Grass and muck - high yielders can get more from grass

Visitors to the event will hear that with ‘the cheapest form of feed’, while there can be some barriers to maximising its use, they are not difficult or expensive to overcome.

According to Richard Simpson, development director at dairy specialist, Kingshay, boosting milk produced from forage will benefit the bottom line of almost any dairy business, small or large.

“There is a lot of potential for the majority of herds – what is needed is belief and confidence in your system and then training of the appropriate management skills.”

The main obstacles to getting more from forage, particularly from grazing, are insufficient farm tracks, inflexible fencing, and a desire to control the whole ration for management ease.

However, as visitors will hear, many of these barriers can easily be overcome.

Mr Simpson argued that the key is attention to detail and being flexible.

“Most cows are turned out now so the first stage is to look at how to get more from grazing this summer.

“That involves growing good quality grass and clover swards, with the best varieties and making effective use of manures and fertilisers for optimum performance,” he said.

“To help farmers to balance nutrient requirements, Yara will be holding a Grassland Clinic on stand 308, with the ultimate aim of boosting grazing intakes and promoting animal health.”

In a high yielding herd, he suggested targeting grazing at lower yielding cows producing up to 30 litres per day, with appropriate concentrates fed in the parlour.

“That’s not to say that higher yielders can’t graze, they just need more supplementation.

It’s about achieving milk from grass without losing significant yield – there is a balance to be found.”

On average, Kingshay farmers produced 33% of their milk from forage in the rolling year to February, 2017.

Yields across the average and top 10% of producers – analysed by their production from forage – were similar, at around 7800 litres, but the top 10% produced 55% of that milk from forage.

As a result, their margin over purchased feed improved to 19.69p/litre against an average of 17.25p/ litre, despite similar milk prices.

In contrast, the bottom quartile of producers had higher yields – at 8122 litres, but only produced 16% of that from forage, resulting in a margin of just 15.78p/litre.

“Focussing on the figures really is worthwhile,” said Mr Simpson.

“If you benchmark you know where you are and can plan to move forward; it’s all about realising the true value of forage.”

Rotational grazing is a key part of getting the most from grass, which does require weekly monitoring of grass growth and often temporary fencing; which will be on display at the Grassland and Muck.

“Good farm tracks will extend your grazing season, but at drier times of the year, they’re not essential,” he said.

“However, grazing well does require flexibility and more day to day management.

"It can help to get one person to take responsibility for this – and don’t forget to cut back on concentrate usage to allow the cows to actually achieve more from forage, or supplement where necessary.”

It’s also about making the best quality silage and feeding it well.

“Those producers who always get the best silage do it through having the best management and staying in control of everything they can control,” said Mr Simpson.

"It’s about getting all the basics right at every stage. That does take effort, but the returns really are worth it.”

Target guidelines:

- Most herds should be able to achieve over 3000 litres of milk from forage per cow.

- More than 4000 litres is a good target for many, with a few herds achieving over 5000 litres.

- Herds stocked more heavily may have lower targets. Don’t forget impact on milk quality

Forage costs:

- Well-managed grazed grass and clover sward: 3.5p/ litre.

- Poorer quality, older grazed pasture: 5.6p/litre.

- Good quality first cut grass silage: 6.1p/litre „ Maize silage 6.8p/litre „ Third cut grass silage 7.5p/litre

- 18% high energy parlour concentrate 9.8p/litre

Mr Simpson will be speaking on maximising milk from forage at 12.30 each day in the main forum theatre (stand 301)

Get rid of those pesky weeds

TWO new grassland herbicides will be launched by Dow AgroSciences at Grassland and Muck.

Leystar, for new-sown leys and maize, controls a wide range of weeds, such as chickweed, bindweed, nightshade, charlock and fat hen, and seedling perennial weeds like docks, buttercups and thistles.

It is particularly safe to use on young grass and can be sprayed from when three grass leaves have appeared.

But, where buttercups and dandelions dominate, Envy is Dow’s latest solution.

It has a short stock withdrawal period of seven days and will control other weeds such as plantains, daisies, mayweeds and chickweed.

Both contain florasulam – the first new active ingredient approved for use on grassland in more than 12 years.

But the company’s experts will also be sharing expertise with farmers at the event.

