"We were very happy with the seed mixtures we used on the first 100 acres," explains Will, who does most of the land work, "but our ACT Area Manager told us about the benefits of tetraploid ryegrasses, so we decided to try 30 acres of Sweet Grazer."

The seeds weredrilled in early September 2000, after spring barley, then grazed by store lambs from mid-October. "The ley did really well in its first year," says Will, "Its now in its second year and still doing well, you don't get any seed heads and it stays green all summer. And when we leave the gates between the two reseeds open the cows always go to the Sweet Grazer. They may wander off, but we always find them back on the Sweet Grazer."

The family who milk 90 Holstein Friesians, rear their own replacement heifers, finish all their beef calves and run over 1100 ewes, are aiming to grow 'more acres of better grass for the cows.'

"We want as much milk as we can get from grass," says Dave, who milks the 7000-litre herd, while Rose takes care of the calves and the paperwork.

"One of the best things about the Sweet Grazer," adds Will, "is that once the cows have finished with it there's still plenty left for the lambs, most of which we finished off grass before Christmas."