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With sward sticks in hand, Charlie and Liz
explained how to make the most out of grazing
a field with respect to the sward height. Using
EBLEX guidelines, suckler cows with calves at
foot should be put into a field when grass is at
12-15cm, and moved on when the sward
height drops to 8-9cm. The sward should be
measured by walking the field in a 'W' shape,
taking multiple leaf top readings, and
calculating an average.
The farmers then all headed to the opposite
end of the farm to look at a red clover ley.
Clovers can replace bagged nitrogen in
conventional and organic swards, and produce
a high protein and palatable crop. Charlie
talked about the benefits of red clover in a ley,
in terms of increasing the dry matter yield at the
2nd and 3rd cut. Red clover silage will have a
crude protein level of up to 19%, which makes
it a good forage for finishing cattle.
Clover has huge potential for fixing nitrogen,
saving the conventional farmer on the fertiliser
bill, and being ideal for the organic system.
The threat of disease sclerotin to red clover
means that between subsequent red clover
lays there must be a gap of 5 years to avoid
transmission from one ley to the next.
Liz and Charlie talked about the importance
of using a seed from the recommended list
of seeds that is published by EBLEX in order
to make sure that the seed is good quality,
and that you know the growing characteristics
of what you invest in.
After a hearty lunch, Liz and Charlie led a
discussion with the group of whether the current
farming system was maximising the farm’s
grazing and forage options.
l
The calving period is tight for the herd with
78% calving within 6 weeks. The group felt
that it would be beneficial to bring the
calving period back to the spring, to
maximise utilisation of spring grass. This is
feasible; heifers will calve for the first time
in spring 2011, and the calving period
could be brought back from early summer.
l
One problem with the traditional breeds at
Mount Pleasant Farm is that cattle fail to
make the heavier weights at the correct
conformation. Most of the cattle grade at
0+4L, but soon put on too much fat if left to
get heavier. Due to the clover rich leys for
silage and the clover in permanent pasture,
the forage quality is too good for feeding
this traditional breed of cattle. One option
would be to consider using a different
maternal breed such as a Simmental, so that
finished cattle would definitely make heavier
weights. Changing the beef breed would
increase the farm options; continental x
stores would be worth more in the market,
and if the farm sold stores, it could carry
more head of cattle. One option would be
to consider doing AI on some cows to
introduce some continental x replacements.
AI would need to be done to observed
heats rather than a synchrony programme,
because of the restrictions on hormone drug
usage in the organic system.
l
The farm is not suited to a large sheep
flock. The ground is quite wet, and being a
former dairy farm, the fencing is more suited
to cattle. Sheep could certainly be utilised in
the autumn to tidy up pastures, but rather
than run a flock to do this, sheep can be
brought in from Mike's hill flock enterprise
as needed.
Well managed grassland provides the most
economic feed throughout the year, either as
grazing or conserved forage. All too often
grassland underperforms. Inadequate crop
nutrition, soil compaction, weed infestation and
many other factors will all result in reduced
performance. On hearing advice from Liz and
Charlie with the focus on Mount Pleasant Farm,
and with contributions from the group, farmers
who attended the event had ideas to take back
to their own farms.
On behalf of Friars Moor Veterinary
Clinic, I'd like to thank Liz Genever
and Charlie Morgan for hosting the
event. If farmers in other areas of the
country are keen to know more
about grassland management then
contact the Better Returns Programme
at EBLEX for more information
(www.eblex.org.uk)
.
GRASS MANAGEMENT
L UCY G I L L
Well managed grassland provides the most
economic feed throughout the year, either as
grazing or conserved forage...
SPRING 2011 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
4