Dairy

More documents

Recommendations

Info

GOING FOR GOLD - ‘GREEN GOLD’ The vision of paddocks carpeted with lush grass, birds singing and the sound of cows munching through a perfect stand of ryegrass seems a lifetime away, as we look out at yet another dismal grey morning. But there is hope in sight and on the majority of farms there is the opportunity to maintain or increase margins without incurring extra costs, and all it requires is faith and a bit of discipline. As we approach the spring and summer of 2013, with feed costs remaining high, it is imperative that you look at your grass, and grazing management. Grass has to be treated like any other crop. After investing money in fertiliser it has to be managed in order to realise its full potential. Many are still underutilising this important crop. Few realise that around 60% of all grass which will grow in a year has already grown by the end of June, so grazing pressure in the early season is vital in making sure you get off to a good start. Increasing stocking rates per Ha early in the spring and taking all excess grass as excellent quality silage will lead to a more profitable season. As much as an extra 4.5 litres/cow/day, representing £1.35/day, or £4,050/100 cow herd/month can be achieved from mid-season grazing with careful management in the early part of the year. With good grassland management the energy levels of the grass can remain between 11 and 12 MJ/ kg DM and protein over 20%. Better control of grassland will lead to more appropriate targeting of both bought in feed and buffer fed silage to maximise yield and milk quality. Anyone who has visited New Zealand comes home inspired to make more of their grassland -simply because seeing is believing. They have witnessed profit coming from grass, so believe they can do it too. It is commonly a lack of faith in the potential of grass that holds many people back. Sometimes it helps to ask for some guidance in the early days and your Wynnstay representative, or a member of the ruminant technical team can provide a hands-on measuring and monitoring service. Grass is the main crop on many farms and should be treated as such, most cereal farmers know the production level they expect from their crop, why shouldn’t the grassland farmer? Production from forage ranges from less than 2000L per cow to over 4000L per cow on grazing farms. It should be this year’s challenge for those at the lower to middle range to increase milk from forage by 500 to 1000L. This will ultimately increase output, without increasing production costs and also decrease the need for so much bought in feed. As part of Wynnstay’s ongoing training programme, members of the ruminant feed sales teams monitored grass growth across their trading area, some of the results are as set out below of the daily grass growth rates in the West Midlands and South Wales. As can be seen in the graph below, grass growth rates can differ from one region to another. There is also a huge variation between different pastures on farm, and recently reseeded field always perform better with higher quality and increased yields of grass. The graph below can be used as a guide to planning your grazing rotation and regime over the coming season. You can estimate rotation length of the paddocks by using the growth rates below. The rotation length, grassland area required for grazing, and stocking rates per Ha throughout different stages of the season can be calculated. This will allow planning of grassland area available for cropping for silage for the winter or use as a buffer feed. By carefully planning your grazing management, you will achieve productive and profitable grass land as well as making top quality forage for the winter. Contact your Wynnstay Sales Representative and make this year the year you mined some of that ‘Green Gold’. Iwan Vaughan <strong>Dairy</strong> Specialist M: 07990 578548 iwan.vaughan@wynnstay.co.uk Average Daily Growth Rates Season 2012 (KG DM/Ha) 10 www.wynnstay.co.uk
AN OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE YOUR GRASS LEYS Following a relatively dry start 2012 turned out to be the wettest year on record and no one needs reminding of the problems that caused. Poached and damaged grass leys were widespread, but this problem will give an excellent opportunity to introduce some modern day perennials into tired leys, or to carry out a full re seed. It is common knowledge that reseeding a field will improve yield, on average by 33%, but there are also many other benefits. Over several years “weed grasses” will ingress into any sward after poaching or a hard winter. These “weed grasses” have very poor quality characteristics compared to modern day perennials, such as poor digestibility (i.e. they do not convert to meat or milk as efficiently as a perennial) and poor response to fertiliser. As the Grassland Research Institute at Hurley showed, after 8 years, more than half the original sown species die out. The benefits that a new reseed will bring are: • Improved yields, • Better diseases resistance especially to crown rust, • Earlier turnout of stock which will lead to higher stocking rates • More palatable and digestible (increasing milk and meat production, improving the animals conditions) • Improved silage quality • Improved response to N fertilisers • Increase margins per head by having lower concentrated feed costs There is obviously a cost associated with reseeding which is why it is vital you choose the best grass ley possible, which includes the most modern up to date varieties. Once the decision to reseed has been made; following these steps will help to fulfil the potential of the reseed. • Destroy the old sward using a product containing glyphosate. Ensure there is sufficient new growth for the chemical to be taken up and that an appropriate rate is applied under correct conditions. Whilst this treatment will control actively growing plants it will not kill dormant seed in the soil. • Take a soil sample at a depth of 10cm (4 inches) to analyse pH, P and K indices • Apply FYM • Plough and Press • Apply seedbed fertiliser as required. Apply lime to achieve 6.5 pH at maximum of 5t/ ha (2t/acre), split-dress if more is required • Work down to prepare a fine, firm seedbed • Ring roll • Choose correct grass mixture • Drill or broadcast the seed onto the rolled seedbed. Ring roll or light harrow to ensure maximum contact between seed and soil. Grass and clovers will not germinate until average daily soil temperatures are above 5ºC. Temperatures need to rise to achieve satisfactory growth • Spray with Dursban WG (Chlorpyrifos) if Leather-Jackets or Frit Fly are expected. Dursban WG may be tank mixed with the glyphosate used to burn off the old sward to achieve very cost effective control. Remember to follow the guidelines laid down in the No-Drift Stewardship Campaign • Once established, graze periodically from 8-12cm (3 – 4 ½ inches) down to 3-6cm (1 – 2 ½ inches) This will help achieve a densely tillered leafy sward. The removal of grass allows light to reach and stimulate grass tiller buds and clover growing points. Sheep or young cattle are less likely to poach the developing sward. • Weed control in the new ley is usually necessary to ensure good establishment and to avoid a gappy sward • If significant weed problems are expected you should consider establishing the ley without clover and introducing it once a herbicide has been applied to the sward If you wanted to inject some life into your older leys, Stitching in is a very simple but effective way to rejuvenate old or damaged grass leys without the cost of a complete reseed. Increases in yield and quality can be achieved without ploughing and the time spent out of production can be reduced. Stitching in could be the way forward for you. Recent trials work has seen results from stitching into an existing ley by: • Increase of yield by over three tonnes of dry matter per hectare • Increases in D value by 2 points • Higher Crude Protein; Metabolisable Energy, and sugar contents For more advice on re seeding, Stitching in and what grass seed mixtures would suit your management regime please phone Adam Simper in the seed office on 01939 210777. Adam Simper Grass and Root Seed Product Manager M: 07808 901179 adam.simper@wynnstay.co.uk Wynnstay Group Plc <strong>Dairy</strong> Newsletter Spring 2013 11
Page 1 and 2: Dairy N e w s l e t t e r Spring 20
Page 3 and 4: A Clear view of where we are headin
Page 5 and 6: Taking the stress out of rearing Li
Page 7 and 8: of ice into the bucket of colostrum
Page 9: KETOSIS A recent study by DHHPS sho
Page 13 and 14: FERTILISER UPDATE Sulphur Due to th
Page 15 and 16: Thompson 1997 and Bergsrud 1990, Zi
Page 17 and 18: WHICH BUILDINGS ARE BEST? We think
Page 19 and 20: TEstimonial: Commercial Unit- 38kW

Dairy

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?