Cockhaise Farm

Follow Cockhaise farm if you are interested in:

• Learning more about how organic management principles can benefit your soil structure and grassland management’
• Managing an incredibly tight six-week autumn calving block herd
• Utilising herbal leys in your grazing platforms
• Developing healthy soils
• Reducing instances of lameness in your herd
• Building strong teams
• Developing multiple farms processes and operations
• Learning more about 'regenerative dairy farming'

Overview

Cockhaise Farm in Sussex is owned and operated by Dan Burdett and his family. Taking over operations from his father in 2013, Dan now operates a tight autumn block calving herd of 240 Holstein and Friesian crosses.

Dan continues in his pioneering father’s footsteps in producing organic milk on a low input low output system of dairy production.  They also operate a dairy farm on contract located in Kent that has a higher education focus as well as an autumn block calving herd.

Our farm

Based near Hayward Heath in Sussex, Cockhaise Farm is 300 hectares with a flexible grazing platform of between 75-120 hectares depending on the time of year and grass growth. Silage leys are a mix of PRG, Cocksfoot, Timothy, Plaintain and Red and White Clover. Grazing leys are as above with the addition of Chicory, Burnett, Yarrow, Birdsfoot Trefoil and Crimson Clover.

Our herd

The herd is currently made up of 240 Holstein Friesian cows although they are looking to reduce this number to improve their efficiency. The animals average 550kg liveweight, and come from New Zealand and Irish genetics. They achieve 6,000L of milk per cow per year of which 3181L is from forage. They operate an autumn block calving herd with all animals calving within a six-week block. This herd starts calving in November.

Our journey

Over the next three years, Dan aims to develop a working model for a 'regenerative approach to dairy farming' for GB, as well as broadening the farm's focus beyond dairy, reducing instances of lameness and building a strong team to create a better work-life balance.

Our key performance figures

Cockhaise Farm openly share their KPIs so you can see how they perform against a number or technical and financial measures.

• Review our key performance indicators
  

Past meetings and updates

• 4 June 2020 - Cockhaise Farm launch webinar - Dan introduces the farm and talks about his desire to increase milk from forage, his six-week calving block, and looks for a 'triple win' system of organic farming
• 11 November 2020 - Explore how Dan and his team achieve a six-week calving block - Dan explains the secrets of halving is calving block from 12 to 6 weeks over the last three years
• December 2020 - Future-proofing your dairy farm for the next generation podcast - We talk to Dan and Andersons’ Business consultant Tony Evans about the modern pressures of dairy farming and the importance of a sound business structure
• March 2021 - Herbal leys panel discussion: a look at feeding and grazing management covering rotational vs mob grazing, nutrition and ensiling
• March 2021 - Making your business deliver for you and your family - How creating a sound business structure for a modern dairy farm and managing it on a day-to-day basis creates a solid platform for the future
• June 2021 - Making time for self-development podcast - Dan explains the steps he took to develop the skills needed to drive his businesses forward
• July 2021 - A pro-active approach to reducing lameness - We look at how Dan and his team have been reducing lameness by taking part in the Healthy Feet Lite programme and working with vet, Dr Nick Bell.
• October 2021 - Reaping rewards from a regnerative approach - Creating a resilient and sustainable business is more than just a passion for Dan; it is a core belief that is driving development on Cockhaise Farm in Sussex.
• May 2021 - Reducing feed costs by improving forage production webinar - Dan discussed soil health and fertility, grass and wholecrop forage quality, and silage analysis in an organic system with Soils and forage specialist Dr George Fisher  
• The business case for tightening the calving block - Dan explains why he reduced the block calving period to just 6 weeks and the benefits that come with it
• Getting dairy cows ready for breeding into a 6-week calving block - Dan shares how he ensures that cows are fit and healthy after calving and ready for mating
• Bulls, semen and AI in a 6-week calving block -  Dan discusses the importance of giving stock bulls an annual MOT to check their health and sperm quality in frozen semen straws