There was an excellent turnout of members to visit Philip Mann's farm at Upper Farm, Didbrook, Winchcombe.
Philip Mann has recently increased the size of his farm to 1400 acres. Just less than 500 acres at the bottom of the Cotswold escarpment is medium loam and rising to higher Cotswold brash. Philip runs 50 Suckler cows, 300-350 early lambers inside and 850 spring lambing ewes – outside.
He feeds barley, clamped fodder beet and wrapped silage and some lamb creep: the problem for Philip this winter will be the same as many other members - shortage of fodder having made only half the amount of wrapped silage than last year due to the dry summer.
Philip took members around his farm explaining his system. There was good discussion not only from members but also with John Vipond, SAC sheep consultant who joined us for the day. Various aspects of sheep husbandry were debated, with particular attention devoted to Philips fodder shortage problem. John Vipond explained the benefits of feeding brassica fodder crops, fodder beet and other crops
Philip Mann has recently increased the size of his farm to 1400 acres. Just less than 500 acres at the bottom of the Cotswold escarpment is medium loam and rising to higher Cotswold brash. Philip runs 50 Suckler cows, 300-350 early lambers inside and 850 spring lambing ewes – outside.
He feeds barley, clamped fodder beet and wrapped silage and some lamb creep: the problem for Philip this winter will be the same as many other members - shortage of fodder having made only half the amount of wrapped silage than last year due to the dry summer.
Philip took members around his farm explaining his system. There was good discussion not only from members but also with John Vipond, SAC sheep consultant who joined us for the day. Various aspects of sheep husbandry were debated, with particular attention devoted to Philips fodder shortage problem. John Vipond explained the benefits of feeding brassica fodder crops, fodder beet and other crops