4. John Owen, Gelli Aur College Farm, Gelli Aur, Carmarthen

Cows in his spring-calving herd which have already calved (200 of 250) are outside during the day, getting 5kg concentrates plus silage at night. But grass already grazed in the rotation has not started growing again.

Mr Owen’s rotation will last until the first week in April, when grass growth is usually at its peak. He hopes for some growth by then and expects the second rotation to be very quick.

“The quality is there now, but there’s just not enough of it,” he says. “But conditions are good and, while there’s not much for them to eat, the cows are very contented.”

The spring-calving herd is based on a three-way breeding programme - Friesians put to a Jersey, then a Norwegian or Swedish Red, before going back to black and white.

The autumn-calving herd (also 250 cows) is pedigree British Friesian. In-calf cows from this herd are outside during the day. The whole herd is usually turned out later than the spring-calvers

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