Heavy rain on Thursday and Friday limited grazing again last weekend. The cows were kept in on Friday and Saturday, but the plan was to get out grazing with the milking herd on Saturday night. The diet remains a mix of grazed grass when ground conditions allow, grass silage and 6kg of 18% protein concentrate.

Grass growth was measured on Wednesday at 9kg per day for the previous week. Air and ground temperatures increased over the weekend and better growth would be expected when the farm is measured again next week. Growth remains about a third of what you would expect at this time of the year.

Surplus heifer calves will be sold this week from the Greenfield Farm

Surplus heifer calves will be sold this week.

Milk production remains in or around 18 litres per cow at 3.21% protein and 4.74% fat (1.47kg milk solids). These were the test results for the collection on 5 April. There was more grass silage in the diet instead of grazed grass and, as a result, protein dropped from 3.49% to 3.21% despite the high meal feeding levels. There are fewer than 20 cows left to calve. A selection of surplus dairy heifer calves will be sold this week.

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