22 January 2018
The next generation at a Pembrokeshire dairy farm are improving their dairy herd’s fertility thanks to artificial insemination (AI) training part-funded by Farming Connect.
Brothers Alistair and William Lawrence and their sister, Hannah, have all returned to Great Hares Head, a dairy, beef and sheep farm near Crundale, where they farm with their grandparents, John and Joyce Lloyd.
The family is setting the business up for the future by investing in a new milking parlour to replace a six-abreast facility installed in 1972; the new infrastructure includes cubicle housing and calving and dry cow sheds.
Getting cows in calf every year is vital to the profitability of their 110-cow dairy enterprise so to ensure breeding takes place promptly after a cow is spotted bulling, Alistair embarked on an AI course.
This three-day accredited course was 80% funded by Farming Connect through its lifelong learning and development programme.
Alistair now shares AI duties with Hannah, who previously underwent training through Farming Connect.
Fertility has improved and they are making savings on technician fees.
“It has made a massive difference because we can serve cows at the optimum time. Previously we might have noticed a cow was on heat in the evening but she might not have been served until late the following morning or the afternoon and that was too long a gap,’’ says Alistair.
The all-year-round calving Holstein Friesian herd yields an average of 7,500 litres at 4.2% butterfat and 3.4% protein.
The Lawrences, who are the fourth generation to farm at Great Hares Head, are confident about the future of dairying and say that the ability to do their own AI is making the business more efficient.
“We think farming in Wales has a great future which is why we have all chosen to farm. We are very fortunate to the have the Farming Connect programme to provide the training that can help us put the business on a sound footing going forward,’’ says Hannah.
Alistair and William together with Hannah, plan to sign up for a foot trimming course next year.
“The more skills we can learn, the more efficient the business can be,’’ says William.
“It is a tremendous advantage that a substantial part of the training fee is met by Farming Connect, it really does make the difference between doing a course and not doing it.’’
The next application window for applying for Farming Connect training is from Monday, 5 February to Friday, 2 March 2018. For dates and locations of all forthcoming training courses including artificial insemination, information about e-learning modules and other Farming Connect services which could support you and your business, please click here.
Farming Connect are hosting a range of free PDP – Personal Development Plan – events throughout Wales in January. Events are held in:
Llanelli – 25/01/2018
Llanrwst – 29/01/2018
Cardigan – 01/02/2018
Llandovery – 06/02/2018