is essential to set production targets

WILL VENN

minutes twice a day during the milking period.

“The allocation is fed according to lactation stage and yield and it is fine-tuned with the addition of body condition scores inputted in the software programme.”

The farm comprises 283 hectares (700 acres) owned, plus 81ha (200 acres) of rented land used for additional maize growing.

The soil type is a silty clay loam and the main challenge is coping with summer droughts, as the unit lies in a rain shadow.

The silage platform covers 81ha (200 acres) and six cuts are usually taken annually.

“The cows used to be grazed, but they had to be housed to meet regulations during the foot-and-mouth outbreak,” says Will.

“It was then that we realised that preventing them from dunging, lying and walking on the grass had resulted in a grass yield increase of about 30%, so they have been kept inside ever since.”

The average freshweight grass yield is five to six tonnes/ha (12-14t/ acre) over the season. However, 80% of the total harvest comes from cuts one and two due to a lack of soil mois-

ture availability in June and July, when the grass all but stops growing.

The silage ley mixes are made up of festulolium and Italian ryegrass.

Where possible, all field tasks – including silage making – are carried out in-house to ensure timeliness of operations.

The Holsteins average three calves over a lifetime and the team are always working to improve longevity. A pregnancy rate of 34% has been achieved across the herd.

Genetics

Will says: “It is integral to our holistic approach where all aspects of soil, rotation, cost and labour-sharing across the enterprises are designed to complement each other.

“My father has always said that timeliness is next to godliness when it comes to growing crops. Fertiliser is only applied for cuts one and two and the rest receive slurry.

“It does not make sense to put on valuable fertiliser in drought periods, because if there is no rain the majority would be wasted.

“The maize works very well to add bulk to the forage stocks as it has a higher yield per acre compared with the grass, producing about 18t/acre.”

Will says: “A dozen genomic Holstein bulls are used via DIY artificial insemination over 12 months and we are always seeking the latest genetics, so it is rare that the same sire is chosen for two consecutive years.

“Genomic testing is being considered for the herd in the near future. Females are not served beyond 200 days, in order to keep a tight calving pattern. Trying to prevent the cows from getting too fat and having an extended lactation has always been a challenge on this unit.

“The heat detection collars are very useful and the accompanying software is checked before every milking to highlight bulling females and provide a snapshot of

The ration comprises grass and maize silage, home-grown caustictreated wheat and a purchased protein blend.

New cow accommodation was built in 2020 for the expanding herd.

Dairy

Farm facts

■ Herd calves all year round

■ Milk is sold to Saputo on a manufacturing contract

■ Current performance figures show a combined energycorrected bulk tank yield of 34.2kg/cow/day

■ Newley Farm has been in the Venn family for more than 100 years, starting with Will’s grandfather, Dennis, who purchased 20 hectares (50 acres) with his own father and increased the acreage while working with his two sons Tim and William

herd health. Any individual with a low eating time figure will be physically checked to rule out an underlying health issue.”

Calf management is considered extremely important and Will credits the farm’s chief calf rearer Chelsea Payne with maintaining high health status and growth rate goals to prepare heifers for service and calving.

Will says: “A new calving facility was built in 2018. There was a fouryear period of bTB restrictions and the herd is only seven months clear, so there have been no surplus heifers to sell.

“At present, there are about 200 females due to come into the herd

Holsteins and Jerseys are pure-bred using genomic bulls.

over the next year and this will enhance our selection pool.

Lower end

“The lower end of the females are put to a Wagyu, British Blue or Angus sire and their calves are sold at under one month old.”

Will, who obtained a Higher Na-

tional Diploma in agriculture at Harper Adams University and spent time on a New Zealand dairy farm before returning to work at home, describes himself as the ‘captain’ of the team of mainly full-time workers and is striving towards peak efficiency.

He says: “The farm relies on a team

effort to run the unit and to maintain the policy of gradual improvement.

“I am keen on training and all the staff have the chance to be involved in every aspect of management.

“I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to be involved in dairy farming by my family – both past and present,” Will adds.

Will Venn says he is aiming to narrow the average range of first calving, which currently stands at 20-26 months.

Flexible milking regimes could provide farmers with a greater work-life balance and also make a workplace more attractive to staff. Katie Jones reports.

Consider flexible milkings

Flexible milking where 10 milkings are carried out over seven days is gaining traction as dairy farmers aim to create a better worklife balance.

Speaking at Dairy-Tech, Martina Gormley, dairy specialist at Teagasc, said that in New Zealand less than half of farmers milk twice a day for the full season.

This led to a study being carried out at Moorepark comparing milking 10 times a week for a full lactation (F107), milking 10 times a week for the second half of the lactation (P107) and twicea-day (TAD) milking.

