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George Brown, contract farming partner at Bisterne Farms explains the dairy business has evolved over the decades.

"It was several years ago when we first invested in a dairy at Bisterne Farms while in the process of amalgamating our three smaller herds. Before transitioning to spring calving we spent a period milking Holstein cross cows and we have now more recently moved to a split block patten with autumn bias.

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"Today we farm 500 hectares of grassland, with additional land area for maize and fodder beet.  Some 200ha of grazing is in SSSI low input river meadows, managed predominantly for wildlife, and the entire 1600ha estate is within various conservation agreements.  We cherish how our dairy sits side by side with nature, while being a commercial core in our farming operation. 

Challenges

"While there are challenges, it is an exciting time to be in dairy, and we remain focused on running a profitable business that is committed to meeting consumer and regulatory demands."

Industry experts from The Andersons Centre, LIC and Synergy Farm Health, who have contributed to the farm's success will speak at the Open Day in a series of talk stations situated around the farm.

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They will explain how George and his ambitious team have focused their attention to detail to enable the herd to produce 3,730 litres of milk from forage, as well as highlighting the finer details when it comes to daily practice, looking at how these decisions have ultimately resulted in the business becoming a ‘premier' herd.

Calves

While visiting, it is worth taking a look at what the business is doing when it comes to calves. While these will not be housed at the farm on the day, recorded footage demonstrating feeding protocol will be shown.

This will highlight the changes Bisterne Farms have made in terms of milk replacer to ensure calves are receiving maximum levels of utilisable amino acids. The farm now use a milk replacer made with low heat dried skim and buttermilk allowing the milk proteins to be utilised and slowly digested throughout the day. Low heat dried skim and buttermilk form a clot in the abomasum of the calf alike the digestion of cows milk.

Milk replacer

Consistency is key, mixing the milk replacer at the same rate and temperature each day, allowing the team to follow feeding protocol and adjust the total number of litres given to each pen according to the calves age. The farm feed milk replacer once a day from 28 days old. "This system encourages concentrate intakes and enables the farm to wean the calves at eight week's old, or when they are intaking at least 1.25kg/head/day of starter feed", says Mollie Phipps, regional sales manager at Bonanza Calf.

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"By only feeding one milk feed you are increasing the development of the digestive system by increasing the dry feed and total dry matter intake which has a positive effect on the immune system and helps to eliminate health issues before, during and after weaning.

"Because the calves have a more developed rumen at weaning, their post-weaning performance is better, allowing steady growth rates to continue."

The farm offer hay made from their meadows alongside concentrate feed which not only utilises the farm's resources but encourages rumen development. 

Gold Cup Open Day

• When: Wednesday 22 May, 2024. Gates open at 10:30am
• Where: Bisterne Farms, Sandford, Ringwood, BH24 3BU

Talk stations – repeated at 12noon, 1pm and 2pm

• Grazing genetics and the ideal cow – Sally Pocock, national pasture sales lanager, Livestock Improvement Corporation
• Profit drivers in grass-based systems – Piers Badnell, pasture to profit consultant, Livestock Improvement Corporation
• What proactive veterinary care looks like for block calving herds – Josh Swain, veterinary surgeon and Claire Rudd, veterinary surgeon and regional lead at Synergy Farm Health Ltd
• The mechanics of a contract farming agreement – Oliver Hall, partner, The Andersons Centre