Demonstration Site Project - Marian Mawr

Management and Leadership

Project aims:

At Marian Mawr, Aled manages a team of 3 full time staff and 4 part time. To ensure that staff are retained and that they are motivated, Aled is eager to implement a management process to support and improve his management and leadership skills and also enhance staff’s commitment to the business.

Strategic objectives:

This project will support these strategic goals by coaching farm managers
Giving the tools to better manage their team to achieve business goals
The project will also aim to help develop individuals within the team to become leaders within the business
The project aims to potentially unlock their potential through increased confidence.

Project in practice:

At the beginning of the project, a 360̊ review of the whole team will be undertaken to ascertain ‘contentment’.
This review will be replicated in 12 months’ time to identify any improvements (or not) following implementation of management structures.
Meetings will be held with all members of the team, and if needed individual meetings to ensure confidentiality to discuss any sensitive issues.
Ongoing support will be provided to Aled and all members of the staff during the 12 months to ensure continued improvement and subtle hints on how to tackle arising issues.

Project Updates:

Technical Publication (Issue 8, page 8): Farming Connect Staff Leadership and management project

Article: Staff Management - attracting and retaining good people

Using Genomic Selection to Improve Calf Rearing Efficiency

Project aims:

Use genomic testing to pick the most productive and profitable animals from the herd for rearing. Less productive animals can then be sold, removing the unnecessary cost of rearing and in turn improving the genetics and performance of the dairy herd.

Strategic objectives:

Improve productivity and cost management
Improve animal lifetime productivity
Improve business resilience
Protect the image of dairy farming
Encourage innovation and improve primary production on farm and within the supply chain

Project in practice:

Once registered, 70 pure Holstein female calves will be genomically tested. A needle-sized ear notch is taken from the ear and the genomic samples sent to a genotyping laboratory.
Once the genotype has been produced it will be sent to the Genetic Evaluation Centre for production, health, fitness and fertility traits.
The heifer rearing cost calculator will record detailed costings of feed, medicine, bedding, dry matter intakes, vet costs, calf weights and live weight gain. It will be used annually to compare and identify rearing costs of the youngstock.

Project update:

Genomic estimated breeding values for the first batch of calves to be tested have now been generated. The next batch of calves are being tested and weighed in September and October.
Once the testing has been ongoing for six months, management decision will be made on which animals to keep as replacements. Calves with poor genomic results may be sold.

Dairy producers who have carried out genomic testing on their heifers can now make use of 3 separate indexes to help make informed mating decisions to breed replacements. In line with AHDB Dairy’s strategic optimal systems approach a new Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) has been introduced this August alongside the existing Profitable Lifetime Index (£PLI) and the Spring Calving Index (£SCI). It is now possible to choose bulls and ultimately breed cows that are better suited to a particular milk contract, calving pattern or feeding regime. Marian Mawr a Farming Connect Demonstration Farm and an all year round milk producer, have been genomicaly testing heifers on the £PLI base for the past two years and chooses bulls based on £PLI. Seasonal producers in Wales or those who wish to move to a block calving system can make use of their individual Herd Genetic Report available for free on the AHDB Website which will have female information on all 3 indexes.

Chart 1. New Autumn Calving Index (£ACI) weighting