COLWALL farmer Martin Carr has won the title of the best grassland manager in the Central region for the second year running.

He won for the annual contest organised by the British Grassland Society to find the farmer who best demonstrates excellence in grass and forage management, leading to profitable livestock production and care of the land.

Dr George Fisher, president of the society, said Mr and Mrs Carr were a credit to the industry.

"Even in two years their business has moved forward with exciting initiatives."

Mr Carr and his wife Emma run Bush Farm, a 240-hectare mixed holding with sheep and arable enterprises working together as one integrated operation.

The farm is split into one-third grazing and two-thirds arable.

The pastures are maintained for five years and are based on late-heading perennial ryegrass with clover which provide high-quality grazing and silage for the sheep and an excellent entry for first wheat.

The arable side of the business also provides additional fodder in the form of rape and turnips for winter feeding and finishing lambs.

The stock is essentially fed only home-grown feeds throughout the year.

The flock consists of 900 mule ewes with 200 ewe lambs.

Lambing starts at the end of March, with the ewes housed from mid-December and fed grass silage.

This rests the grassland and avoids poaching the heavy land.

The lambs are sold fat off grass or later in the season off stubble turnips, at an average carcass weight of 20.6kg.