Selecting bulls for a better block

This webinar is a past event - watch the recording

Join strategic dairy farmer David Cotton and breeding advisor Keith Gue to understand how to select the right genetics for an autumn block calving herd.

You will learn how AHDB’s herd genetic report and fertility indexes help make informed breeding decisions and optimise long-term performance.

This webinar will also cover:

• Setting the right breeding goals to meet the milk contract
• Using the breeding indexes £PLI/ £ACI
• Progress of the herd over the last few years

If you're interested in how breeding decisions can drive herd performance and efficiency, make sure you reserve your place.

Book your place today

About Bridge Farm

Bridge Farm is owned and operated by David and Lene Cotton in partnership with David's parents. The herd manager, Steve Crowther has been employed for 9 years and Chris Glass, with the business for 18 years, is a general farm worker shared between the dairy business and a friend's arable business.

Based near Glastonbury, Somerset, Bridge farm is 236Ha, of which 193Ha are owned and 43Ha are tenanted. The farm consists of 200Ha of grass (mixed permanent pasture and rotational) and 24Ha of Winter Wheat which is used to provide feed and straw for both the dairy and beef enterprises. Other enterprises include a campsite and office buildings rented out.

The herd is currently made up of 280 pedigree Holstein Fresian, autumn calving cows. Achieving 7932 litres of milk per cow per year with 4.3% fat and 3.47% protein mix, milking twice per day and grazing from April through to October. All replacements are reared at home with an average age at first calving of 25 months.

Find out more about Bridge Farm 

About strategic dairy farms

Strategic dairy farms aim to help farmers learn from each other through regular on-farm meetings where we will share key performance data and showcase what the best farmers are doing.

They form part of the Optimal Dairy Systems programme which aims to help dairy farmers reduce costs and increase efficiency by focusing on either a tight block or all-year-round calving system.

The growing network of strategic dairy farms have calculated KPIs for their enterprises which are shared at meetings and published online. These are physical and financial performance measures that are critical to success. Farmers can benchmark their businesses against these KPIs to help identify areas for improvement.

Learn more about strategic farms