Mill's expanding output meets growing need Conveniently located in the centre of the West Wales milk producing area, Wynnstay’s Compound Feed mill at Llysonnen Road, Travellers Rest near Carmarthen is now producing a new range of compound dairy feeds that have been specifically formulated to improve dairy cow performance – a move that is being widely welcomed by local farmers.

Wynnstay have been involved with the mill business as a joint venture for almost 10 years. Since the company announced the acquisition of the remaining 50% of the issued share capital of Welsh Feed Producers Limited (WFP) six months ago, product quality at the mill has been improved with the inclusion of a number of new feed ingredients that were not previously available.

As milk production in the UK has consolidated over recent years, West Wales has become an increasingly important milk producing area and tonnage at the Carmarthen plant continues to increase.  Although the range of bulk ruminant dairy feeds - which are available to producers across the region - account for the majority of the mill’s throughput, a complimentary range of heifer rearing, beef cattle and sheep feeds are also being produced.

One of the many top ranking herds in the area is already achieving excellent results since buying feeds from the Wynnstay mill at Carmarthen. Aeron and Carys Owens milk 230 Holstein-Friesians at Manor Farm, St Clears, and are delighted with the remarkable results which their Caria herd is already achieving. The couple, who have three sons: Rhys, 10, Iwan, 8 and Aled 6, share the milking and only employ the occasional relief milker.

Calving all year round, and currently including 64 first calved heifers, the herd is producing a rolling average yield of 10,304 litres at 4.37 per cent butterfat and 3.23 per cent protein.

Cows are milked through a new 14/28 parlour and are fed using a complete diet feeder, with a total mixed ration specially formulated by Wynnstay advisor Don Fraser. The diet includes grass silage, whole crop cereals, Wynnstay dairy blend, moist feed, molasses and Wynnmin minerals.

The rented farm extends to 180 acres, with a further 130 acres of seasonal land rented for silage and grazing by 220 head of youngstock. Aeron says that he and Carys made a conscious decision five or six years ago, against the national trend, to change from farming beef cattle to milk production with an initial herd of 70 cows which has since been expanded.

“We aim to achieve optimum silage quality by cutting early. Having the benefit of a sound nutritionist, a dedicated team of contractors, routine visits from the vet, as well as regular visits from a foot trimmer helps to ensure cow longevity and optimum herd performance” says Aeron who added that, in due course, they hoped to produce a surplus stock of dairy animals to sell.

“We have built up a great team of people to help us with the dairy herd. The customer service department and wagon drivers at the Llysonnen mill are particularly helpful, and always make sure that the feed is exactly what we ordered and that it is delivered on schedule,” Aeron adds.

Ken Greetham, Chief Executive of Wynnstay, said, "We are delighted to be a leading feed manufacturer in the increasingly important South and West Wales milk field. The mill at Carmarthen is now an integral part of the company’s Feed Division and has established our core Wynnstay brand in the area. Production at the mill has benefitted from significant investment over recent years and this will bring benefits to both Wynnstay and former WFP customers as we further strengthen our market share and widen our geographic distribution base."

▲back to top▲