“They can use the event to share their weed problems with our experts,” said Dow AgroSciences grassland agronomy manager, Brent Gibbon.

“It’s not always easy to appreciate how much grass is lost from weed infestations – but our team can tell you how much grass is not being grown and the best way to tackle the weeds present.

“For example, the Dow Grassland APP calculates how many extra sheep or cattle could be grazing, how many more tonnes of silage could be made, or how many extra litres of milk from grass could be produced, if weed infestations were controlled,” he added.

“Setting the sprayer up for optimal performance is also vital and we have new advice on spraying herbicides with lower water volumes, and will be sharing how to do this and providing guidance on best practice.”

The latest in biological additives​

A NEW biological silage additive, with claims of rapid fermentation, high palatability and nutrient preservation will be launched at the event.

Also providing inhibition of clostridia, it is a three-strain combination of lactobacilli developed and manufactured by Envirosystems.

Named OptiSile Extra, it uses the widely used l plantarum, to support a standard lactic acid fermentation and the combination of the other two strains is not used in any other UK silage additive.

This works by overcoming spoilage by producing acetic acid, a proven inhibitor of moulds, yeasts and clostridia, both during fermentation at feed out.

This combination makes it effective over a wide range of dry matters, according to Dr David Adimpong, of Envirosystems.

“The lactic and acetic acid combination creates fast, stable preservation, and maximises palatability and nutrient availability,” he said.

“During development and following extensive in-house testing, a number of farmers used the additive on a full-scale last year and have continued with it this season,” he said.

Fresh grass list and new varieties

ELEVEN new varieties of ryegrass and one red clover variety have been added to the 2017/2018 Recommended Grass and Clover Lists (RGCL).

The list will be launched at Grassland and Muck and they are an invaluable resource for grassland farmers.

It enables them to select varieties that will perform well in a particular system. Only grasses and clovers that have undergone at least four years of independent testing are included in the lists.

When re-seeding, the list should be used to check that the varieties are the best available.

Dr Liz Genever, AHDB senior scientist, said: “The lists give details on the performance and characteristics of each variety, helping farmers make informed decisions alongside their seed merchants about the ones that best meet their needs.

“They are rigorously tested for factors such as total and seasonal yield, feed quality, disease and persistence before making the Recommended Grass and Clover Lists.”

It also includes technical information on how to manage reseeds and maximise the productivity.

- The handbook and the full lists for merchants will be available to download from here returns and here from May 24.

An online version for perennial ryegrasses has been updated and will be available at here.

New grasses from Barenbrug

SOME brand new grasses will be among the plots sown at Stoneleigh by Barenbrug.

The company will be offering UK farmers advice on how to get more from their grass, and which species and varieties to pick, depending on requirements.

It has sown 28 demo plots at Stoneleigh including three areas devoted to brand new products.

Bar Finisher is a mix of chicory, white clover, red clover and plantain; Artemis is a nutritious lucerne that combines good digestibility with high proteins; Hybrid 4×4 is a highly productive hybrid ryegrass cutting ley designed for a three or four year rotation.

There is also areas dedicated to perennial ryegrass species including Fintona, the highest yielding ryegrass variety ever developed.

App aims to cut the crap!

IT COULD hardly be described as not being to the point – the manure nutrient calculator ‘Farm Crap App Pro’ will be launched at Grassland and Muck.

This app has been developed by Duchy College’s Rural Business School, in partnership with Rothamsted Research, North Wyke and is available free of charge on both Apple and Android devices.

The team behind the award winning app have incorporated innovative new features to help optimise farmers’ use of farmyard manure.

It still includes a calculator function to allow you to assign a nutrient and economic value to a manure application, but functionality is extended to fully represent how you are managing the field.

It now has the option of including different application methods, crops grown, and seasonality.

The app allows you to create field records, and integrate farm maps into those records.

It also can create whole field nutrient management plans to allow efficient use of manures within the rotation.

Dr Stephen Roderick, manager at the Rural Business School explains: “This brand new app adds more functionality and flexibility than the original and remains a practical and easy-to-use tool that potentially brings real benefit to the farmer.

“The partnership team have done an excellent job of converting research and development into practical advice and information for the farming community.”

It will be demonstrated on the Rothamsted Research stand at the event.