PROFILE Dann’s Farm
roof-mounted solar array at the unit helps with energy costs, and the only crop sold off the 270ha farm now is grass seed, harvest- ed after two cuts of silage. Instead of selling cereals, win-
ter barley, undersown with grass, is used for whole crop silage, and winter wheat combined as moist grain, crimped and clamped. Maize is grown on 140ha, of which 80ha is rented, and a fur- ther 8ha is used for grain maize, combined and crimped – which
“
The cows keep very cool in the summer
the cows love. Ben Watts of Kite Consulting is nutritionist for the dairy unit and, says Simon, a very good dairy businessman.
Shared experiences Alex is a member of a doz- en-strong dairy discussion group, set up by AHDB knowledge ex- change offi cer Shirley Macmil-
lan. They benchmark herd perfor- mance, organise talks and farm visits, and support each other. “This cow club is the best thing
that’s happened, a real driver for the younger generation,” says Simon. “Alex is so motivated to make the dairy work.”
The next plan is to move to
three times a day milking, as part of a drive to increase yields from 30 to 40 litres per cow per day. “It will mean better cow wel-
fare, as they will be carrying less milk at any time, they will milk more quickly and the shed will be cleared three times a day,” says Alex. “But it depends on getting
a rota of staff – that’s our biggest challenge.”
Genetics will also play a part, with replacements being bred from the top performing 25% of the herd, using sexed semen. And a new herd monitoring sys- tem could also help improve per- formance: Cow Manager, which
BUSINESS FACTS Simon and
• £2 million expansion of dairy unit
• Zero-grazing system • Cow Manager trial • Dann’s Ice Cream
Alex Dann in one of the new dairy buildings
>>
AF0414A Protein Feeds_Layout 1 20/03/2014 12:28 Page 1
Protein Feeds Ltd
Ruminant Feed Specialists
Supplying farmers with cattle food for over 40 years.
We are a leading supplier of dairy and beef cattle feed in East Anglia
Protein Feeds Ltd
Leading supplier of dairy and
beef cattle feed in East Anglia. Quality products and personal service at very competitive prices.
Protein Feeds Ltd are proud to support Fen Farm Dairy
T 01728 668515 Fax: (01728) 668737 Email:
protein.feeds@ukgateway.net
www.proteinfeeds.co.uk Westleton Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 3AF
Tel: 01728 668515 Fax: 01728 668737 Email:
protein.feeds@ukgateway.net
proteinfeeds1@btconnect.com www.proteinfeeds.co.uk
Westleton Saxmundham Suffolk IP17 3AF 58 ANGLIA FARMER • AUGUST 2018
Protein Feeds has supplied the Dann family for over three decades with high quality, low cost animal feed and wish them all the success for the future.
Norfolk Liquid Feeds Agricultural Supplies
Pleased to work with F S Dann & Son and wishing them a successful future
Main supplier of Crystalyx feed blocks and IAE livestock equipment
Tel: 01603 456444
Fax: 01603 454342 Mob: 07850 861596 Units 61/62 Norwich Livestock Market, Hall Rd, Norwich NR4 6EQ
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