Ms Gormley said milking cows 10 times a week for a full lactation had a 14% reduction in milk yield and an 11% reduction in milk solids.

P107, where cows were switched

from TAD for the first 20 weeks of lactation to 10 in seven, had very little reduction in production over the full lactation period.

There was a positive effect on body condition score for the cows milking 10 in seven, and somatic cell counts were slightly higher for the F107 and P107 treatment groups.

More attractive

Ms Gormley said: “If you are trying to attract someone onto the farm, offering 10 milkings in seven might make the workplace more attractive, and when looking at introducing it for the second part of the lactation it looks to be a no-brainer. It will not be for everyone, but it is a consideration.”

She added it was key to also consider the reduction in water and electricity usage associated with fewer milkings.

• DCAB value calcium (Calcium Chloride & Calcium Sulphate) support the cow with the calcium she needs and also the ability to mobilise her own calcium

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PICTURE: JOHN EVESON

Milking 10 times in seven days could have a positive effect on body condition scores.

1: Goff, 1999.

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Dairy

Robots save time, and manufacturers claim they can draw more milk, but does installing them make financial sense? Farmers Guardian reports.

After installing his first four milking robots in 2019, Tony Blamire, who farms at Park House Farm near Wigton, Cumbria, installed his fifth last year. Cow numbers stand at 330 and Mr Blamire says he intends to install a sixth robot as the farm has increased its acreage to 344 hectares (850 acres).

He says: “We used to milk 250 through a 28:28 herringbone parlour and it took at least eight hours each day. It became impossible to find staff to help, and robots were the best way to give us the time we needed to run the farm.”

He adds that skilled dairy hands were not available locally and that younger, inexperienced workers were not reliable. He also considered the cost of full-time workers compared to the cost of installing robots.

“I applied for EU grant funding which covered 50% of the robot cost. This made the robots comparable to installing a conventional parlour, and with a parlour we would have needed labour which was not available and comes with ever rising costs,” he says.

The farm has both solar and wind power which helps to offset the energy needed to run the robots 24/7.

“Our fixed tariff ended last year and we felt the impact of the energy rate going up, but the robots are not the biggest energy issue. When we milked in the parlour, we had two vacuum pumps which were not variable rate, so they were either on full or not at all. We needed at least eight hours in the parlour, so the pumps used a lot of energy,” he says.

Margins

Mr Blamire has worked out his cost of production as 35p per litre of milk. With the milk price at 38ppl that leaves him 3ppl profit. The farm also finishes beef calves for ABP as an additional income.

“The margins are tight and that is why robots make sense. Robots are a fixed cost. I have a maintenance plan with Mathers Dairy, our local DeLaval dealer, and they handle everything from repairs to the supply of consumables, all under a fixed-cost contract. There are no hidden costs and, crucially, no surprises,” he says.

Breaking down his costs, he adds that robots are not the biggest percentage.

“Taking the 35ppl total cost of

Tony Blamire farms 344 hectares (850 acres), with the herd standing at 330 cows.

Are milking robots a cost-effective option?

The time he saves has enabled the farm to become more data-driven in its approach.

Now that we are not milking nine hours a day we are managing the land more efficiently TONY BLAMIRE

production, I would say 45% is land management. We grow wheat, spring barley and wholecrop on 300 acres and we have 550 of grass. Now that we are not milking nine hours a day we are managing the land more efficiently,” he says.

“We are costing out crop production more accurately and using soil and slurry testing to minimise our input costs. I am investing in a variable rate drill and a slurry application system so that we can save on seed and make best use of natural fertiliser. We are also working with a local contractor to apply fertiliser and lime using variable rate too,” he says.

Youngstock

The herd is growing, which makes youngstock rearing a significant cost.

“I would say 25% of our overall cost is dedicated to youngstock rearing. We are trying to calve heifers younger at 21-23 months, but it

is the first eight weeks that determines whether we can. We are feeding more higher quality milk powder too,” he adds.

The robots are 20% of his production cost, a sum he sees as good value considering the hassle-free nature of the milking system and the time savings that have enabled better management of other areas of the farm.

“We only pay for robot items that cost less than £75 plus the cost of a technician if one is needed. We have learned to do more ourselves to reduce call-out costs. For anyone who thinks robots cannot be touched by farmers, I think we have managed to dispel the myths and demonstrate to ourselves that robots can be fixed like anything else on a farm,” he says.

The final 10% of his production

cost is fertility. The farm uses sexed semen which is an added cost. However, the robots have technology which protects this investment.

“DeLaval’s RePro progesterone testing system identifies cows that need serving faster than we can. It flags up silent cows much sooner too, so we waste less and get cows back in-calf faster,” he says.

Business growth

With fixed operating costs, Mr Blamire adds he has been able to grow the business and will soon install a sixth robot.

