Our Wiltshire Focus Farm has taken big steps to improve profitability and lower its environmental impact, making it one of the top performers for Arla’s Sustainability Incentive (SI).
Stowell Farm Manager Neil Ridgway said: “My ethos has always been sustainably producing profit whilst maximising animal welfare. We want to be at the forefront of UK agriculture and setting the standards, not just adhering to the minimum.”
Arla’s SI rewards suppliers for environmental management and Stowell Farm scored 15 points above the 2023 Arla global average, bringing a total financial benefit of 2.01 eurocents (1.7p) per kilo of Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM).
The farm also receives one eurocent per month per kilo FPCM for carrying out a Climate Check with carbon foot printing.
The 780-cow herd yields 11,700 litres a cow a year at 4.01% fat and 3.21% protein and the farm focuses on the “Big Five” levers that make up the highest number of points in the SI:
Traditionally, grass was planted after cereals, cut once and followed by maize. Neil said this had a negative impact on soil health and forage quality. He reduced the cereal acreage from 600 to 500 acres. Land is now planted to 4-5 years herbal leys, three years grass and clover leys or lucerne. This supports soil health and the production of quality forage and helps the herd achieve 3,400 litres of milk from forage. Strategies such as removing soya from the diet and feeding homegrown lucerne also impacts feed efficiency.
In-depth soil analysis is used to map fields and adopt variable rate spreading of fertiliser and digestate from the unit’s anaerobic digester. As lucerne fixes nitrogen, the wheat or maize crop that follows it requires less bought-in fertiliser and mostly receives digestate or FYM. This has helped reduce fertiliser use by 75 tonnes.
Careful ration balance also optimises protein utilisation by the cow and reduces nitrogen excretion. Predicted nitrogen output from the diet is monitored by the farm’s nutritionist, our Technical and Sustainability Manager, Dr Matt Witt. This is used to ensure the diet is utilised effectively to optimise cow and environmental efficiencies.
Homegrown forage production and the removal of bought-in soya influences the farm’s score, as does the herd’s high yields and milk from forage. The farm has their own silage making kit, allowing silage to be cut at the optimum time. A self-propelled feed mixer reduces forage wastage from the clamp to feed-out.
The production of quality home-grown protein in the form of lucerne has a significant impact on protein efficiency, as does the removal of soya from deforested areas.
Matt has worked with the team to reduce the environmental impact of the diet, whilst ensuring the herd meets its production targets, which includes maximising milk from forage.
He said: “We’ve taken soya out of the ration and effectively maintained the nutritional specification and cost of the diet by using homegrown lucerne, which is averaging 16% crude protein, plus feeds like British grown protected rapeseed.”
This was identified as the main area for attention and has influenced decision making. In 2022, the business moved from twice daily milking through a rotary to milking through 12 robots. The internal infrastructure of the cubicle sheds was also overhauled to improve cow comfort. This will support cow longevity. Breeding is focused on strength, legs, feet and udders.
The Sustainability Incentive (SI) Model is based on the main levers that Arla has identified as the most impactful and cost-efficient way of delivering their 30% climate emissions reduction target by 2030. The levers include:
Stowell Farms gained the maximum points for all the additional levers, outside the Big Five except grazing as the milking herd is housed.
For advice on reducing your herd’s environmental impact while meeting production targets, call the Feed Line on 01566 780261 or email feeds@molevalleyfarmers.com.