A CHANGE in breeding policy and improved grassland management have helped father and son David and Steven Smith achieve more than 50 per cent of their 135-cow herd’s milk yield from grass.

Following the success of a few Scandinavian cross bred cows in the herd, they decided to go down the cross breeding route. They approached Geno for advice and opted for 30 straws of Fleckvieh to start with.

"Calvings were successful and the cross bred calves grew like mad," said Steven. "They were healthy and thrived – and the bull calves were worth a lot more than the black and white calves."

Working with Geno’s Sam Burman, they used Norwegian Red sires on more black and white cows and as a three way cross on the Fleckvieh Holstein heifers.

Sires are carefully selected picking out key traits. Legs and feet are particularly important, and fertility and health alongside milk solids. A third of the herd is now cross bred with some second calvers.

Steven and David farm at Ripley, near Harrogate, and share the milking while their wives rear the calves. Steven’s wife, Linda, also helps with maintenance, tractor driving and relief milking and Ann, David’s wife, handles most of the paperwork.

"We’ve seen yields improve by about 400kg in the past two years to 7,500kg," said David, an Arla farmer representative. "More importantly, milk solids have improved to a rolling average of 4.15 per cent fat and 3.4 per cent protein.

"We crossed with the Norwegian Red and Fleckvieh for fertility, health and hybrid vigour, and it’s working. The Norwegian crossbred heifers that have just joined the herd calved easily, they’re very milky and yielding well."

The Smiths have run a closed herd for 25 years and follow strict hygiene and health protocols with minimal use of antibiotics, especially at drying off.

Cell counts have dropped from 106,000/ml 12 months ago to 83,000/ml and the bactoscan is 16. They vaccinate for leptospirosis and test for BVD, IBR and Johne’s disease.

Paddock grazing on the 60ha of land around the farm is supported by 50ha of rented land for youngstock grazing and silage.

"Four years ago we were getting about 3,000 litres of milk from forage," said Steven. "This is now 4,500litres and we’re near the top of the Kingshay costings table supplied by our feed supplier, Masham-based I’Ansons."

Concentrate use per cow rolling annual average is 1,570kg per cow, or 0.21kg/litre, and margin over purchased feed is £1,378 per cow or 18.57p/litre.

Cows have a fresh paddock every day and 'mop up' and graze the land tightly overnight. The farm is 800ft above sea level and gets 60 inches of rain. Cow tracks have extended the grazing season.

Cows are fed a 16 per cent protein concentrate plus up to 5.5kg of sugarbeet a day in the parlour, according to yield and conditions. Parlour feeding continues through winter and forage is from two or three cuts of grass. About 8ha are reseeded each year.

The plan is to progress the crossbreeding policy. Steven said: "We want cows with staying power and would like six lactations from them. I think, through our cross breeding programme, we will see more cows in our herd achieve this."