25 November 2019
Case Studies:
Morris Gwyn Parry, Orsedd Fawr
Gwyn runs a 235-ha organic beef and sheep farm on the Llŷn Peninsula. The farm is split into a number of blocks with approximately half the area as lowland and half as upland land type.
Gwyn currently runs 360, predominantly outdoor lambing, Welsh and Welsh cross ewes, scanning at 170% with all lambs being finished off grass before the end of September. Gwyn also runs 61 stabiliser cross suckler cows, selling youngstock off-farm at 18 months. The farm policy has changed over the past 5 years to focus on simple systems with good output but minimal input costs to achieve greater profit.
Gwyn hosted the final meeting for the Prosper from Pasture Advanced North East group where he demonstrated some of the new changes he has made since joining the group. Group members observed how Gwyn is currently rotationally grazing his tupping ewes and his growing cattle with the use of electric fencing to sub-divide his existing fields. Moving the groups 2-3 times a week was allowing him to achieve a good graze-out with minimal damage in the wet weather and set the pastures up to grow quality grass in the spring.
Permanent electric fencing has also been used to both replace failing boundary fences and reinstate historic hedge lines, creating smaller paddocks 1-2ha in size. Water pipes have also been extended to supply the new paddocks through permanent and mobile troughs. This has allowed stock to be moved more regularly, increasing potential pasture production with no extra labour cost.
As part of the programme, group members were required to collect key information prior to each meeting, including average pasture cover measurement of their farms, grass growth rates and demand as well as weights of stock. Gwyn stated: “The group encouraged me to focus on what data I should be collecting as well as time to review, compare and make management decisions with this information.”
One of the key benefits Gwyn gained from being part of the group was training to use FARMAX software and the insight to the wealth of information it can provide to his farming system. Gwyn said: “One of the most interesting things I found with FARMAX is its ability to use figures and measurements to help me make on-farm decisions and the key performance figures it generates which have allowed me to compare my business to others.”
For Gwyn, the group encouraged him to implement more rotational grazing on-farm as well as understand the long-term effect of his current decisions. “It has been very valuable to have opinions and advice from farmers with similar mindsets on how we run the business and an opportunity to see how different farms operate. The group made me review my business and challenged me to think how I can continue to improve; I would recommend others to take every opportunity to be a part of the group,” said Gwyn.
Ianto Pari, Fferm Carreg Plas
Ianto Pari farms at Carreg Plas on the Llŷn Peninsula. The farm is a mixed beef and sheep unit; 300 Suffolk ewes are lambed in early February to a Texel tup. The flock scan at 160%, with male lambs finished at 40kg plus and females at 38kg plus. The beef enterprise consists of 140 stabiliser cows, currently selling bull beef at 14 months of age and selling in-calf heifers.
Fferm Carreg Plas is characterised by clayey-loam soils and large fields averaging 25 acres. Soil testing, pH correction and pasture improvement has been undertaken in the past 10 years. Ianto recently returned to work on-farm full time and had been experimenting with rotational grazing in 2018, seeking to make best use of the farm’s grass growing potential. He applied for the Prosper from Pasture programme to increase his knowledge of pasture management and to seek opportunities to improve.
Ianto says he has particularly enjoyed “talking and discussing with other farmers, understanding how to reduce costs and increase grass utilisation”. He was quick to use the support provided to utilise the FARMAX Software and worked with Rhys Williams from Precision Grazing to create a model for the farm. This showed that the feed demand of the current livestock from pasture was only 50% of the farm’s potential supply. This meant that for 2019, if grazing management was improved, then no nitrogen fertiliser or concentrate feed would be needed.
This information and support from the group encouraged the business to invest in sub-dividing their largest field by installing a 26ha (64 acre) TechnoGrazing System. These systems use permanent electric fencing to divide the field lengthways into lanes. These lanes are sub-divided into paddocks using temporary electric fences which move with the groups of animals. A new water system with pipes placed on the surface has been installed, and mobile troughs connect to quick-release hydrants allowing water to be supplied to any part of the system.
He has used a plate meter to measure the grass on a weekly basis, entering this information in Agrinet and FARMAX. Ianto said: “I can’t imagine farming without using these management tools now. They help me to monitor and plan, giving me the confidence to make decisions; I see them as vital for my business going forward.”
Using the pasture growth data Ianto had been collecting, FARMAX was used to model different stocking rates and cattle enterprise scenarios to optimised potential pasture growth. This showed that the farm has enough feed to finish its steer calves on grass by 18 months; this is budgeted to have a positive net margin even at current beef price. A further 47ha (118 acres) of TechnoGrazing has been installed this autumn ready for spring 2020.
The group has given Ianto the confidence and tools to focus on managing his grazing to increase animal performance and reduce input costs. Ianto said; “I would fully recommend the advanced level group to any farmer who wants to increase profitability from pasture."
Huw Jones, Wholehouse Farm
Huw Jones from Talgarth, Powys runs a 223-ha sheep and beef farm with a mix of owned and rented land. He currently runs 1250 Ewes - NZ Romney Ewes and Aberfield ewes - along with 34 beef followers. Ewes are wintered on fodder beet, lambed outside in April and rotationally grazed throughout the grass growing season with lambs, which are then finished off just grass and herbal leys. Huw’s current focus is on developing a low input sheep system, which removes the need for purchased feed.
The smaller group sizes proved one of the key benefits of the programme, allowing greater interaction between farmers to discuss a variety of topics. Huw stated: “Utilising the experience and knowledge of others within the group, as well as harnessing expert advice to transfer into my business, was one of my favourite parts of the advanced level group.”
Having four meetings throughout the year allowed members to identify and focus on the key factors for their business as the seasons changed. Some of the key influences Huw took away from the project included the importance of Body Condition Scoring ewes at scanning and six weeks before lambing. “I was taught that maintaining BCS is critical to ensure supply of quality colostrum which, in turn, increases lamb survival and future growth rate potential,” said Huw.
Huw was also able to improve his grazing management knowledge. He has identified that reducing the average number of days animals spend in one field or paddock will increase pasture production and utilisation. This is a tool he is using prior to (and during) tupping to maximise the amount of pasture available on the farm and delay the transition to the forage crops.
Collecting, understanding and sharing data was a key part of the advanced group. Huw found the group provided the knowledge, tools and assistance to enable him to plan ahead and prepare feed budgets for his sheep and beef enterprises. This means that he has a plan for this winter and a defined date when he will stop grazing to provide the required rest period for pasture to ensure he has enough grass cover on-farm in the spring.
With profit being key to many businesses, Huw stated the group changed the way he looked at his business, not only from a production point of view but also financial: “All costs are now carefully considered. We will now prioritise capital investment (fencing and water) in order to reduce our feed and fertiliser costs. My business has had an overhaul, and the group has given me the confidence to make decisions.”
Huw said being part of the Advanced Prosper from Pasture level has been “invaluable to my business” and advises fellow livestock farmers to “embrace learning and don’t be afraid of change”.