“We know that we can spend a fixed sum on robots and expect to produce the milk yield to make a profit. An employee would cost at least £40,000 plus National Insurance, pension contribution and holiday entitlement.”

The farm carries a variety of spare parts including sensors, switches and consumables. There are many tasks that can be managed on-farm with advice over the phone from Mathers technicians.

He adds that he has become used to error codes and has got to know how to deal with many of them very quickly.

“I can login on my phone to clear most errors and we have just had a software update which has seen the whole system run faster and with fewer errors,” he say.

With five robots he has an average of 55 cows per robot. One robot is positioned separately and used for heifers only.

Mr Blamire says: “I think 55 high

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yielding cows is plenty for one robot. We have had problems with bovine TB and seen numbers fluctuate. Sometimes fewer cows can still yield the same amount of milk, because they are all getting access when they need it.”

At its height, before bTB losses, the herd reached 290 in-milk. At this level, Mr Blamire says that

some shy cows were not making it to the robot as often as some of the more confident cows.

“We expect four or five visits per day from high yielding cows early on in the lactation. This can mean some giving 60-70kg, but this averages down to around 55kg because of competition for the robot access,” he adds.

The farm currently runs five DeLaval robots with an average of 55 cows per robot. One robot is positioned separately and used for heifers only.

Regular footbathing is key to controlling digital dermatitis within the dairy herd, but

Advice for managing digital dermatitis on-farm

Lameness within the dairy herd can have huge implications on productivity and profitability, with impacts on milk yield, fertility and replacement rate.

And with studies suggesting milk yield losses of around 350 litres in heifers which have had digital dermatitis multiple times before first lactation, early detection and prompt, effective treatment is essential to managing lameness on-farm and reducing economic losses.

That was the message from Farm

Dynamics’ veterinary consultant

Sara Pedersen who, when speaking at a recent AHDB event held at Nafferton Farm, Northumberland, encouraged attendees to start targeting the main areas of lameness at play on their own farms.

Ms Pedersen said: “It is about finding out what is going to be beneficial on your farm and where to target.

“There is a lot we could do, but changes should be targeted to your individual farm to ensure they have an impact. Look for the easy wins.”

As a starting point, Ms Pedersen advised farmers to look at their main cause of lameness on-farm, with sole ulcers, digital dermatitis and white line disease being the three main causes of lameness on dairy farms in the UK.

Biosecurity

For farms where digital dermatitis was the main cause of lameness, Ms Pedersen suggested focusing on trying to lower the infection pressure, through biosecurity, hygiene and footbathing.

She said: “When we think about biosecurity, we tend to think about spreading things from farm to farm, but we do not think about spreading it around the farm from youngstock to adult stock.

“We quite often see a spike in digital dermatitis after bovine TB

Sara Pedersen

testing, or any time we are gathering all animals together.”

Ms Pedersen added footbathing was a key tool in the control of digi-

Flare ups of digital dermatitis are not usually new cases developing, but old cases which have been lying dormant.

It does not matter what you are putting in the bath itself if the cows’ feet are not going in frequently enough

SARA PEDERSEN

shed infection into the environment. After three to five days of blitz treatment we reduce the environmental reservoir; then we are in a better place for control once we kick in with footbathing again.”

Footbathing should be used to prevent new cases of disease from developing and to prevent older cases, which act as a reservoir of infection, from resurfacing.

tal dermatitis and advised it should be used not only to prevent new cases of the disease from developing, but also to prevent older cases, which act as a reservoir of infection, from resurfacing.

Alongside footbathing, Ms Pedersen said cases should also be treated individually with a licensed topical treatment.

She said: “If you have a flare-up of digital dermatitis and you just run cows through the footbath, it will likely make some difference, but this will not be for the long-term.

“When active lesions are not treated effectively at an individual level, we see repeated flare-ups.”

She added flare-ups of digital dermatitis are not usually new cases developing, but old cases which have been lying dormant, where the digital dermatitis is sat deep within the skin, coming back when the environmental conditions are right.

She advised using a footbath of ideally four metres (13 feet) in length to ensure three ‘dunks’ of each hind foot and a step height of at least 25cm (10in), to encourage cows to take shorter strides into the footbath.

And when looking at which product to use within the footbath, Ms Pedersen said while there were a

lot of products available on the market, there was limited evidence surrounding the effectiveness of some of them.

She added: “The most important thing to put in the footbath are the cows’ feet. It does not matter what you are putting in the bath itself if the cows’ feet are not going in frequently enough.”

Alongside footbathing, Ms Pedersen also advised ‘blitz treating’ all cows with active or recurring cases of digital dermatitis together and consistently for three to five days to reduce environmental infection pressure.

She said: “An infected cow will

For herds with a significant digital dermatitis issue, Ms Pedersen advised footbathing the milking herd five to seven days a week and two to three times a week for herds where the disease was not as prevalent.

