Make adjustments to graze wet fields

摘要

Despite wet weather, Gelli Aurfarm is standing firm on its spring grazing policy, writes Debbie James. Making adjustments to account for damage to waterlogged soils is allowing one grass-basedWelsh dairy system to stand firm on its spring grazing rotation.At Gelli Aur Farm in Carmarthenshire, the 270-cow spring calving herd of cross-breeds was set for turnout as normal on about 10 February.With early grazing worth about ￡2 a cow a day through higher animal performance and lower feed costs, the business cannot afford to lose that advantage, says John Owen, who manages the college farm. But he is making some adjustments and will supplementthe herd in the first grazing round to plug the gap created by lower-quality grass due to dying leaf at the base of swards.