MILK Link have set up the first of their proposed demonstration farms to help members achieve best practice methods and highlight new technologies in the dairy industry.

The demonstration farms will form part of Milk Link's strategy to provide members with a package of additional services.

The first demonstration farm is in collaboration with the University of Bristol (at Wyndhurst Farm Langford near Bristol) who were founder members of Milk Link.

The farm is owned by the Bristol University Veterinary School with its main purpose to provide the student vets with experience in working with large animals. The dairy unit is run by Michael Jones the farm manager at Wyndhurst.

The area farmed is 90 hectares mainly down to medium/long term leys plus permanent pasture parkland. The farm carries 110 pedigree Holstein Friesian cows plus followers and runs a flock of 200 commercial ewes. The herd average is 8,300 litres with an average butterfat of 3.9 per cent and an average protein of 3.2 per cent. The cows are calved from August to December to fit in with teaching requirements and all replacements are home bred aiming to calve down at 24 months.

The demonstration farm will provide Milk Link members the opportunity to gain access to expert knowledge within the dairy industry presented in a practical way. Information will be available via farm open days, articles in Newslink and the Technical Supplement, and the Milk Link website will also have regular updates.

If you are a Milk Link member interested in attending this event then ring the Milk Link helpdesk on 0845 3003123.