The aim of the 'club' is to provide the opportunity for these farmers to further develop their excellent management skills with the aim of raising milk production from forage. Management skills can be improved through benchmarking within the club, and through the assistance provided to the farmer by the local dairy development adviser, Richardsons sales development representative, and Greenmount staff. A herd of 110 dairy cows is run along with replacements on the farm. Since joining the club, Frank and Colin have refined their grassland management and lifted milk production from forage through the use of grass budgeting, a management skill developed with the assistance of Greenmount College. Dairy Herd Policy Farm policy is based on maximising profit from the spring calving herd.
Management is concentrated on efficient production from forages while controlling overhead costs.
The Richardsons Milk Chek service has been used for many years to monitor management efficiency. Production from forage has risen by 100 litres over the last 6 months. Grass was supporting 14 litres of milk production at the end of September. With figures like these, Frank and Colin are among some of the top milk from forage producers in N. Ireland. Zero grazing and the introduction of silage will be used to stretch out the grazing.