After calving

She also suggested footbathing dry cows, due to a drop in immunity during and after calving sometimes leading to a flare-up in cases.

She added every farm needed a protocol tailored to their own situation.

Alongside on-farm prevention and control, Ms Pedersen said genetics should also be considered an important tool for managing digital dermatitis, with 30% variability in whether a cow will get digital dermatitis being down to genetics.

Therefore, she advised incorporating the Digital Dermatitis Index, as an effective means of breeding now for a more resilient future herd.

A Welsh dairy farmer managing a chronic bovine TB breakdown has eliminated a major disease threat to his herd by no longer buying-in cattle. Farmers Guardian reports.

Dairy Top biosecurity tips for protecting cattle from bTB

Dairy farmer Michael Williams is one of 15 farmers involved in the Pembrokeshire TB pilot, a Welsh Government initiative which aims to develop additional measures for bovine TB control, over and above the statutory actions currently being used.

Sharing his progress with other farmers at a recent Farming Connect event, Mr Williams said there was much which every farmer can do to protect their herds from bTB. He has introduced multiple biosecurity measures, including running a closed herd.

Closed herd

He milks 150 cows on a robot milking system at Fagwrfran East, Puncheston, and had previously sourced cattle from livestock markets, but this came with the risk of importing bTB.

Mr Williams added: “We had already stopped buying-in cattle before becoming part of this project,

Measures

but we have since become a truly closed herd, we do not even buy a stock bull.’’

Cameras were installed to establish if badgers were coming into contact with cattle in the yard and

introduced by Michael Williams to help protect against bovine

n Creating a remote fallen stock area: The fallen stock collection point had been situated on a part of the farm which compelled a vehicle to cross the yard to collect carcases.

This facility is now located in a contained area of a building that sits closest to the road and can be completely sealed off from wildlife.

n Restricting visitor numbers: Unplanned visits by sales representatives and others are now discouraged.

Visits are by appointment only and a sign has been placed at the farm entrance advising of this policy.

Vehicles coming onto the farm must be clean.

n Draining unused water troughs: In-field drinking water troughs that are not used in winter when the herd and youngstock are housed are drained and remain empty until turnout.

Water troughs in use are cleaned on a weekly basis.

n Keeping cattle accommodation walkways clean: The frequency that feed passages in the cattle housing are cleaned has increased to minimise the period that slurry pools in these locations.

n Reducing reliance on farm contractors: Investment has been made in slurry application equipment to remove the need for hiring contractors for this job.

n Adopting the highest level of hygiene at calving: Matting similar to cubicle bed mattresses has been laid in a dedicated calving pen to allow the floor to be thoroughly pressure washed and disinfected between calvings.

n Providing footwear disinfection points: Containers of disinfectant solution are positioned around the yard to allow footwear to be disinfected in between contact with different classes of stock.

n Erecting electric fencing along

TB

the maize clamp: Although the farm has no feed bins vulnerable to wildlife, its open maize clamp is a potential risk at feeding out.

Mr Williams erected a simple deterrent, filling two redundant 20-litre dairy chemical drums with sand, placing these at each end of the clamp face and running polywire from one to the other, hooked up to a solar-powered energiser.

He said: “This cost about £20, took 10 minutes and prevents badgers from interfering with the feed.’’

n Increasing intervals between slurry application and silage harvesting: Although Mr Williams operates a multi-cut silage system, he has increased cutting intervals from four weeks to five and applies slurry to the aftermath at the very earliest opportunity, the day after the grass has been collected from the field.

housing and with food and water sources. None were detected, but there were obvious physical signs of activity in fields and on cow tracks. One-and-a-half miles of badgerproof fencing has since been erected along a hedge with a high number of setts and latrines, to separate these from the stock.

Culling

In addition to rolling out biosecurity measures (see panel), Mr Williams has been culling animals which have been identified as at high risk of contracting or spreading bTB, flagged up on a ‘risk rating’ list through an app developed for the Pembrokeshire TB pilot.

Any cow in the two highest risk categories – in this case red or amber – is sold as barren.

“Being more proactive with culling, choosing when an animal leaves the farm rather than being in a forced situation as a result of a TB test, is a better option in many ways,’’ said Mr Williams.

If an animal falls into a ‘yellow’ band, the lowest of the three risk categories, but is nonetheless a risk, it is bred to a terminal sire to

Rhys Lougher (left) and Michael Williams (right).

ensure that no female replacements enter the herd.

In 2024, 35 of Mr Williams’ cows exited the herd based on risk rating results.

“There is short-term pain in getting on top of the residual disease, but I am confident that we will reap the rewards a few years down the line,’’ he said.

