A dairy farm open day – the first in Wales takes place at Manor Farm, Salem Road, St Clears today, Tuesday, June 2, at the invitation of Aaron and Carys Owen.

The day is organised by DairyCo; the levy-funded, not-for-profit organisation working on behalf of Britain’s dairy farmers whose remit is to solve ‘market failure’ in the dairy industry and to tackle issues not currently being dealt with sufficiently to meet the needs of the industry.

Manor Farm, which has been in the family for over 50 years and now includes Rhys, 16, Iwan, 14 and Aled, 13, now extends to 293 acres and was for many years a beef and sheep holding with a substantial suckler herd and a breeding flock producing early Spring lambs.

Twelve years ago the decision was taken to go back into milk production after a lapse of 20 years and a 12/24 parlour was installed together with Winter housing for a herd of 100 milking cows and followers.

The milking system has since been expanded to a 28/28 set up, together with additional housing erected incorporating facilities for TMR feeding for what has become the “Caria” herd of 303 Holstein Friesian cows and heifers in milk together with some 190 youngstock.

The rolling average milk yield from the herd, including 45 per cent heifers milked at strictly 12 hour intervals (5am and 5pm) –housed by night all year and mostly calving from July onwards – is currently 10,202kgs.

Practically all the animals in the herd are home bred and, utilising expert advice on genomics, Alta sires for each cow are carefully selected according to production, health and conformation. Sexed semen is also widely used for the heifers.

DairyCo aims to provide products and services to improve the sustainability of British dairy farming and to make readily available independent, evidence-based information showcasing its latest research and development factors.

Amongst the topics to be discussed from 10.30am-2.30pm – including emerging findings with experts undertaking the research – will be cow comfort, rearing for the future, making more of protein sources, efficient grassland production and maximizing the use of manures.

To assist with biosecurity on the day visitors are urged to wear clean clothing and to ensure vehicles are cleansed and disinfected – please also wear suitable footwear to view the outdoor plots. Sat Nav information: SA33 4LJ.

Further details are available from Menna Davies on 07875 098173 or email menna.davies@dairyco.ahdb.org.uk