By unlocking the export potential China offers the pig industry, not to mention the red meat sector as a whole, we could gain entry into a marketplace which comprises a fifth of the world’s population.3. Phil Feeney, Old Hall Farm, Grafton, Tilston, Malpas, Cheshire
Sending off fresh grass for analysis gives some ‘reassurance’ about what the cows eating, says Phil Feeney.
He has a contract farming agreement with Robert Bostock, milking 360 cows on 285ha (700 acres) of organic land. The herd has some British Friesian, Ayrshire and Holsteins cows, but since 2002/03 everything has been served with New Zealand black and white semen.
The herd block calves in spring and is averaging 5,800 litres, with milk sold to OMSCo on a liquid contract.
The first calves were born on February 6. Cows have been outside day and night since March 5, getting 2kg concentrates in the parlour and buffer feed from the trough.
Farmers Guardian newsletters
Get the best of Farmers Guardian delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to sign-up today
-
General news and breaking news alerts
Minimum weekly delivery -
Livestock, arable, dairy and young farmers
news and features
Monthly delivery