Wynnstay customer Rob Powell has found wintering ewes at home, on grass and root crops, a cost-effective option.
Rob Powell from Blaenbwch farm runs a 283-hectare (700 acres) business which is split across two units. One on the outskirts of Builth Wells and the other on the edge of the Epynt range. The farm runs 2,000 Epynt hardy speckled ewes, 1,000 Aberfield cross-bred ewes and has a 100,000-bird broiler unit.
In addition to running their own farm, they also run a contracting business, using their direct drill to establish more than 400 acres of roots on farms in the area.
“I’ve invested a lot of time in learning to grow high quality grass and root crops, as this is the cheapest feed source available and plays a key role in running a profitable sheep business.”
They lamb their Aberfield X ewes to a texel tup from the 25 March, to align with grass growth on the farm. 80 percent of the ewes are lambed outdoors and the other 20 percent are lambed indoors.
Three weeks before lambing the ewes are taken off roots and put onto Wynnstay ewe cake. “We’re achieving 170 percent after lambing and so feed is continued for two weeks, but once the grass starts to grow, the concentrates are reduced,” he says.
All the lambs in this group are put onto Wynnstay Lambmaster creep until they are sold in the fat at around 10 weeks old between 30 and 35kg.
He adds that the lambs are off the farm quickly, reducing the stocking rate over the summer months, allowing them to manage grass growth.
The hill flock is split into two groups, 1,400 hardy Epynt ewes and 700 white faced mountain ewes, and all replacements are homebred using Aberfield tups from the cross-bred flock.
Winter feeding and budgeting
Rob grows around 60 to 70 acres of roots a year, most of which are mob grazed in the winter and a grass run back is provided with all root crops.
“We grow a combination of brassicas and fodder beet and aim for a dry matter intake (DMI) of 2.5kg per ewe per day which allows 10 acres of root crops to hold 500 ewes for 100 days.”
Successfully growing forage crops
When growing root crops, it is important to plan ahead explains Rob. The first step is to soil test the ground before planting and then fertilise accordingly addressing pH, P and K.
“We spray off existing vegetation using Glyphosate with a plan to direct drill forage brassicas from late May to June. When direct drilling, we roll with Cambridge rolls to improve soil to seed contact,” he explains.
Rob says that there is a huge difference between a good crop and a bad crop and often it is a few management elements that can make a difference. Applying nitrogen at the three-leaf stage is one of the key recommendations.
“Farmers often worry about squashing plants when applying fertiliser, but the benefits in overall yield, outweigh the disadvantages of squashing a few plants.”
Rob says he learnt a lot about improving ground for forage crops following a trip to New Zealand.
“One tip from that visit was to build fertility at the top of the soil – the top four inches of soil are the most important and must be cared for and nourished,” he explains.
Grazing root crops
On the 1 January, 90 percent of the stock on the farm is grazing root crops, with care taken to avoid heavy wet areas and field margins and careful planting is used to avoid soil erosion.
“On poor ground, we like to build fertility by applying inputs and growing a crop of Vollenda stubble turnips first season, followed with Triumph Swedes. In the third season, Robbos fodder beet is grown.
“The ground is then reseeded, planting a Squire red clover ley to produce high-quality silage for cross-bred ewes, or on ground not suited for silage, Imperial long-term leys are planted, mainly for grazing – some of these leys last 15 years,” he adds.
Rob believes that careful management and the avoidance of overgrazing is key to getting long term performance leys.
“We find making the most of home-grown forage and wintering our ewes at home, provides us with an efficient sheep system.”
Bryn Hughes, Wynnstay National Sheep and Beef Specialist says, that high-quality forage grown well, can provide a cost-effective feed source, that sheep can thrive on.
“It’s no secret that home-grown forage and pasture is the cheapest feed source and if done right, it’s the best feed for livestock production, enabling sustainable and profitable meat production and Rob has got it just right and is seeing fantastic results.”
