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It’s great to get these lads involved with the community again and their influence once they leave us can be great if they’re given the chance to use the skills and knowledge they’ve gained with us
the moment,” he adds. Former stock bull Penrikka Cartel from Geoff Williams also had a significant influence on the herd, with this one being from Geoff’s Patron line and scored Ex90 at two years old. “We used him for about a year and have some tremendous daughters from him. Unfortunately we sold him on too soon.”
When it comes to feeding the herd is offered a TMR all year round, with a buffer feed of grass silage, straw and a blend offered while at grass and the winter TMR being similar, with cows also fed to yield in the parlour up to 12kg of concentrate a day. “As much as cows graze from April to October the milk from grass is a bonus for much of the summer as we can get dry here between June and August and that limits both growth and quality in the pastures. Also cows are given the chance to stay in the buildings during hot weather and many chose to rather than go out in the heat.”
Having historically calved heifers at nearly two and a half years old the aim is to calve heifers at two in future and young stock management has been changed
accordingly with more focus on early calf growth. Young stock are housed permanently until they’re safely in calf, being grown on with a ration of straw and concentrates. “Its making a huge difference to getting heifers to the right size for bulling at 14 months old and its really allowing these youngsters to express their true potential, something they maybe weren’t doing previously. Heifers are weighed on a weekly basis to monitor growth and ensure they’re on target.” And Matt has high hopes for some of the young stock when it comes to the show ring. “We’ve had some great success locally before, including taking the Holstein championship at Chepstow in 2013 with Cilwrgi Bolton Lady when she was shown as a first calved heifer. She’s bred from an Aintree cow we bought as part of a TB restocking and is a real favourite in the herd. “In the same year we were reserve champion at Usk with Bettiscombe Igniter Pinkie an EX91 cow which was shown as a fourth calver. She’s another cow I really rate and will hopefully go on for a few years yet. “So far we’ve only shown locally and that works well when it comes to keeping the inmates fully involved in the showing. Going further afield to larger shows may happen in future, but we want the inmates to remain involved and see the rewards from their work.
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“Having inmates showing cows and working with them at shows is the best possible advert for what we’re doing here and gives the public an insight in to how re-settlement works and benefits society as a whole. It’s great to get these lads involved with the community again and their influence once they leave us can be great if they’re given the chance to use the skills and knowledge they’ve gained with us.”
One of the most telling things, says Matt, is the way the inmates interact with the cattle. “For many they’ve not worked with animals before and often haven’t had responsibility for anything other than themselves in life. “Many of them really take to the cattle and realise that you only get of a cow what you put in to it. With dairying there’s no doubt that hard work pays and the dedication needed to be up here milking at 6am is something many of them underestimate, but they stick with it.”
WINNERS OF HOLSTEIN CHAMPIONSHIP AT USK IN 2013
THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2015 35
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