Innovation underpins dairy revitalisation

From the archive, first published Thursday 26th Aug 2004.

New technology is proving to be the key for Launceston-based dairy farmer Adrian Jose as the success of new ultra-productive forage leys and the more recent introduction of robotic milking combine to reinvigorate his milk production business.

Milk production from forage (in terms of both yield and compositional quality) have increased since the farm began growing Aber grass and clover varieties, and most specifically the new high sugar grass varieties from the IGER (Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research) breeding programme. These are now being zero-grazed, as well as ensiled, in order to maximise the value within a very innovative forage-based production system.

Furthermore, the farm has switched from a conventional parlour to robotic milking as part of a rationalisation that saw herd size halved and labour costs reduced significantly. This is now entering its second year with very positive signs across the board.

Adrian, who farms at 120-acre Trengune Farm, Warbstow as part of the SG & GH Jose and Son family farming operation, instigated the major overhaul of the dairy farm in order to restore profitability. The herd had been at around 100 cows, with a full time workman, but even with average yields of 10,000 litres there simply was not sufficient margin to guarantee long-term viability.

There has been a willingness to invest - albeit wisely - and the farm is now well set up to produce milk as cost effectively as possible.

"We have improved the quality of our pastures through regular reseeding and have upgraded our buildings," explains Adrian. "At the same time we have downsized the herd, allowing the farm to be run without outside labour, and have then taken the step of installing our robotic milking machine.

"We were fortunate to be able to buy a second hand Fullwood Merlin, and this has proved to be a real farmers' machine. I have had training from Fullwood, and the back-up has been outstanding. We started milking 50 cows, but the aim will be to increase herd size up to 65 this winter as new heifers come into the herd."

Adrian's plan is to block calve very tightly, with most cows calving in September. This is freeing up his summer for grass and wholecrop harvesting - and has the added benefit of allowing a family life and holidays.

Harvesting is done largely through Whitstone-based contractor A J Moore and includes wholecrop wheat - which has recently replaced maize as the second forage on the unit - and big bale grass silage. The wholecrop is proving a better feed option than maize, and has the added advantage of allowing a timely grass and clover reseed ever year. This has accelerated the uptake of new varieties from IGER's breeding programme, including the AberHSG high sugar grasses and also white clovers.

"We have seen a big difference in production since we have been including varieties like AberDart and AberAvon in our mixtures, due to the higher sugar content," says Adrian. "I am convinced that we obtain a positive milk yield response, as well as improvements in protein content."

Clovers also play an important part in terms of adding protein to the forage and reducing the need for bagged fertiliser. The farm makes full use of cow and pig slurry, so the supply of nitrogen through the use of clovers is particularly important to balance the phosphate and potash. This year red clover is also being introduced, as it will respond well to the zero grazing that Adrian now favours to maximise his returns from forage.

"A lot of the farm lies very heavy, so we find that zero-grazing is a better way of getting forage into the cows than grazing, particularly in the spring," he explains. "Cows do go outside into a exercise paddock, but they will receive most of their forage out of the trough. We use wide tyres to minimise sward damage in the spring so the pastures are far more productive than if they were grazed. Red clover responds well to cutting in this way, and will persist for several years. This year we were fortunate to obtain some of the first stocks of the latest high sugar grass AberEcho, which was sown alongside AberDart - so we have great expectations for next year."

Yields are already up to nearly 9,000 litres, despite almost 60% of the herd being first calved heifers. As these animals mature, and more well bred heifers come into the herd, Adrian is looking forward to seeing what the combination of stress-free and labour efficient robotic milking can really do alongside his highly productive high sugar forage.

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