Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Twitter LinkedIn
    • FREE Email Newsletters
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Contact Us
    Twitter LinkedIn
    Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    • News
      • Arable & Agronomy
      • Dealership News
      • Environmental Land Management Scheme/Policy
      • Event News
      • Health & Safety
      • Machinery
      • People
      • World News
    • Farm Machinery
      • Amenity & Maintenance
      • Cultivations
      • Drilling
      • Grassland Equipment
      • Harvesting
      • Muck & Slurry
      • Sprayers
      • Telehandlers
      • Tractors
      • Tractor of the Year
      • Tyres & Tracks
      • Whatever happened to?
    • Precision Farming
    • Markets & Policy
    • Profiles
      • National Arable and Grassland Awards
      • Company Profiles
      • Reader Profiles
    • Livestock
      • Beef
      • Dairy
      • Sheep
    • Magazines
      1. June 2025 issue
      2. May 2025 issue
      3. April 2025 issue
      4. March 2025 issue
      5. 2025 Tyre Developments supplement
      6. February 2025 issue
      7. National Arable and Grassland Awards supplement
      8. January 2025 issue
      9. December 2024 issue
      10. November 2024 issue
      11. October 2024 issue
      12. September 2024 issue
      13. August 2024 Issue
      14. 2024 Drills and Seeds supplement
      15. July 2024 Issue
      16. Cereals Supplement
      17. June 2024 Issue
      18. May 2024 Issue
      19. April 2024 Issue
      20. Tyres and Tracks Supplement
      21. March 2024 Issue
      22. National Arable & Grassland Award – Meet the Finalists
      23. February 2024 Issue
      24. January 2024 Issue
      25. December 2023
      26. Agritechnica Preview Supplement
      27. November 2023
      28. October 2023
      Featured

      June 2025 issue available now

      By Matthew TiltJune 2, 2025
      Recent

      June 2025 issue available now

      June 2, 2025

      May 2025 issue available now

      May 1, 2025

      April 2025 issue available now

      April 1, 2025
    • Events
    • Podcast
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer
    Dairy

    Bumper grass year increases demand for zero grazing equipment

    John SwireBy John SwireSeptember 3, 20193 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email

    Demand for zero grazing equipment is spiralling in 2019 as UK dairy farmers seek an edge to compete in a challenging milk market.

    Forage machinery specialist, James Seaton of JVS Machinery, says: “Farmers choosing to maximise yield through zero grazing have benefitted from excellent growing conditions in 2019, a sharp contrast to the drought of 2018. We supply Belair zero grazers and this year we have seen a sharp rise in enquiries from farmers looking to change the way their herds are fed.”

    French manufacturer Belair partnered with JVS Machinery in 2018 to distribute its range of cutting and feeding equipment in the UK. “The machines are favoured by farmers for build quality and longevity. I chose to become a Belair dealer because I use the machines for contracting and I know they last. I can’t afford for machines to let me down and Belair machines are a dependable option made of quality components,” says Mr Seaton.

    Market pressures have forced many dairy farms to expand in order to remain competitive. However, growth without additional grazing land has proved a difficult proposition, leading many farmers to choose zero grazing as a solution. Mr Seaton adds, “Zero grazing offers farmers greater flexibility, especially those with limited grazing capacity close to the milking parlour. However, it is more labour intensive and requires an investment in specialist equipment.”

    Jim O’Neil, a Shropshire dairy farmer, invested in Belair machinery to switch to zero grazing in 2018. He says: “l use a Belair Gabare Premium XL to cut grass and bring it to my herd of 480 Holstein-Friesian cows. I bring three and half loads every day to the cows, which takes about two hours. We have 220 acres and zero grazing is the best way to make the most of the land.”

    Mr O’Neil has seen a rise in milk yield and believes this can be attributed to the quality of the grass he feeds his cows. “We test our grass regularly and at last count it was 27% protein. It is the cheapest form of protein we can create and the best food for the cows.”

    Conditions this year have helped Mr O’Neil to cut plenty of grass for his herd and he reports a positive experience of Belair machines. “We have the zero grazer and a straw bedder. Both have performed well and when we’ve had the machines serviced JVS has sent a technician or supplied a replacement, so we never miss a day in the field.”

     

    Tweet
    Share
    Share
    Pin
    Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email
    Previous ArticleAllflex livestock intelligence launches solar power station making it possible to collect Sensehub data anywhere on the farm
    Next Article New CPD course offers unique insight into ruminant nutrition
    John Swire

    Read Similar Stories

    Hi-Spec to introduce new diet feeder at Royal Highland

    June 16, 2025

    Farmers to get fairer deals for combinable crops

    June 5, 2025

    NFU marks UK’s ‘negligible risk’ BSE status as major milestone

    June 4, 2025
    Most Read Stories

    New Kverneland dealer for Orkney and Shetland Isles

    June 18, 2025

    Kuhn to highlight potential cost savings at Groundswell

    June 18, 2025

    Urgent action on rural crime needed as collaboration shows promising results

    June 18, 2025
    Farm Contractor & Large Scale Farmer

    The UK's leading agricultural machinery journal

    Twitter LinkedIn
    © 2024 MA Agriculture Ltd, a Mark Allen Group company

    Privacy Policy | Cookies Policy | Terms & Conditions

    • Farmers Weekly
    • AA Farmer
    • Poultry News
    • Pig World

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.