Fodder beet forms basis of rations for outwintered herd

摘要

Ed and Penny Friend run their 360 New Zealand Friesian cross Jersey milkers, plus 170 followers, on 200-hectare (494-acre) at Bridgemere Farm, near Nantwich.This spring-calving herd averages 5,300 litres of milk at an impressive 4.97% butterfat and 3.83% protein. Milk is sold to Aria.Once calved, cows and heifers go out to graze, producing most of their milk from grass. But once dried off, a process which begins in November for the earliest calvers, cows and heifers strip graze fodder beet.The fodder beet suits Mr Friend's system. He has grown the crop to overwinter dry cows and heifers for the past 10 years.