G.A & D Whitfeld, Pelutho Grange, Silloth

Farm Details: DAIRY FARM, 140 cows, 8000 litres/ flying Herd.

Mr Anthony Whitfield comments on this year's silage:

"All cuts of grass silage and the barley wholecrop have been superb, no waste in the clamp and no heating up while feeding out. Both milk production and milk quality are up on the previous winter."

"Last winter we fed over 162 tonnes of brewers Grains to get milk (a load every 5 weeks from end of Sept to end of March of 27 tonnes at £33/tonne). This winter we haven't needed them saving over £5346."

"Our farm is quite heavy soil/clay and is not suited to grow maize, which is why we grow spring wholecrop barley instead, so as we can get it off the fields sooner rather than later, plus this also gives us the choice to reseed and move to other fields. We grew lupins and tricale in 09 but it was a disaster "JUST A FIELD FULL OF WEEDS" and we had to feed it for the whole winter- NOT GOOD!"

The blend make up this winter comprised:

28% Rolled wheat, 23% Sugar beet pulp, 21% Rape meal, 18% Soya, 5% Soya Hulls, 5% Molasses

SILAGE - 3 cuts of grass taken + wholecrop barley - All grass treated with Optimize and the barley wholecrop treated with Optimize Plus.

Cows split into 3 Groups

Dry Cows

2kg oat straw, 36kg silage, Dry cow Minerals

Lows M+18

3kg blend, 7kg wholecrop barley, 35kg 1st and 2nd cut silage, Minerals

Highs M+25

6kg blend, 9kg wholecrop barley, 31kg 1st and 2nd cut silage, Minerals

 

Cutting Dates

23rd May - 1st Cut

7th July - 2nd Cut

3rd August - Wholecrop barley

24th August - 3rd Cut

 

Milk quality

Comparison of last winter (09/10) to this winter (10/11)

[Butterfat (BF) & Protein (P)]

        09/10                                           10/11

Oct 4.24BF - 3.37 P                     Oct 4.23BF - 3.38 P

Nov 4.25 BF - 3.36 P                   Nov 4.34 BF - 3.38 P

Dec 4.22 BF - 3.31 P                   Dec 4.51 BF - 3.44 P

Jan 4.23 BF - 3.23 P                    Jan 4.49 BF - 3.40 P

Feb 4.13 BF - 3.18 P                   Feb 4.49 BF - 3.55 P

 

Milk Production

Comparison of last winter (09/10) to this winter (10/11)

[Started buffer feeding 1st cut in July]

July - Same as last year

Aug - 2 litres per cow per day up

Sep - 3 " "

Oct - 2.8 " "

Nov - 3.2 " "

Dec - 2.7 " "

Jan - 2.5 " "

Average of 2.7 litres pc/pd more milk over 6 month period = extra 56,000 litres or £2150 per month (on milk cheque)

Call Envirosystems to find out more: 01772 860 085
Or fill in our enquiry form HERE and we'll contact you!!