Milking Grass in High Yielding Herds

Join us at Rhual Dairy’s third meeting where Andre Van Barneveld will explain the principles and benefits of getting your grazing plan right.

Grazed grass is the cheapest form of feed.  Investing time and infrastructure into maximising cow grass intakes can have a big impact your feed costs and the time spent buffer feeding or housing high yielding cows.

Research has shown that high yielding cows will consume 1-2kgDM/day more forage whilst grazing. Maximising cow intakes and increasing grass utilisation through better grassland management, can increase your ppl margin and reduce your costs of production whilst maintaining output; a key component of resilient businesses.

Maintaining access to quality and palatable swards can support high yielding herds and farm performance year-round.

In the meeting Andre will discuss:

• Grazing principles and methods
• The value of pasture in the diet
• The pros and cons of substitution 
• Pre and post grazing cover targets
• Challenges for high yielders
• Increasing yield from forage to increase margins

We’ll also hear from John and Anna about their plans to increase production from grass by 1,000L, with a farm visit after lunch.

Book Here

To book your FREE place please contact KE Events Hub 01904 771216 or ke.events@ahdb.org.uk.

For more information regarding the event please call Richard Davies, AHDB on 07966 237841.

If you have any special dietary requirements, please contact us as soon as possible.        Please bring a clean pair of wellington boots to help with the biosecurity.

About Andre Van Barneveld – Graise Consultancy

Born in the Netherlands and raised in NZ, Andre started as a farmworker before progressing through share milking to owning his own farm.  Now based in Ireland, he works as a pasture-based dairy consultant helping Irish and UK dairy farmers achieve greater profitability, sustainability, and life balance. 

About Rhual Dairy

Rhual Dairy has operated as share farming agreement between RFP (Rhual Farm Partnership) and John and Anna Booth since 2001. They have 336 Holstein Friesian cows calving all-year-round, with cows grazing during the summer, averaging 8,472L.