Farm of the week: Brothers who followed the Compass plan

The brothers, aged 50 and 52 respectively, farm at Crosby Grange, Thornton-le-Moor, in the Vale of York, between Northallerton and Thirsk, growing some cereals for feed but relying on their dairy herd for income.

They both have a lot of experience but three years ago, they were struggling with a list of problems in their Holstein Friesian herd and overstretch of their own energies.

In July 2008, they took up an offer from 'alternative feed' specialists KW to become one of four 'KW Compass Farms', demonstrating what could be achieved with expert independent input into middle-sized beef and dairy businesses.

To some, 'alternative feeds' still means cheap feeds. But KW says it means "a range of blends, individual materials and moist feeds, formulated to supplement a farm's forage and get the best out of the livestock concerned". KW launched the Compass scheme to demonstrate the effectiveness of its advice and products.

The experiment has so far involved two other dairy farms, in Cheshire and Dumfriesshire, and a beef business in Lincolnshire. And KW announced at the Dairy Event this summer that it would be taking on two more – now being recruited.

Its technical director, Michael Marsden, explains: "Often you have to address a whole range of issues to ensure farms are able to maximise the value of their investment in feed. We want to show what difference our feeds make if everything else is got right.

"Dairy and beef farms are comprised of inter-linked production units – calf production, heifer rearing, milking, dry cow management – and management approaches should be formulated and implemented as a team. At a minimum, this team should involve the farmer, the farm staff, feed adviser and vet."

Dr Marsden became a regular visitor and on-call consultant to Crosby Grange and the Smiths are happy to give him credit for their progress.

Although his advice was free, it has cost them money, in terms of feed, labour and veterinary investment. But the results have turned a desperate situation into a hopeful one.

Like many dairy farmers, the brothers were finding it difficult to maintain production levels and herd health standards as cow numbers rose. A breeding problem resulting from defective genetics in purchased semen led to tens of heifers being culled in one year, forcing the retention of many cows that would otherwise have been culled.

The poorer animals became a reservoir of fresh problems, including a newly prevalent and hard-to-spot respiratory disease known as IBR (Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis).

Dr Marsden says: "The facilities at Crosby Grange are good, with a modern Fullwood milking parlour and 300-space cubicle housing, a top-of-the-range vertical tub mixer wagon and excellent storage capacity for both forages and dry feeds. The brothers had the desire to improve.

"But a number of factors were limiting the herd's potential.

"In summary, these were: less than optimum milk production for the genetics available; dry cow management and heifer rearing weaknesses; higher than desired costs and cull rates due to lameness, mastitis, milk fever and infertility; lack of skilled labour; and a veterinary approach that was reactive rather than proactive." To tackle the calving problems, Dr Marsden recommended a new straw-based diet for dry cows, on the way to a target dry period of 42 days – which meant taking more than a month off the pre-existing interval, but now looks achievable.

The key to the heifer rearing, too, was deemed to be a straw-based winter ration. "You want heifers with frame and you want to minimise fat deposition, which is why a straw-based rearing diet is better than one based on grass silage," says Dr Marsden.

The brothers were actually moving that way, in line with the latest thinking, but Dr Marsden added recommendations which were beyond their knowledge.

The brothers were encouraged to find a vet with a sophisticated herd health recording system and pay for weekly visits.

They went to the Bishopton Veterinary Group in Ripon and one of its vets, Jonathan Statham, became part of the recovery team.

They were also introduced to dairy recruiting agency LKL, which introduced them to Mick Spears – now their permanent herd manager – who was working near Northallerton and looking for a change. His wife, Bridget, came in to fill a vacancy for another experienced hand in the team of four which supports the Smiths.

"Lack of skilled labour was a big issue," John Smith recalls. "Mark and I were having to do a lot of the jobs ourselves, leaving no time to step back and manage the unit.

"We felt more like firemen than dairy farmers. But with Mick Spears and Bridget and Jonathan Statham, plus the on-going KW input, we had a great team in place."

Improved feeding was combined with a strategy of heavy culling, regular foot trimming, new mastitis control protocols, disease screening and regular preventive vaccination.

In 27 months, the farm cut over 50 off average calving intervals – from 470 to 417 days.

Average yield is up by six litres a cow.

The August 2010 monthly management report showed rolling milk yield 2,024 litres higher than August 2009, with 9,324 litres of milk sold, despite over 50 per cent of the herd being heifers in their first lactation.

A daily average yield of 33 litres a cow is a realistic target for next year.

KW is not currently looking for any more Compass farms but its network of advisers can be contacted through 0845 355 9935.