What exactly is scientific about dairy farming you might wonder?

Most of us know only what we hear on the Archers, or when perusing supermarket shelves never even give it a thought.

Well, Janes Barnes is a dairy farmer's wife and gave us a lively and amusing talk about the ups and downs of this career and the farm she helps run with husband Mark and son Harry near Melton Mowbray.

Their herd produces the milk for the world-famous Blue Stilton cheese made at Long Clawson dairy. Jane is fifth-generation farmer and talked about how farming has changed and responds to government demands over the years.

Mark was committed to the welfare of his cows and indeed when they met Jane was introduced to them well before she met his parents! His first daughter was even named after his favourite cow.

The cows' nutrition is carefully managed to optimise their welfare, the output, and we were given the energy requirement for the cows walking each 100 m between the field and milking parlour twice a day. They need extra if the ground is hilly, or they are pregnant or lactating. So the feed and grazing are constantly monitored to ensure a healthy diet.

Cows are fussy and won't graze if the grass is too long and with the recent heavy rain, some fields are now too long for grazing and must be used for silage.

The milk is also regularly checked for protein and other nutrients and to monitor the health of the cows. The quantity of data collected amazed people and it is obvious that dairy farmers need good computer skills as well as knowledge of animal management.

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Most cows are artificially inseminated and the semen can be selected from a catalogue, and one can have the straws containing the semen sexed to ensure a high percentage of heifers are born. They try to breed all their own stock to reduce the chance of infection being imported.

Dairy farmers are now a rare breed there are only 7,500 left and one farm closes every day. Having heard about their life one can understand why. A visit to the farm is organised for August 6.

Well, the science and technology group certainly have a varied programme. The next meeting on May 14 is Concept Cartoons: Switching learners on to Science Stuart Naylor 2pm Packington Village Hall.

Concept Cartoons are a quick, simple, and effective way to promote discussion, get people thinking, and find out their ideas. They are engaging and challenging. This interactive session will get you talking, thinking, and maybe learning a bit of science as well.

Stuart Naylor worked as a classroom teacher, teacher educator, writer, publisher and consultant. He is well known, along with his late wife, Brenda Keogh, as the creator and developer of Concept Cartoons. He has a reputation for innovative, creative, and thought-provoking writing and teaching. He is currently chair of Sandbach & District u3a.