The Alcorn family farm at Loughmuck, Omagh is a unit which is aiming to drive profitability by best use of forage within a high yielding system.

As the winner of the 2007 Ulster Grassland Society Farm of the year the Alcorn’s have proven their experience in maximising the potential of home grown grass. However in the past year, like many producers in the province, they have seen their milk from forage figures slip below what is expected. “Over the past few years we have pushed hard for yield and the 140 cow herd had risen to over 8000 litres on a rolling herd average. Thompsons Milk Manager Data for the 07/08 year was also showing us our milk from forage figures had fallen to only 1700 litres. We had to address this,” comments Matthew Alcorn.

As previously mentioned, the Alcorn’s make their own high quality grass silage, with 2008 1st cut analysing out at 40% DM, 11.5% ME and 13.2% Crude Protein. The challenge then was to make better use of this forage. The decision was taken to split the cows in two batches, feeding the high yielding cows 7kg in the partial TMR and the low yielding cows just 1kg, with all cows topped up to yield in the parlour. This approach has seen a fall in milk yield over the winter period however milk from forage figures have raised by 900 litres at the end of March 2009 compared with the year previous. Overall, efficiency and relative profitability have much improved in the space of 6 months - primarily through more targeted use of concentrate.

The challenge now for the coming 12 months is to build on the improved milk from forage figure but drive milk yields back towards the 8000 litre mark and the management of the herd over the coming summer months is central in achieving this. With the herd averaging 30 litres at 3.95% butterfat and 3.23% protein at the last milk recording - and some individual cows yielding in excess of 45 litres - the possibility of continuing a two batch system was debated as the best means of maintaining yields while pushing lower yielding cows at grass. Plans and building work are now underway at the farm for the installation of a new milking parlour and segregation gate. However for this summer, the handling of cows in two batches would be impractical. With the new system this will be carried out much more easily.

The compromise for this summer is to graze cows night and day and continue to feed all cows to yield in the parlour with a high energy 17% summer nut, supplied through LW Surphlis merchants, Drumlegagh, but buffer feed the herd where necessary either side of milking with a targeted feed of both silage and a tailored Alcorn dairy blend to maintain the yields of the highest yielding cows.

A key area of focus has also been the management of grazing paddocks i.e. stocking rates as well as Pre and post grazing covers. The aim is to provide cows with the highest quality leafy swards for the majority of the grazing season, and encourage milk from grazed grass. The importance of grazing paddocks tight i.e. post grazing covers of 5cm, has been seen as a key objective in the early part of the grazing season.

“We have been working hard to get paddocks down to a suitable height, however the weather over the past three weeks has meant we have had to be flexible around our paddock selection. We have been able to get them out most days for at least a number of hours, which has allowed us to keep some control on sward heights and hopefully follow-on grass quality. We are just taking each day as it comes at present,” adds Matthew.

The current focus on grazing management and quality silage making along with an understanding of the importance of targeted use of concentrates sets the Alcorn herd on the right road for efficient milk production within these challenging times in Northern Ireland dairying.

Richard Moore, Thompsons Technical Specialist.