On the right track: Iwan Morgan says cow tracks need a smooth surface.

Good access to and from pasture is of prime importance to many dairy farmers and an area where cow tracks have already proved successful.

At an open day with Steve Davies, of Steynton Farm, Milford Haven, John Owen, farm manager at Coleg Sir Gar's Gelli Aur campus, explained more about well designed cow tracks which reduce the time taken to move cows to and from grazing areas.

At Steynton Farm, a 370acre family-run organic holding with 110 milkers and 60 followers, tracks have been laid extensively linking up three units at minimal cost, making good use of red sandstone quarried on the farm and waste material from the LNG pipeline project.

John said planning a sound lay-out for tracks should be considered with close regard to available materials, initial expenditure and ongoing maintenance costs.

He says for many farms cambered stone tracks are the most cost-effective way of accessing grazing paddocks with a base of larger stone, topped off with finer stone, avoiding steep gradients wherever possible. He also suggested that it was best to avoid using cow tracks for heavy machinery.

The grazing areas at Steynton are mostly four year grass/red clover leys and some whole crop silage conserved, and the all year calving herd averages 6,500kgs and is usually at grass from early March to late November.

The 100 head of beef cattle, derived from a Hereford sire running with the dairy herd, may soon be phased out in favour of producing organic cereals for sale, presently commanding a figure of around £400 per tonne.

The on farm meeting was convened by Iwan Morgan and Stephen Bradley as part of the EU funded Harnessing Rural Capital programme, run by Coleg Sir Gar and Planed, to provide free training and mentoring support for farmers in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

The dairy development centre, established six years ago at Coleg Sir Gar's Gelli Aur campus, has been at the cutting edge of bringing best practice methods and new technology to local farmers to help cope with changes and demands within the industry.

2:57pm Friday 9th May 2008

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