“If we can get down to 2-3% risk rating, we will be in the realms of being on top of the disease rather than the disease being on top of the herd.’’

Decline

“In December 2024 the risk rating was 7% compared to 11% in January 2024 so this is a start, we think culling is working.’’

According to Michael Williams, choosing when an animal leaves the farm rather than being in a forced situation as a result of a TB test, is a better option in many ways.

Dairy

Farming Connect event

THE Farming Connect event was hosted by Rhys Lougher at Ty Tanglwyst, a dairy farm near Pyle.

Mr Lougher’s 120-cow herd of pedigree Holsteins has been free of bovine TB for many years.

He too has high levels of biosecurity and benefits from his farm being largely remote from cattle on other holdings and protected by hard boundaries including roads and limestone quarries.

Only sexed semen is used for breeding and no cattle have been bought in for 40 years.

Mr Lougher has his own slurry tanker and muck spreader to avoid use of contractors.

Mr Williams also emphasised the importance of making time to discuss biosecurity and disease risks with the farm vet.

“Do not do this while the vet is TB testing or on the farm for another reason, set aside a dedicated time to have a proper discussion,’’ he said.

He credits his vet, Rhiannon Lew-

He said: “A big part of our business is selling high health status, freshly calved, pedigree Holstein heifers to other dairy farms, the wish to continue to do this is our main driver for wanting to keep bTB out of our farm.’’

is, of Gwaun Vets, with supporting him through this process, adding: “We have worked together on this.’’

A clear focus on combining her love of cows and aptitude for business finance has given Vermont farmer and dairy consultant Joanna Lidback the life she dreamed of as a child. Liz Falkingham finds out more.

Dairy Programme of investment for Vermont dairy farm

All farmers know about the challenge of too much to do and not enough time to do it in, but Joanna Lidback has more on her plate than most. Finding a way to make that work personally and professionally is an ongoing process.

She says: “I was given some great advice by a leadership coach I worked with about ensuring you keep moving forward with your goals.

“She said you need to be able to identify what is working for you and what needs to be let go to make room for opportunities that excite you – the ‘keep/start/stop system’ she called it, and it has been a key skill for me, and one I use for helping others.”

Those ‘others’ are a dozen dairy farms for which she acts as consultant, alongside running the 80-cow family farm on Wheeler Mountain, northern

As well as grazing land, the farm has large areas of timber plus two sugar woods which are being tapped for maple syrup.

Vermont, with her husband Adam and three children, and her role as chief financial officer for Adirondack (ADK) Farms, which runs a large number of cows across four different sites.

To ensure her diary is kept really full, Mrs Lidback also runs workshops to help farms unable to engage in direct consultancy. She is a determined communicator and advocate for the agricultural sector, winning the Kleckner Award in 2021 for global farm leadership.

“I will admit that the first time I sat down and did the ‘keep/start/stop’ exercise it did give me a panic attack when I wrote out all the things I was committed to, but it is such a useful thing to do, both personally and professionally, because you cannot make changes without a clear sense of where you are and where you want to be.

“As a consultant, I tell clients that benchmarking your business against

your peers or the wider industry is just a starting point. You have to be able to tailor it against your own circumstances, so – for example –that might mean accepting that the modern, very tall Holstein cattle just do not fit your set-up. So often, farmers have this absolute passion for cattle, but they need help with the planning and financial side,” adds Mrs Lidback.

A passion for cattle – specifically Jersey cows – was where it all started for her as a child in Massachusetts, where showing and later judging them sparked a lifelong love for the breed.

She says: “Doing dairy judging contests as a teenager really helped develop my eye for a cow, but it also taught [me] about decision-making and the importance of being able to justify my decisions. That has been a life skill I [have] carried into my professional roles.

Pipe dream

“I did not grow up on a farm, so having my own farm one day felt like a pipe dream, but it was always what I wanted to do, along with going to Cornell University –

Joanna Lidback

I wrote that in a school essay when I was nine.

“I set my goals early, I guess, but doing ag business at college was the right fit for me as I was always good at figures, and I met a great network of people at Cornell who had the same drive and passion for the dairy industry.”

It was also around that time that she met future husband Adam, a

Holstein enthusiast who would go on to take over his uncle’s farm in 2008.

When Mrs Lidback and her Jerseys joined him in 2010, the couple began a programme of investment which has led to the current 80-cow herd with followers, running on 190 hectares (470 acres) owned and a further 80ha (200 acres) rented.

“We grow grass and corn for silage,

but most of the land is forestry/timber and we have two sugar woods which we have just started tapping for maple syrup, which has the beginnings of a possible diversification for the business,” she says.

“We ship 1.5 million pounds of milk via Agri-Mark co-op to the Cabot Creamery, which produces Cabot Cheddar as a national brand along with other cultured products.

