DairyCo

Things to do in 2012

Published 23 December 11

If you're making any New Year's resolutions why not think about some of the things below? Things to do in 2012

If you're making any New Year's resolutions why not think about some of the things below?  You can find more information on all of the publications and tools mentioned here on our website www.dairyco.org.uk , and most can also be ordered by calling our publications line on 024 7647 8702 or emailing publications@dairyco.ahdb.org.uk .

Devise a worming strategy
As a starting point for a worming strategy it's vital to know how heavy your animals are before you treat them. Find out more about devising a strategy in our Control of Worms guide.

Understand the effect of negative energy balance
Having a negative energy balance can have a serious impact on your herd.  By using the DairyCo Body Condition Score you can track and monitor how your cows are

Start recording types of foot lesions
Knowing what lesions are present when you lift a cow's foot can be key to understanding the cause of the problem and how to address it. By recording the types of foot lesion seen on your farm you will be getting on the right track to decide whether the DairyCo Healthy Feet Programme would benefit your farm.  Download or order our Lesion Recognition Card.

Get on track
The value of comfortable, well-designed and well-built tracks enabling cows to access grazing areas is readily acknowledged so start looking now at your tracks as see whether there are renovations or building work that can be done to have them ready for the grazing season.  Our Cow Tracks guide will take you through the process of where to site tracks, what materials to use, drainage and maintenance.

Thinking of reseeding?
Reseeding is an expensive operation (£400/ha) so it's important that you select a high quality seed mixture that matches exactly your requirements. However, selecting the appropriate mixture needs a bit of thought and planning. Use the Recommended Grass and Clover List as your starting point.

Sign up to one of our updates
The fortnightly DairyCo Datum update and the more in-depth Datum Monthly Report  both offer the latest market information on a national and global level, providing transparency into dairy markets and assisting farmers and those in the industry to make informed business decisions.

Benchmark your business
Take the opportunity to get a really close look at, and compare, your farm's performance with that of others to see just where things might be improved, or where you're already ahead of the game. DairyCo's Milkbench+ system examines the financial performance of the farm together with the management system used. Contact one of our regional officers to find out how we can work with you to start using and benefitting the system, which is available to all levy payers at no extra cost.  Call 024 7647 8708 or click here to find a regional officer near you.