High-tech farming at Hardgrove

Hardgrove farm overlooks the Solway Firth in Dumfries. Alistair and Fiona Marshall are second-generation farmers, whose attention to detail has contributed to their success of running of a high-yield dairy farm. The farm comprises 610 acres and the Marshalls currently milk Holstein-Friesian dairy cows with the whole herd, on average, producing 34 litres of milk a day. They intend to increase their herd size to 600 in the near future. In 2014, Alistair started to increase his herd by importing from the Netherlands and Germany and went from 350 head to the 560 he now milks. He plans to increase his herd to 600 in the near future and is currently using his own herd for replacements.

Breeding of animals

When selecting successful breeding traits for his herd and system, Alistair chooses good feet, legs and udders. “We look for functional traits in our animals and then use breeding technology to help us achieve this; we currently use worldwide sires as they score each bull for use.”

A contract mating system is used to ensure the optimum level of breeding is successful. Alistair explains: “Bulls are matched to heifers breaking down to health, age etc. It is also used to stop inbreeding. The computer will match them up and then AI is administered. The long-term goal is that we produce a functional cow that is suited to our system.

We have been using this method for six to seven years now with a high percentage of success. We have more fertile cows, thus a stronger herd.” By using sexed semen, Alistair is looking at breeding traits that he can work from to continue within his herd.

Alistair also breeds the poorer cows to Belgian beef bulls as they are more economical when selling beef calves.

Attention to detail

Housing his cows all year round, Alistair and his team keep a close eye on the livestock, with three milkings a day. He has also introduced a monitoring programme on to the farm, Cow Manager, where an ear tag monitors each cow 24/7. A sensor details the cow’s fertility, health and nutrition and this information can be viewed on a smartphone app.

Alistair says: “Each cow that has a tag can be monitored by my phone; I have access, finding out if there is a problem or if everything is as it should be. The programme measures temperature, eating and how active or non-active each cow is.

“It also alerts us if there is a problem with any individual animal that has to be looked at.

“We had an issue where we were alerted to a cow who was sick but seemingly looked OK, but when the vet checked her over, we discovered that her womb was twisted. It was something that would not have been noticed for hours and the vet was able to save the calf and the cow. It’s like having an extra member of staff.”

Feeding requirements are also monitored as they feed each cow to its different stage of development. The program can detect if a cow is not ruminating and the team are alerted to check if there is a problem with the animal.

Staff

Hardgrove Farm employs five dairy men and two tractor men who help maintain the high level of attention to detail each day.

Cows are milked three times a day and fresh bedding is put into cubicles each lunchtime. Local contractors Drew Watson and Co are used to cut and haul silage as there are four cuts of silage a year. In-calf heifers are also sent to neighbour J Dunlop at Searig Farm to overwinter.

Farm staff meetings are initiated and the vet joins members of Alistair’s team to discuss different issues such as antibiotic usage and different problem-solving measures that they can apply to the health of the herd.

Weather challenge

However, Alistair does notice that grass growth has been affected by the dismal weather this summer. “Our first cut was on target and we were happy with grass quality, but from then on the large amount of rainfall has been affecting production. We grow our own wheat and spring barley and feel the overall crop has been affected.”

New cubicle shed

In 2014, the Marshalls built a large cubicle shed that houses 250 cows. Split into two sides, 100 cows are kept together as the fresh calvers and the other side of 150 are 60 days plus. The new cubicle shed sports an open side for optimum ventilation and has a sensor that detects wind and rain and automatically brings a net curtain down to help protect cows. It also has Perspex openings on top of the shed to let in more light and air flow, aiding animal health.

Biomass boiler system

Hardgrove Farm has a large wooded area that for years was left to manage itself. Alistair saw an opportunity and explains the ongoing project: “We decided to put in a biomass heating system, which heats two houses, the water for the dairy and for feeding calves. We enlisted the help of Barony College whose forestry students have come in with a very competitive rate as they are learning and training on the job. We have our woodland properly cared for as they thin out trees, harvest and cut them up to be dried out before they are chipped ready for usage next summer. It takes 100t of chips a year to keep the biomass heating system going. It cost £100/t to purchase woodchip while it’s costing us £30/t to do it here on the farm with the help and employing of the students. We are benefiting and students are gaining practical experience as well as financial gain.”