Farmer's experiences

Latvia

Edgars Zaļaiskalns (farm manager)

Vaives pagasts, Cēsu novads (North-East Latvia)

Farm data
TypeConventional dairy farm
Livestock126 dairy cows and 126 calves
Agricultural land400 ha, of which 150 ha are long-term wild grassland, 100 ha sowed grassland, 100 ha grain crops and 25 ha maize
Natural environment 100 m above sea level, 690-720 mm/year, different soils from clay to peat with pH range between 5.5-6.5

Feed and milk indicators

  • Grass silage quality: 6,27 MJ NEL
  • Dry matter intake 22.58 kg / cow/ day
  • Feeding 1x / day
  • Milking robot
     
  • Milk yield
    • 11,600 kg
    • 35 l / day
    • Fat 3.91%, Protein 3.36%
       
  • Ratio
    • grass silage – 29 kg
    • maize silage – 20 kg
    • chalk – 0.150 kg
    • soybean meal – 0,6 kg
    • rapeseed cake – 1.5 kg
    • brewing dregs – 5 kg
    • barley – 23 kg
    • microelements – 0.180 g
    • cornmeal – 0.5 kg
      = 61.5 % of silage and 38.5% of concentrates

Grassland management

  • Average yield of 12t/ha per year
  • 4 cuts per year
  • Cutting height 8-10 cm
  • Wiliting 24-28 h
  • Sowing every 3-4 years, resowing depending from the state of the field
  • Fertilization with foliar fertilizers during the season

 

„We are growing COUNTRY F 2055 since 2022. The mixture was recommended by our AnAgro consultant-agronomist and the choice was determined by the composition of the mixture. Perennial ryegrass, meadow fescue, timothy and especially the increased amount of red clover was the main requirement of the mixture. Mixes from other producers are also being grown on the farm, but it was COUNTRY F 2055 that showed the best results in 2022.“