LEFT One visual trial that is taking place at Crichton Royal Farm is on CO2 Emissions and has sparked many questions from passer-bys.
BELOW LEFT Cows carry the Langhill prefix and are ran as two breeding groups which are high and average genetic merit.
Within this group the cows are also run as home grown and by-product systems of Milk Production. As the title suggests the home grown group is fed all year round on crops grown on the farm including grass silage and grazing, maize, wheat and spring beans, vitamins and minerals are bought in to add to the TMR.
The by-product group are fed on straw, distillery feeds, soya, concentrate blend and molasses. The home grown cows that are from the control breeding group average 6700kg/cow/year, while the select bred cows average 7300kg on the same diet. Control group cows on the by-product diet average 9720kg a year with their select bred equivalents averaging 11,630kgs.
At Acrehead there are 230 cows which are also milked three times a day and are monitored for different research projects. A robot is currently being installed to allow research to be run on health traits. At the moment two staff milk first at the Crichton Royal and then immediately after at Acrehead with milking times starting at 3.30am, 11.30am and then 7.30pm. “We previously had one person milking at each farm at the same time, but have found that they work better as a team and also the total length of time spent milking for each person hasn’t changed,” explains Hugh. Other research projects that are currently being run at Acrehead include a ‘Cut and Carry’ experiment which has 15 cows housed full time on TMR as a control group and15 cows fed two windows of fresh grass that is cut and delivered to the shed. Grass is weighed after lifting and any leftovers are weighed at the end of the second window before TMR is fed for the third window. A further 15 cows are grazed for two windows and fed TMR in the evening.
The result of out-wintering heifers is also being monitored as three groups of 18 in-calf heifers were wintered on different diets. The control group was housed on TMR, while one group was out wintered on grass and kale
and another out wintered on grass and big bale silage. The heifers were all weighed every two weeks during the winter and now they have all calved their production is being compared. Running a farm next to the ground of the Crichton University campus is challenging for Hugh who has worked at Crichton Royal Farm for more than 35 years. “We are working with the community on a day to day basis trying to manage field work around the University Campus and neighbours to the farm which is on the edge of Dumfries and Kingholm Quay,” explains Hugh. “We use contractors to do a lot of work and try to do field work like spreading slurry or hauling silage after 5pm when most of the campus is quieter.” Also, running a research farm creates regular questions from the local community, particularly with projects that are visibly noticeable to passers-by. Hugh explains: “There are often people walking past the farm or on the minor rounds around the fields, they usually ask questions and it is good to take the time and explain what and why things are being done. There are always different examples of dairying happening on the farm and it enables me to discuss the merits of each method.
“When you can find ways of explaining the cost of producing a litre of milk and the price paid in a constructive way most people are sympathetic and generally disappointed that a fair price isn’t being paid. It is a brilliant opportunity to engage with our customers,” he adds.
26 THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2015
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