Out-wintering on Fodder Crops - Eblex

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The technical information in this booklet was supplied by British Seed Houses, Milk Development Council (MDC), Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) and compiled by Dr Mary Vickers, MLC. Edited Matt Mellor, ABC For more information contact: Beef Better Returns Programme EBLEX Graphic House, Ferrars Road Huntingdon, PE29 3EE Tel: 0870 241 8829 Fax: 0871 433 6205 Email: brp@eblex.org.uk www.eblex.org.uk While the authors have worked on the best information available to them, neither the Eblex Better Returns Programme, nor the authors shall in any event be liable for any loss, damage or injury howsoever in relation to the booklet or the information on which it is based. Reference herein to trade names and proprietary products and services without stating that they are protected does not imply that they may be regarded as unprotected and thus free for general use. No endorsement of named products or services is intended nor any criticism implied of other alternative but unnamed products. Delivered by <strong>Out</strong>-<strong>wintering</strong> on Fodder Crops Contents • The benefits of out-<strong>wintering</strong> for beef and sheep producers 4 • Fodder crop selection 5 • Growing and managing the crop pre-grazing 8 • Crop utilisation 10 • Performance and financial implications 16
The benefits of out-<strong>wintering</strong> for beef and sheep producers Brassica fodder crops such as kale, forage rape, grazing turnips, stubble turnips, swedes and new rape/kale hybrids offer beef and sheep producers the opportunity to: • reduce feed costs; • reduce winter housing costs; • reduce labour and machinery requirements for feeding; • reduce machinery costs associated with silage making and manure handling; • reduce fuel use and the carbon footprint; • reduce exposure to forage shortages caused by drought; • enhance low input systems; • increase output per unit of land; • avoid housing-related health issues; • expand production without additional capital cost; • extend the grazing season; • grow an alternative break crop in arable and grazing rotations; • initiate alternative cropping in uncultivated areas without ploughing (using brassicas as a pioneer crop); • produce high DM yield in short growing seasons; • provide a valuable break before pasture renewal. 4 Crop selection Feed budgeting The first step in the planning of any out<strong>wintering</strong> system is feed budgeting. Taking a whole-farm approach, consider the following points: 1. What are my total feed requirements for the stock being held on the farm? 2. How are these feed requirements met under my current system? 3. What opportunities are offered by out<strong>wintering</strong>? 4. How much feed do I want from my out<strong>wintering</strong> system in order to exploit these opportunities? Which crops will meet my requirements? Having established your feed requirements from out-<strong>wintering</strong>, you can choose the appropriate cropping system, which will depend on: 1. When you want to use the crop. 2. The number and type of stock required to feed. 3. When the land intended for growing the crop becomes vacant. 5
Page 1: EBLEX acknowledges the technical in
Page 5 and 6: Growing and managing the crop pre-g
Page 7 and 8: Feeding tips Cattle: • Identify a
Page 9 and 10: Performance & Financial implication

Out-wintering on Fodder Crops - Eblex

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