The most labour-efficient techniques used on Lakeland Dairies farms to ensure a good work-life balance are revealed in a new booklet from the co-op.

Dairy Farm Labour: Working Smarter, Not Harder provides advice, from milk suppliers for other milk suppliers, based on findings of local and regional research.

The booklet looks at key areas farmers can address at each month of the year from the dry period to calving and from breeding to grass management.

“As herd size has expanded in recent years, we wanted to showcase simple, time-efficient farming techniques, already working across our catchment area for our milk suppliers, with this booklet,” said Adrian McKeague, co-author of the report.

“Practical advice includes moving milking from late evening into the afternoon, milking just once a day in February and how best to prepare for the calving season including ongoing calf management,” he said.