12 December 2024
A small-scale pedigree beef producer is capitalising on his limited resources by utilising best practice ideas gained from a network of fellow farmers brought together by Farming Connect as a discussion group.
Peter Lowe, who farms with his wife, Sue, at Rhydwen, Crymych, is a member of the Farming Connect Pembrokeshire Beef Discussion Group, a group that meets monthly either on-farm or at speaker-led indoor meetings.
Since he joined four years ago, he has rolled out multiple changes that have improved herd and farm performance.
The Lowes moved to Pembrokeshire from Derby in 1982, to Rhydwen, then an 18-acre holding. They have since bought another 11.5 acres and they rent 17 acres.
The farm was initially stocked with Friesian heifer calves with the intention of establishing a milking herd but, the introduction of milk quotas the following year ruled that out so they instead reared beef calves to sell as stores.
As the business evolved, the Lowes established the ‘Frenni’ suckler herd of pedigree Herefords and now average 15 breeding cows, focusing on high health – the herd is certified as Risk Level 1 for Johne’s and has BVD-free accreditation.
Always keen to learn more, Peter joined Farming Connect’s Pembrokeshire Beef Discussion Group and that opened the door to a multitude of changes which have in turn benefitted performance in the herd and business.
Although some members have different systems to his system, Peter says gaining knowledge from them and from others they have met through the group has been important in helping to inform the future direction of his own business, as he explains: “We are quite heavily stocked and have big cows but a farm we recently visited had a low stocking density and smaller cows. It was interesting to see how they ran that system, how others are doing things and whether some of those ideas will work for us.’’
He learned the importance of getting silage analysed, allowing his highest quality forage to be allocated to growing stock.
By cutting grass at a younger stage, he is producing silage at 13% crude protein, feeding this to his youngstock, while later cut, bulkier forage at an average of 11% crude protein provides winter feed for the dry cows.
Calves are weaned at between eight and nine months, with castrated bulls then housed on silage with heifers on silage and a starting ration of 2kg of concentrates, up to a maximum of 3kg.
Bulls earmarked as breeding stock receive a daily ration of 3-6kg of concentrates plus silage to achieve a target average liveweight of 600kg at 16 months.
Regularly weighing, at weaning and three times over the winter, helps Peter and Sue monitor growth and performance.
Trace element supplementation is important too - historically they only bolused cows and did that once a year, or offered mineral buckets, but this year cows will be bolused at both housing and at turnout time, and also calves will be given a bolus at weaning.
By working closely with his vet, they have reduced the use of wormers by faecal egg count (FEC) sampling.
“The samples showed no worm infestation which gave us the confidence to not routinely worm as we would have in previous years,’’ Peter explains.
They have also cut antibiotics use – for example by using pain relief only at castration unless otherwise needed.
Through the Farming Connect Advisory Service they received Specialist Veterinary Advice on fertility testing bulls.
Breeding bulls are mainly sold to dairy farmers while stores are sold at Carmarthen market.
Peter has also used opportunities that are available through Farming Connect to upskill.
With courses that were 40% funded, he has acquired a Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Hand Held Equipment (PA6), a Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides (PA1) and Safe Application of Pesticides Using Vehicle Mounted Boom Sprayer Equipment (PA2).
It means he can use his quad-mounted sprayer and a weep wiper to control reeds and weed infestations at Rhydwen, and generate income by contract spraying too.
“The fact that these courses were 40% funded really makes a difference, it is a definite incentive to complete the training,’’ he says.
At 67, Peter is considering future options, perhaps switching from Herefords to Continental breeds or even moving out of suckler production and instead buying calves to grow on.
Diversification into tourism has generated important additional income for the family.
In 2018, a former barn at Rhydwen that was converted into a three-bedroom cottage opened for bookings and there have been strong occupancy rates ever since.
Although they attended it after the conversion, the Lowes say a Farming Connect diversification event provided some useful advice on how to maximise that alternative enterprise.
“When you are providing accommodation, it has to be of good quality and you must provide a good service and look after the people who come to stay, that way you will get repeat bookings,’’ reasons Peter.
“It is no different to what we do with the cattle – if you get a good name for your cattle, you get return buyers.’’
The next goal is to improve grassland and grazing with knowledge picked up through discussion group membership and at Farming Connect events.
“An organic farmer we recently visited with the discussion group had planted a field of rape and kale so, if I am sufficiently confident that I have enough grass next year, I may do something similar, using that crop with baled silage to outwinter the cattle on and reduce feed and bedding costs,’’ says Peter.
That grazing crop would be followed by a spring-drilled fast-growing ryegrass and, in the autumn, with a permanent pasture ley.
“It is something different, I don’t mind trying something different. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but unless you give it a go you will never know.’’
Peter values the support he has received through Farming Connect. “I have learned so much through going to the discussion group – Rhiannon James from Farming Connect, and Sion Evans who run it, are very supportive.
“I really like the social aspect of it too, getting off the farm to have a chat and to share ideas.’’