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As part of the drive to provide industry leading products, farm management services and advice, Mole Valley Farmers are developing close associations with leading animal nutritionists, researchers and sector specialists from around the world. As far as the beef sector is concerned, we are very pleased that Basil Lowman from the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) has written an article for this beef supplement. Basil has worked at the SAC for a number of years and is famous for his down to earth and practical approach. His interest and knowledge span all areas of beef production. The article looks at the timely issue of forage supply.

Avoiding Problems this Autumn

By Basil Lowman, SAC

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Reading this on a nice June day, memories of the very late, cold spring will gradually be fading. Blazing sun will also be masking the consequences to our businesses, but in a few months time when winter starts the real costs will become all too obvious.

The simple facts are that the 3–4 week delay in spring has had two major impacts –

  • First yields of grass will be reduced, making a shortfall in home grown feed supplies for next winter or, if more fields are shut up and cuts of silage delayed, less grass will be available for grazing reducing summer performance.
  • These problems will be compounded by animals being fed and housed for 3–4 weeks longer last winter. This has decimated feed stocks being carried over to next winter and, even in a normal summer, would result in stock being lighter and leaner next autumn due to the shorter summer grazing period.

What can you do about it?

The first priority must be breeding stock, in particular spring calving beef cows. Ensure they are on the best grass possible to “guarantee” their fertility and to maximise calf weaning weights next autumn. Although tupping is a long way off, still check the condition of your ewes and if they are leaner than normal consider weaning earlier to allow them to build up condition ready for tupping.

Never penalise the grazing of breeding stock just to make a few acres more silage. Having adequate supplies of silage just to feed more barren cows next winter will not make a profit.
The other big advantage of ensuring cows have adequate grass this summer is that they will be in better condition at weaning and will require less feed to successfully take them through the winter.

Other points to consider later this autumn are

  • Start creep feeding spring born calves as early as possible to help them make up the weight they didn’t gain this spring.
  • Try and finish as many animals as possible off grass to avoid having to rehouse them. If necessary feed up to 2kg twice daily. (Housing fewer animals will also reduce the amount of expensive bedding needed.)
  • If forage stocks are low consider selling some animals store rather than keeping them for finishing over the winter.
  • Alternatively, increase target finishing gains e.g. from 1 to 1.2kg per day by feeding higher levels of concentrates. Animals will eat less silage per day and reach slaughter condition quicker, making a significant difference to the total amount of silage required over the winter. As a consequence, feed costs per kg liveweight gain are likely to be similar or even lower compared with feeding less concentrates.
  • If you grow cereals and have suitable land, consider planting a catch crop such as stubble turnips/forage rape to feed outside stock such as dry cows through to the turn of the year.

The thing not to do is to ignore the problem. The cold wet spring has affected every farm in Northern Europe, including yours.


Contact us at MVF if you need more help >>

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