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A conference to celebrate 25 years of Northern Ireland's GrassCheck service looked at how the project is helping to deliver a sustainable future for ruminant agriculture

A flush of grass growth in September after recent rainfall has helped boost production

Helen is a fifth-generation farmer who farms with her parents, David and Anne Shaw, husband, Craig, and their children, Alfred and Hattie, at Grey Leys Farm in the Vale of York. The farm comprises 162 hectares (400 acres) of grass, maize and wholecrop for the herd of 240 pedigree Jersey cows and more than 200 followers

Alan Carter farms in partnership with his parents, Paul and Christine, on a 162 hectare (400-acre), 400-cow dairy unit at Constantine, Cornwall, with 130 milking cows, supplying Saputo. Alan, also a Parish Councillor, and his wife Sarah, have two children, Ross and Dana

Once conditions dry out, many farmers will start to think about over-seeding their pastures to improve health and productivity of grassland

High quality silage is a high energy, palatable and digestible forage which can provide a significant proportion of the nutritional needs of a high yielding dairy cow

Now is the time to make key decisions around grazing and silage management in order to mitigate the adverse effects of a late turnout and delayed nutrient applications

Ensuring grass is cut at the right time to achieve the desired silage quality is paramount and leaving it late will result in a reduction in sugars, protein and digestibility

²ÝÁñÉçÇø are advised to look ahead at this year's silage quality to reduce input costs and manage environmental footprint. ²ÝÁñÉçÇø Guardian reports.

Spring turnout creates many dietary challenges for dairy herds that can result in butterfat depression and fertility issues