Two of America’s most progressive dairy farmers, who have pushed forward with strategies designed to get the best from people and cows, will give an insight into their business philosophy when they meet Welsh farmers in February.

Lloyd and Daphne Holterman run Rosy-Lane Holsteins, a herd of more than 1,000 dairy cows, in Wisconsin.

On February 7, they will be at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd where they will address farmers at the Wales Farming Conference. ‘Time to Recharge’ will be the key theme and the event is designed to stimulate positivity in uncertain times. Arranged by Farming Connect, it will be held from 9.30am to 4pm on Thursday, February 7, at Hafod a Hendre, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd.

They established their business 37 years ago and are now leaders in sustainable dairy farming, not least because of their approach to reducing antibiotic use.

By adopting a series of protocols around housing, milking practices and genetic selection, they haven’t used antibiotics in their milking herd for more than five years.

They established their farming business, working with Lloyd’s parents and 75 cows after graduating from the University of Wisconsin - Daphne with a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences Communication and Lloyd with a degree in Dairy Science.

Their vision statement is: “Great People. Great Cows. Great Returns’’ and was created in recent years. It has reinforced the future direction of the business, says Daphne, who grew up on a beef and pig farm.

The farm’s mission statement promises to balance profitability and production with care for animals and stewardship of the land.

“I think you learn more through adversity than through good times,” Daphne reckons. “We learned a lot of things.”

Herd genetics has played a key role in progressing the herd with bulls selected for lifetime net merit (NM$), milk solids, calving ease, somatic cell count, daughter pregnancy rate and productive life.

“This strategy has led to a healthier, more profitable herd. One result of the genetic program is using no antibiotics in the milking herd for the past 66 months,’’ says Lloyd.

The Holtermans, who now have two younger partners with them in the business, are among a line-up of inspirational speakers expected to draw a capacity audience at Hafod a Hendre.

The impressive speaker line up also includes ultra-marathon runner Chris Moon who lost a lower arm and leg in a landmine accident in Africa. Chris will draw on his unique experiences to illustrate principles people can use in their daily lives to help them challenge the ‘concept of limitation’, which is faced by many in the agriculture industry as it prepares for an uncertain future outside the EU.

The programme will include breakout sessions with progressive beef, sheep and dairy farmers who have implemented positive changes to their businesses. It will also showcase the research of newly graduated Nuffield scholars and provide insight into trials and projects taking place at Farming Connect demonstration sites across Wales.

Booking is essential. Visit www.gov.wales/farmingconnect to book online or call Heledd George on 01970 636282 or email: heledd.george@menterabusnes.co.uk

Farming Connect is funded by the Welsh Government and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.