Grass and silage remain the best value feeds available to UK livestock farmers, despite the increasing fertiliser prices. Producing high-quality, homegrown forage is cost-effective and plays a crucial role in herd and flock performance; but planning is essential to get these results.
Alongside grass, there are a number of other forage options which could be viable this year, including brassicas and maize. In the latest episode of the Wynnstay Agri-Hub podcast, I joined Tony Morris to discuss the forage options to consider this spring, with a few top tips along the way.
The role of spring grass reseeding
At a cost of around £240 per acre, reseeding is often lower down the priority list, especially when milk prices are low and inputs costs are high. However, provided it’s managed correctly, the investment will soon pay off.
I would recommend looking to reseed 10 to 15% each year to keep leys productive – when a sward ages, production declines and the grass species are replaced with native weed grasses. When more than 40% of non-sown species are in the sward, this is the time to review the ley.
If opting for a spring reseed this year, I would suggest opting for a medium to the long-term mix if the grass isn’t needed for cutting quickly. With the current high fertiliser prices and uncertainty over whether these will drop in 2022, this would reduce the reliance on nitrogen inputs to get a new ley established quickly. You’re also planning ahead for next year, establishing fresh productive leys which won’t require a lot of ‘work’, i.e. minimal to no inputs over the next 12 months, yet still yield well.
Still, looking for a grass seed mix? Visit here
"When more than 40% of non-sown species are in the sward, this is the time to review the ley."
How to manage grass silage in the clamp
Good field management should be supported by good clamp management – you want the time and financial investment from the field to relay to the feed.
With some growers in multi-cut systems looking to take first cuts in April, it’s a good time to refresh on how we can make the most of forage in the clamp.
- Cut when the weather is right, with a sward cutting height of around 7cm
- Consider the use of a silage additive to optimise performance and help deal with the variable quality of each cut once in the clamp
- To prevent air spoiling the silage, seal the clamp with high quality, overlapping sheets, properly weighed down, especially at the edges
- When feeding, work across the clamp face to keep it tidy and tight, to stop air from getting into the clamp
Alternative forage options for spring 2022
Alongside grass, there are some good alternative forage options available that can be sown this spring, ready for use in a matter of weeks.
Brassicas are a hugely versatile crop, providing a high-value feed with a short growing period, as well as being beneficial break crops, supporting soil health and structure for following cereals and/or grass leys.
Stubble turnips are always a popular option, as they’re fast-growing, and can be utilised within 12 weeks from sowing. Forage rape is another one to consider, establishing in May to late August for July to December grazing – a cost-effective option for planning ahead to autumn grazing, providing a valuable feed for when forage may be scarce.
Forage maize
It’s been widely discussed that maize will be an attractive forage option for 2022. The crop nutrition requirements of maize can be met adequately using muck or slurry, starter fertiliser placement and innovative, foliar-applied, slow-release nitrogen sources. Consequently, there are significant cost savings in fertiliser inputs compared to grass silage.
To add, the high yield of starch and ME from maize can offset purchased feed costs.
It’s worth noting that although production costs/ha are broadly similar across a range of maize varieties, ME yield/ha can be very different. Varieties with the highest ME yields, with excellent standing and low brackling (e.g. Prospect), should be given serious consideration. In these situations, the extra value of the ME yield far outweighs any differences in seed cost.
With maize, the time investment early in the season is critical. Take a read of Simon Pope’s blog on 9 Questions to Ask Yourself to Help Maximise the Potential of Your Maize Crop to make sure you’re ready for planting.
