These include modifications to the cubicles to improve cow comfort and the feed barrier to improve access to fresh feed. The typical North American dairy system will aim to maximise margin per cow. At Penglais , the herd is moving towards a high forage based system, targeting an improvement in margin per litre over purchased feed. The main changes here will be to extend the grazing season by 8 to 10 weeks, i.e . from March to November and to shift the calving pattern to spring, turning cows out to grass as they calve. As a result, less silage will be required, but extra cow tracks and water troughs are being installed and a more precise grazing program adopted on the 67 ha unit.
Paddocks are strip grazed, using a back fence in the larger paddocks.
Grass growth is monitored throughout the grazing season and the fences moved to match supply with demand. The aim is to produce 7,000kg per cow, with 5,000kg coming from forage. Concentrate is fed to cows yielding over 25 kg milk per day, this currently averages 1,300 kg per cow per annum. This feeding rate will remain, with additional milk coming from forage. Comprehensive herd information and specialist advise is crucial to the success of both systems, we cannot afford to make mistakes and technical performance must be on target.