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Yates family are keen to drive the business forward and the biomass installation followed on from a number of previous infrastructure investments. In 2006 a new cow shed was built on a green field site beside the original steading providing cubicles for 240 cows, two straw yards, for calving and fresh cows and a 20:40 GEA parlour. “The new facilities offer better cow comfort and we noticed an improvement in production after moving in to the new shed which also has curtain sides to control the temperature in the shed. We are always looking at ways to improve the farm and be as efficient as possible,” explains Brian.
The next investment came in 2013 when a shed was built adjacent to the cow shed to offer housing for everything over eight weeks old and dry cows. Silage pits and storage for straights, draff and blend
were also built.
Another piece of technology which is improving the use of slurry is the bubble system. The youngstock shed has a suspended floor with a channel coming from the cow shed so that the slurry is mixed together. This system gives a more consistent product and therefore a more even spread of slurry which saves the business buying in as much fertiliser. Adding to the forward thinking nature of the business, the herd has been milked three times a day for the last five years and is averaging 11,000 litres milk sold at 3.97%bf and 3.14%p, with Brian and Michael noticing a big improvement in heifers calving in on three times a day. “The first heifers to calve in on three times a day are now in their fourth lactation and look much more youthful than cattle that calved in to twice a day milking. We’ve also gained an
extra 5kg of milk a head a day by milking three times a day, allowing our cattle to reach their full genetic potential,” adds Brian. To help them reach their potential cows are fed a TMR of 27kg silage, 6.5kg blend, 6kg soda wheat, 4kg draft, 4kg whole-crop, 1.5kg straw, 1kg molasses and 0.75kg hay, he adds.
Heifers are now being served between 13 and 14 months which Michael believes is possible because they are growing and developing better and able to be served sooner, as they are now fed TMR from eight weeks old.
“From eight weeks to five months heifers are fed a straw based TMR which is the same as the dry cow ration and consists of 7kg whole-crop, 1.75kg dry cow blend, 6kg draff, 5.23kg straw, 3kg grass silage, 1kg hay and 0.5kg molasses.
A shed built in 2006 provides cubicles for 240 cows, two straw yards for calving and fresh cows, the parlour and handling facilities.
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