The Brown family farm on the northeast coast of Ireland on the Newtownards Peninsula. Their farm is situated on the outskirts of the village in Millisle in Co Down. They farm 113ha to feed 200 Holstein Friesian cows and replacement heifers.

The herd is managed by Bill Brown in partnership with his parents, William and Joyce. Bill is an early 1990s Greenmount College graduate and lives on the farm with his wife, Gail, and their two young children, Sophia and Callum. Bill’s father, William, is actively involved in the daily running of the farm but has taken a back seat in farm management to allow Bill run and develop the business.

Land availability

Good-quality soil and favourable weather conditions allow the farm to enjoy ideal grass-growing conditions and a long grazing season. Last year, 38ha (33%) of the 113ha farmed was rented on an annual conacre agreement from a number of landlords. However, changes to Single Farm Payment (SFP) and moreover the fact that some of Bill’s landlords are active farmers, means Bill will lose some of the land he rented last year – approximately 18ha.

The knock-on financial impact on Bill’s farm will be significant with a reduction in his basic subsidy payment over a seven-year period, and also a reduction in total farm income due to the adjustment downwards required in cow numbers in order to comply with nitrates regulations.

The grazing platform

Grazing what was previously classified as silage area could be an option for Bill, but distance from the parlour may prove limiting. A further solution that involves crossing a main road with high-density traffic in order to access an additional 8ha may also prove unworkable due to the associated risk and increased labour required. Without any action to secure additional land, the farm will only have 35ha of grazing available for the coming season.

Livestock

Currently, the 200-cow herd of Holstein Friesians supplies milk to Lakeland Dairies with an annual production of 1.78m litres sold last year. The herd produced 634kg of milk solids per cow with an annual milk yield of 8,900 litres at 3.85% butterfat and 3.12% protein. Breeding is focused on using high-profitable lifetime index (PLI) sires with an emphasis on high fertility and health traits.

Bill maintains fertility management is the key to milk production and spends a significant amount of time on heat detection during breeding. All the cows will be first served to AI and then stock bulls will finish breeding. All replacement heifers are reared on the farm and calve into the herd on average at 25 months of age. Last year, Bill brought 55 new heifers into the herd.

Work routine

Bill employs local man Gareth full-time on the farm. His duties include milking and feeding the cows, with some tractor work at peak times, including slurry and chemical fertilizer spreading on grazing paddocks.

Agricultural contractors are used for three cuts of silage and for the majority of slurry spreading. A specialist GPS-guided fertilizer-spreading contractor is used for bulk spreading after each cut of silage. Spring slurry spreading is applied by the contractor with an umbilical system and dribble bar that helps reduce the soil compaction associated with tankers, and also increases the utilisation of nutrients from the slurry.

Cows are milked through a 20-point Fullwood parlour with automatic cluster removal, milk meters, automatic cow identification and meal feeding. Cows also have access to meal from out-of-parlour feeders, which are linked to the central computer that allocates feed based on individual cow yield and stage of lactation.

Farm investment

From an investment viewpoint, the farm is well equipped with sufficient slurry storage and adequate milking facilities. The farm has recently undertaken a £100,000 investment to improve dry cow housing, additional slurry storage and feeding space. Any future investment will be on grazing infrastructure, including additional roadways and upgrading the water supply to the grazing area.

The Dairylink plan

Developing a robust milk production system which can withstand volatile milk prices is the overall goal.

Taking the correct steps now and making informed management decisions on cow fertility, grass management, cow feeding and cost control will help Bill develop his farm into a sustainable and profitable business.

Farm facts

The system

Calving pattern spread over five months. Milk sold per cow was 8,900 litres at 3.85% butterfat and 3.12% protein. Total area farmed in 2014 was 113ha. Calving interval of 398 days. Significant investment made over the past 10 years in facilities to include slurry storage, cubicles, feeding area and silos.

The family

Bill is key decision-maker in the business, helped by his father and employee Gareth. Local machinery contractor used for the majority of work on the farm. Casual milking labour used when needed.

Challenges ahead

Financial challenges on the horizon will include a reducing subsidy payment, a significant drop in total farm income as a result of reduced cow numbers and the current depressed milk price.