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01278 444829 or email info@molevalleyfarmers.com.

Welcome to Grassland Conservation and Forage Crops

A guide produced by the Feed Solutions team here at Mole Valley Farmers

Full contents as follows: 

The objective of grassland conservation and forage crops is to feed all productive livestock as effectively and as cheaply as possible and to do this means utilising all forages at their optimum levels of digestibility, rather than at highest possible yield. 

The principle crops are grass, grass silage and maize silage. Root crops are experiencing a revival and having an increasing part to play for a number of reasons. Firstly, they can be consumed in situ, all harvesting done by the livestock at minimal cost. Secondly, they maintain a level digestibility through to spring.  Thirdly, all dung is self spread – no straw required, no physical effort to bed up and cleanout. What is required is land that can be catch cropped and that can usually be fitted in (on non arable farms) preceding a new ley, to break and utilise the old turf. 

Grass silage is the largest single source of winter forage and has a principle role in setting the profitability of any livestock enterprise, particularly dairy cows. In this issue we endeavour to cover the many aspects that impact on a good (in volume), and nutritious (in feed quality) silage crop. The farmers who consistently produce 11.7-12 ME silage (and save 2kg concs/day compared with 10.6-11 ME) will expend the same care and attention to their crop growth and its conservation as those with a 10tonne/ha wheat crop.  It requires regular soil testing, correct fertilising to maintain productive perennial rye grasses and clover. 

The use of a proven additive which improves its feed-out value and very sound sheeting all round to eliminate waste. Many pits still experience 20+% waste from air ingress causing unseen secondary fermentation and nutrient loss, not to mention the visible 6-10” waste on some top and sides. Proper double sheeting and the use of NoTyretex instead of tyres will cut top waste to less than 1 inch visible at the end of winter. 

Read more about the services available from Mole Valley Forage Services. 

Please check current prices at your local Mole Valley Farmers branch. 

   

 

 


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