“We also use sexed semen on the cows for heifer production as it makes sense for us – we are not looking to expand cow numbers so we just need replacements, and then we can produce some Angus-bred dairy beef for rearing as well.”

Mrs Lidback adds that Vermont has a big tourist season.

“Our local town doubles in population, so there is the potential to

Joanna Lidback runs an 80-cow dairy farm on Wheeler Mountain, northern Vermont, with her husband Adam and three children.

The farmland is made up of 190 hectares (470 acres) owned and a further 80ha (200 acres) rented.

sell our beef at the farmers’ market,” she adds.

She is mindful that should all three of their children want a future on the farm then diversifying will be key to making sure there is a living for all of them.

Environmental regulations

As with UK dairy farmers, there are increasing pressures from politicians regarding the sector’s role in climate change and water quality standards. Vermont took a particularly aggressive approach to the latter, says Mrs Lidback.

“Large farms have been regulated for some time, but in 2017 Required Agricultural Practices [RAPs] were implemented which captured more than just the large farms and meant a nutrient management plan [had to] be put in place,” she says.

“Although it brings certain challenges, I think RAPs have positives to them, and have meant a more detailed approach to what is going in and coming out, rather than guesswork about what nitrogen might be needed, for example.

Farmers everywhere face similar challenges, and elevating their voices is important to me [...] there is always more to be done

JOANNA LIDBACK

and a closed-loop system is the goal, with anaerobic digestion used to produce a liquid digestate for injection via dragline and the solid portion refined into a dry bedding for the cows.

Proactive

The business takes a proactive approach to communicating the work being done to be part of the solution to climate change, and this is something she has always seen as key for US farming generally.

“For us, it clarified that using contractors to spread our manure was not effective any longer – we needed to be able to be more strategic about when, where and how much was being spread, so [we] have invested in the equipment to do it ourselves and the result has been better yields from aftermaths.

“We have also switched to baled silage rather than bunks [clamps] as we had no way to effectively capture the leachate which was ending up in the local brook in some cases. While it is less labour-intensive, the variability between bales means ration formulation is harder and our cows soon tell us if they are not happy with the silage quality.”

Her work as chief financial officer at ADK Farms brings her into contact with dairying at the other end of the scale, where the cows are zero grazed

The switch to baled silage was made to meet environmental regulations.

“When I moved to the farm, I started a blog for that reason. I also challenged an article I saw in the local press and my response generated some interest, which eventually led to me testifying at Senate hearings on farm-related issues, as well as being interviewed by the BBC at the farm,” says Mrs Lidback, who is also a board member for the Global Farmer Network.

“Farmers everywhere face similar challenges, and elevating their voices is important to me. I think there has been a change and farmers are more proactive in creating a space for dialogue around tough issues, but there is always more to be done and that alone keeps me motivated,” she adds.

Vaccinate for lungworm pre-turnout

Farmers in areas at risk of lungworm infection are being encouraged to vaccinate cattle before turnout, rather than relying on routine wormer treatments, due to the unpredictability of lungworm infections and rising concerns about anthelmintic resistance.

Vet Ben Strugnell, of Farm Post Mortems, has reported an increase in lungworm cases, even in cattle treated with wormers, suggesting resistance is becoming more prevalent.

“Lungworm thrives in warm, wet conditions, but its timing is unpredictable, making it difficult to target worming treatments effectively,” says Mr Strugnell.

“This often leads to unnecessary treatments, and the use of anthelmintics in this way may be adding to the resistance pressure.”

Mr Strugnell describes a case last year where a farmer treated heifers for lungworm with macrocyclic lactones (MLs) at housing (twice at three-week intervals), but post-mortem results six to eight weeks later showed high levels of lungworm still present in the lungs, suggesting treatment failure. The farmer has now opted for pre-turnout vaccination to avoid losses.

Mr Strugnell believes these cases are the tip of the iceberg and says vaccination against lungworm in breeding stock pre-turnout should be seen as the gold standard in disease management policy moving forward.

He says: “It is difficult to predict

when lungworm may strike, so vaccinating cattle before turnout allows animals to develop immunity without relying on wormers.”

Recent research from the University of Glasgow, published in the Veterinary Record last year, adds to the growing evidence of resistance to MLs, such as ivermectin and moxidectin, where MLs fail to treat lungworm infection in cattle.

The study, led by PhD student Paul Campbell, found that in a group of first season grazing heifers on a Scottish farm, both ivermectin and moxidectin treatments failed to treat the disease. Clinical signs progressed and significant numbers of lungworm were observed after treatment, which is highly suggestive of resistance.

“There is no field test for resistance, so it is only detected after complete treatment failure,” says Mr Campbell, stressing the need for sustainable control measures like vaccination.

