Grow your own to save on feed costs

UK - March 18, 2011

Livestock farmers need to grow as much as possible this year to counter rising feed cots, says independent grassland expert Charlie Morgan.

"An increase of just 1p per kg DM in concentrate costs will add £80 a year to the feed bill of every dairy cow and £48 per year for every suckler cow," he says.  "It will add £48 to the rearing cost of a steer finished at 20 months and £6 per year for every prdocutive ewe.

"Figures like these are driving the need to produce as much milk and meat from grass this season."

While well-managed correctly fertilised swards containing modern rye-grass varieties can produce 10t DM.ha (4t DM/acre) or more, Mr Morgan says this potential can be limited by factors such as poor soil condition, inadequate crop nutrition or weeds.

If soil has compacted layers, grass cannot put roots down, causing stress and reducing its response to applied nutrients.

Mr Morgan advised digging holes to look for compacted layers in the soil - and to take remedial action if needed.  Future soil damge caused by grazing livestock in wet conditions can be reduced by using multiple entry/exit points, out-wintering only on free draining land, and using mobile, rather than fixed, feeding troughs.

Mr Morgan says a cheap soil test will reveal any shortage in NPK, which can be made up with manure or bagged fertiliser.

Applying lime to soils with a pH of 6 or below can also boost grassland productivity.  He says, five tonnes of lime/ha (2t/acre) should raise pH by 0.4 units - but will take up to a year to achieve.

Investing in nitrogen fertilser can be very worthwhile, as dairy farmers spending £216/ha (£87/acre) to buy and spread 200kg N/ha (81kg N/acre) on cutting ground could generate 10t DM/ha (4t DM/acre) of additional grass.  Most farmers would struggle to buy even one tonne of rolled wheat for that price at the moment, he says.

Weed Management

Very simply, Mr Morgan says, where weeds grow, grass does not.  At any level of infestation, weeds such as docks, thistles and nettles pose a significant threat to grassland productivity, as they compete directly for light, water, nutrients and space.

Mr Morgan says the first defence against weeds is to have a dense sward with no bare patches of soil, so weed seeds cannot germinate.

"If weeds have established, they need fixing," he says.  "Getting the topper out is an option, but really only offers a cosmetic solution."

"A longer-term answer is to use targeted translocated herbicides, which move down into the roots and affect a more complete kill.

"Sprays should be applied to healthy weeds that are activley growing and at the rosette stage.

"When planting to cut for silage, apply at least three weeks before mowing to ensure the best level of control."