INNOVATIVE farmers in Wiltshire are pushing the boundaries of agricultural research.

Local farmers are investigating new techniques to help to improve the health and well-being of their dairy herds by fine-tuning their nutrition.

Through an on farm field lab, as part of the Soil Association’s Duchy Future Farming Programme, a group of Wiltshire farmers are learning how to use an observation technique developed in France which uses different indicators to understand if their cow’s nutrition is correct.

From their eyes to their tails, each cow will have tell-tale signs that show the farmer what’s going on inside. The field lab is helping Wiltshire farmers understand how to use this technique and make changes to the way they feed their cows.

A good farmer will always have their animal’s best interests at heart, and is already watching them closely day to day. This field lab takes that anecdotal approach one step further with precise scientific evidence and technical guides.

The farmers involved in the trials will assess how they can incorporate the technique into their daily routines, and then make changes on the farm.

Christine Gosling, a Swindon dairy farmer leading the field lab, said: “I learnt about this technique, called Obsalim®, from speaking with my vet and wanted to share my experiences with other farmers.

Once the farmers have learnt the technique we will start a research trial with ideas from the group about how it should be run.”

One of the farms taking part in the field lab is Berkeley Farm Dairy near Swindon, where Christine runs a herd of organic Guernsey cattle with her family.

Finding optimum ways to manage a dairy herd is important to all farmers and gaining new tools allows them to feel in control of gaining the best results.

The use of this technique helps to ensure cows are being fed efficiently in a way that suits them.

More and more alternative approaches are becoming available that can for example reduce the use of antibiotics on farms or utilise natural resources as much as possible. Chris has been involved in other field labs including an investigation into using ‘udder mint’ to treat mastitis, a common illnesses in cattle.

The field lab is currently moving between farms and with the help of a vet, teaching each farmer involved on the trial how to use the herd observation technique effectively. In the autumn the group will test how effective this technique can be in optimising feed rations and changing ration mix to improve the overall health and milk production of each cow. This will be compared to similar results that have been gathered from the same time in previous years.