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Livestock - Grasstrac Booklet - 12

“Grasstrac makes up soil trace element shortfall on my organic dairy farm”
The Green Family - Dorset (Organic Farmers and Growers)

Farm Profile
Ian farms his all-grass 246-acre farm organically. The soil ranges from sandy loam to heavy clay.



The Stock
Ian’s 95 cow herd is mainly Holstein Friesian with a few Ayrshire and Brown Swiss. Breeding is tending to move back towards the Friesian; calving is all-year-round. The average yield is 7792 litres @ 3.84% BF and 3.24% Protein, with a margin over purchased feed of £1,394 per cow. 4524 litres are produced from forage. Summer feeding is grass/clover with cake in the parlour. Winter feed is grass silage, whole-crop and cake.

The Problem
Ian does a yearly broad spectrum soil test to acquire a derogation to use Grasstrac. This always shows low copper and sodium, i.e. Cu 6.6 ppm v guideline of 8.0 ppm and Na 24 ppm v 90 ppm guideline.

The Grasstrac Experience
Using Grasstrac to enrich his pastures each year (since 2002) Ian has successfully overcome his problems and as Grasstrac is approved for use in his organic system Ian is very satisfied.