Dear Member,
The first few weeks of spring have brought their fair share of changeable weather; one day we are thinking about turnout and drilling plans, and the next we are reaching for our winter coats or waterproofs again. As ever, these unsettled conditions make planning ahead a challenge, but they also underline the value of strong information and timely guidance.
With that in mind, we are pleased to enclose two new Kingshay publications to support you through the busy spring season...
April Checklist
A practical guide for the upcoming month, covering key dates and deadlines, compliance reminders, grazing and forage considerations, maize seedbed preparation, market updates and cost‑control prompts. It is designed to help you stay ahead of regulatory requirements and make well‑timed management decisions as conditions shift.
Spring Newsletter 2026
Our latest newsletter brings together updates from across the Kingshay team, including insights into milk price trends, performance benchmarking, new research projects, upcoming events, and news from around the industry. You will also find details on the new Dairy Manager website, offering clearer dashboards and quicker navigation.
We hope you find both publications useful as you navigate the busy weeks ahead. As always, if you’d like support interpreting any of the information, or if we can assist with costings, benchmarking, or decision‑making for your business, please do get in touch.
Wishing you a productive and (hopefully) more settled spring. Do reach out if we can help in any way.
Warm regards,
Enclosed in your physical mailing envelope is a flier for Kingshay Grass Seed – Boost the productivity of your pasture
Renovated swards deliver up to 33% more yield in the first year, and around 10% more each year thereafter, compared with leys over five years old. Good practice recommends reseeding 10 to 15% of the farm annually. For an average 200‑cow herd, this typically means reseeding 25 to 30 acres a year.
Members save over £100 on this acreage (£4/acre), there is an additional 5% discount on orders over 25 acres.
Give your cows the grass they love. Contact Kingshay on 01458 851555 to find the right grass mix for your system.
The Calf Action Network Calf Conference 2026
Raising the Standard: Rearing All Calves with Care and Purpose - 21 April 2026, 9.30am – 16.00pm at Hartpury College
A practical one-day event for calf rearers and farmers, focused on giving calves the right start and improving consistency, health and welfare on farm.
Stride has launched its second national mobility survey to better understand hoof‑health challenges in UK dairy herds, with participants entered into a draw for five pairs of Apple AirPods. The not‑for‑profit initiative, founded in 2024, aims to tackle long‑standing lameness issues that still affect around 30% of cows and cost the sector an estimated £250m annually. Chair Matt Dobbs says new insights and improved management strategies offer real potential for progress, and the 2026 survey seeks to uncover why mobility remains such a persistent problem. The survey runs until 30 April 2026 at stridemobility.co.uk.
To complete the survey, scan the QR code or go to: https://www.stridemobility.co.uk/.
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Contact us with any technical queries on contact.us@kingshay.co.uk or call 01458 851555