Spring calving suckler cows generally receive moderate energy intakes in winter resulting in a loss of body condition. When subsequently provided with adequate good quality pasture there is rapid recovery of liveweight and body condition and provided cows are in good body condition at housing in autumn there are no ill-effects of winter under nutrition on fertility or calf performance. Good pasture performance can be achieved at relatively high stocking rates with high inputs of nitrogen (N) fertiliser or, as is common practise with lower stocking rates and relatively low N inpyts. Lower stocking rates allows an opportunity to reduce costs by providing all (or most) of the winter feed requirements from 1 as opposed to 2 silage cuts. The objectives of the study, carried out over 2 years, were to determine the effects of 1) reducing N fertiliser on the grazing area, 2) allowing more land per animal, and 3) simplifying grass conservation (1 instead of 2 silage cuts) on cow and calf performance.