He adds: “Due to lungworm’s unpredictable nature, vaccination allows cattle to develop reliable immunity while exposed to some lungworm on pasture, reducing the need for wormer treatment, which provides only temporary protection. No new wormers are coming soon, so we need to maintain the efficacy of our current products.”

Cases

Data indicates lungworm cases are on the rise, with a tenfold increase in lungworm infections since the mid1990s – particularly in Scotland and northern England. Between the 2018 and 2019 grazing seasons, cases diagnosed and reported to the GB Veterinary Investigations Diagnosis Network were up by 44% throughout the entire UK.

Lungworm infections occur when cattle ingest grass contaminated with larvae from the parasite dictyocaulus viviparus. The larvae migrate to the lungs, where they mature and reproduce. The cycle can repeat rapidly as the larvae are passed out in faeces and consumed by grazing cattle.

This rise in cases, coupled with increasing industry pressure to reduce habitual treatment with anthelmintics,

further underscores the need for farmers to consider vaccination.

Mr Campbell says: “The industry’s use of wormers is under increasing scrutiny; we are now seeing some milk processors pushing to reduce their use, and [we are] likely to see pol-

“This

Data indicates lungworm cases are on the rise, with a tenfold increase in lungworm infections since the mid-1990s.

icies introduced, similar to antibiotics. With lungworm, you really want to be managing it before you see clinical disease. Vaccination, combined with good grazing management and stockmanship, offers the most effective long-term solution to lungworm.”

Ben Strugnell

How and why milk from forage should be optimised, regardless of system type, was discussed at Mole Valley Farmers’ Farmer Expo event in Shepton Mallet. Farmers Guardian reports.

Systems to optimise milk from forage

Whatever your system type or production level, focusing on optimising milk from forage will

bring substantial benefits to the bottom line, according to farmers and consultants speaking as part of a panel at Mole Valley Farmers’ recent Farmer Expo event held at the Royal

Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet.

SOMERSET FARM COMBINES HIGH MILK FROM FORAGE WITH HIGH LITRES

CONSISTENT delivery of high volumes of quality forage is what drives 4,400 litres of milk from forage at Manor Farm, Bridgwater, where the herd yields 12,500 litres per cow per year for the Passmore family.

Sam Passmore, who runs the business with his father Colin, explained the highs were averaging 50 litres per head per day with forage dry matter intakes (DMI) of 16kg per cow per day, while the lows were consuming 19kg forage DMI.

To hit such high intakes, quality is a must, although challenging growing seasons have hampered forage stocks, said the farm’s nutritionist, Dr Kerensa Hawkey, of Mole Valley Feed Solutions.

She said: “There is a real drive this year to produce more high-quality forage in order to get our milk from forage higher again, because the team has been at 5,000 litres previously.

“The aim is to get back to that level or higher.”

Sam, along with dairy team manager Matt Hilton and head

Kathryn Rowland, Kingshay’s senior farm services manager, said results from Kingshay’s Dairy Manager for 2024 showed that the challenging growing season had pushed average milk from forage trends below the five-year average.

However, for the year to September 2024, the top 25% of herds ranked by milk from forage were still achieving 3,830 litres milk from forage per cow per year, versus an average 2,594 litres.

Cash savings

Ms Rowland used herds yielding 8,000-9,000 litres per cow per year as an example of how optimising milk from forage translated into cash savings.

She said: “The difference in feed costs for the top 25% [versus the lowest 25%] is 4.66ppl, which when you start to multiply that up for a 200-cow herd is just under £72,000 difference, just by making better use of forage.”

Two farmers with very different systems also shared their thoughts on how they were maximising milk from forage.

The difference in feed costs for the top 25% [versus the lowest 25%] is 4.66ppl

Sam Passmore

Steve Pike said they believed high volumes of quality silage, regular sampling and balancing, consistent ration mixing and fans were essential for supporting high milk from forage.

■ High volumes of quality silage: Sam explained silage quality and quantity have been a battle following the last two challenging growing seasons. Grass silage is currently averaging 11.1ME, 14.3% crude protein and 70 D-value, with an additive used on all grass and maize silage.

Sam said he was in the process of upskilling his workforce to help finetune nutrient management and better target farm nutrients.

The plan was also to use data from the forager’s Harvest Lab to make more informed decisions in areas such as varietal choice and crop nutrition.

■ Regular sampling and balancing: At least monthly, Dr Hawkey walks the cows to monitor dung and cow behaviour, samples silages and balances the ration accordingly.

She said: “We have got some quite dry forages and we have been pushing

around 7kg of water into the ration to help the cows to eat the target amounts. Without that water the team would not be getting the intakes they are getting.”

