GB Calf Week

What can your last calf block teach you about the next?

  • Podcast

13/07/2026 - 21/07/2026

United Kingdom

As part of GB Calf Week 2026, we are bringing you a special podcast episode exploring how a focus on calf health, nutrition and management can help unlock better long term performance from dairy youngstock.

Recorded at Rough Grounds Farm, an AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm in Derbyshire, this podcast follows the farm's ongoing journey to improve calf health and performance through measuring and using data to inform decisions, paying close attention to detail and collaboration between the farm team and trusted advisers. 
 

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Featured in this podcast

Join a discussion between:

  • Jess Worsey, dairy farmer at Rough Grounds Farm
  • Becky Harrison, veterinary surgeon at Peakfield Vets
  • Laura Tennant, Senior Technical Advisor at Trouw Nutrition
  • Hosted by Andrew Jones, presenter of the ChewintheCud podcast.

They share their experiences of improving calf performance without major investment.

About Rough Grounds Farm 

Rough Grounds Farm is a 350-cow dairy unit operating a split spring and autumn block calving system, with a strong focus on producing milk from forage and grazing. The farm became an AHDB Strategic Dairy Farm in 2023, opening its gates to share data, experiences and lessons learned with other dairy farmers.

The farm's philosophy is simple: never stand still. While calf health had always been a priority, the team wanted to understand where further gains could be made and how calves could be set up for healthier, more productive futures.

What can we do slightly better next time?

At Rough Grounds Farm, the focus hasn’t been on making big changes but on asking one simple question after each block. 

Over time, these small refinements have helped improve calf health, growth consistency and overall resilience.

What the podcast covers

  • Identifying hidden performance gaps, even when calves appear to be doing well
  • Using data and day-to-day observations to guide decision making
  • The role of early-life nutrition in supporting growth and resilience 
  • Recording birth weights, monitoring growth rates and tracking disease challenges to identify opportunities that may otherwise have been missed
  • The value of collaboration on farm with vets and advisors. 

A message for farmers

If you've ever looked at your calves and thought, "They're doing alright, but could they be doing even better?", this podcast is for you.
 
 
Successful calf rearing doesn't always require new buildings, expensive equipment or major changes. Often, the biggest gains come from consistently getting the basics right, measuring progress and the willingness to improve.

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