The businesses’ Farm Advisory Service integrated land management plan
highlighted that improved nutritional management and data-driven decision
making at Craigens, the Argyllshire monitor farm, could promote herd
performance and reduce costs of production. Ration and mineral planning, along
with data collection and analysis to improve breeding selection, will help control
feed costs and optimise on-farm efficiency with cattle that suit the system at
Craigens.
The data available on the farm also presented another opportunity to strengthen
selection, increasing overall herd efficiency moving forward, by using more
informed decisions. Data such as cow weight and body condition, alongside calf
performance, can be used to model profitability on an individual basis to assess
which cows are of most value to the herd. This should be considered alongside
other data, such as calving interval, to ensure fertility is maintained.