■ Consistent ration mixing: The team is ‘meticulous at feed out’, taking advantage of a computer monitoring system on the twin tub mixer to track how consistently rations are being produced and by who, said Sam. The data-led approach helps to ensure costed feed usage figures are accurate and ration variability is minimised. Cows are fed from 3am so they come back to fresh food after morning milking and rations are pushed up frequently.

■ Fans: In 2023, extreme high temperature and humidity led to an instant 10kg per head per day drop in

The team at Manor Farm, near Bridgwater, get 12,500 litres of milk from their cows under their forage system.

Farm facts

■ 780 cows milked three times per day

■ Averaging 12,500 litres per cow per year at 4.13% fat and 3.34% protein

■ 4,400 litres per cow per year

milk from forage

■ Supplying Muller Tesco

DMI and an initial dip of nine litres per cow, with an extended period of reduced yield and compromised herd health.

Sam said that as consequence of this, fans have been installed.

This should help maintain intakes, something which is particularly crucial during the dry period so cows are setup for a healthy and productive lactation.

Dr Kerensa Hawkey

herdsperson

■ Colin Passmore and son Sam are company directors of the business - Finefarm

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CHALLENGING grazing practices and maximising forage dry matter intakes by producing quality grazed grass is the crux to maximising milk from forage at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire.

Grazed grass makes up 95% of the diet on the grazing-focused, low-cost system. Herd manager, Keith Davis, highlighted three key drivers for milk from forage – pushing forage intakes, getting grazing right to achieve quality and having good infrastructure.

■ Push forage intakes: Mr Davis said that farmers need to be realistic, and if milk from forage was the aim, then there needs to be a good amount of forage in the diet in the first place.

■ Twice-a-day milking

■ Around 3,000 litres milk from forage per cow per year, depending on growing season

that the quality of grazed grass fell during the year.

“If it is grazed properly all the way through the year, and when I say properly, I mean down to a 1,500 residual, it remains the same,” he said.

Weekly grass plate metering and budgeting also allows the correct amount of grass to be allocated.

Around 18kg of grass dry matter is allocated per cow per day, with concentrate used to fill a forage gap.

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He said: “If you are not putting 15,16,17kg of forage in the diet, you are not going to get 4,000-5,000 litres milk from forage. The sums do not add up.”

■ Graze right and the quality will come: Mr Davis added it was a ‘myth’

■ Good infrastructure is key: A wide network of tracks form the backbone to extended grazing at Lydney Park. Each field has several gateways to avoid travelling over the same ground multiple times. Back fencing is also used.

Protecting ground in such a way in spring and autumn avoids damaging grass for the season ahead. Mr Davis said many farmers could benefit from investing in tracks, rather than sheds to house for longer.

He added: “Sheds are a darn sight more expensive than tractors and a track will make you a darn sight more money. If you have got an extra two weeks at either end of the year all of a sudden you have gained an extra month of grazed grass and grass in the diet. That is where the profitability starts driving from.”

Keith Davis

Farm facts

Grazed grass makes up 95% of the diet at Lydney Park in Gloucestershire.

‘Worrying’ starch level decline shown in maize silage Dairy

Dry near-infrared (NIR) analysis by ForFarmers has shown some 2024 maize silage being affected by low starch levels and it is a trend that has been developing over the past three years.

Bruce Forshaw, ForFarmers product manager, says: “We have seen starch levels dropping over the last three years with an average of 30.3% in 2022 falling to 29% in 2023 and for 2024 it fell again to 27.6%. This is obviously a worrying trend when maize is being grown for its high energy and starch content.

“As part of our quality control process with Eurofins we sent 30 samples for wet chemistry analysis which verified our dry NIR results and further confirmed the accuracy of this method of forage testing.

“A large portion of the silages with low starch also had a low dry matter which can make analysis using traditional fresh NIR more difficult because of the way the light refracts off the moisture in the sample. For dry NIR all the moisture is removed before scanning.”

Mr Forshaw adds this maize starch reduction is due to a number of factors.

“We have seen reduced sunshine

hours in the past few summers, meaning cobs have not ripened as usual.

“We spoke to a number of farmers with low maize silage starch levels and they reported taking the crop earlier than they might have previously because of the worry of wet ground conditions and forecasted further rain.”

Smaller cob sizes

Lower dry matter results in maize silage this year coupled with lower boron also suggest cob sizes have been smaller, maybe again as a result of early harvesting.

“Leaving maize crops to mature further is a very difficult decision when faced with the wet conditions we had last autumn,” says Mr Forshaw.

“Think about using an early-maturing variety this year to give you an earlier harvest date and allow for a follow-on crop to be sown.

“If maize silage is coming back with low starch levels I would suggest supplementing the diet with a consistent product, which will not detrimentally affect the health of the rumen, such as caustic wheat,” he adds.

Bruce Forshaw (inset) says falling starch levels in maize silage is a ‘worrying trend’.

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