Feeding a 50/50 grass silage/red clover mix can increase milk
yields by 3.7kg/cow/day compared to feeding a grass-only silage
diet.
This is one of several benefits associated with feeding red
clover, according to research undertaken by
The Institute of
Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, IBERS, as part of
the new Silage Advisory
Centre.
Feeding a 50/50 mix was also found to increase dry matter
intakes by 1kg DM/cow/day compared to grass silage alone.
Red clover will also convey significant cost savings in
fertiliser and supplements, says Dave Davies, silage researcher and
agricultural outreach manager at IBERS.
Cost savings in fertilisers and supplements
"The cost savings/ha/annum of a red clover sward, compared to a
perennial ryegrass sward with 200kg of N fertiliser, is in the
region of £103, with no reduction in forage yield."
And dairy farmers currently applying 200kg N/ha/year in
fertiliser could significantly reduce their nitrogen applications,
without a reduction in forage yield, if they put white and red
clover in their grazing and silage leys respectively.
Red clover inclusion will also enhance soil fertility, he
says.
Forage yields and soil improvements
"This will provide benefits in rotational systems, with improved
soil fertility making other crops in rotation more profitable."
A red clover silage crop will also produce high yields of 13t
DM/ha/year - the equivalent to an Italian/hybid ryegrass ley with
250 units of N/ac (100 units N/ha).
"Farmers will also benefit from a wider harvesting window
compared to grass as digestibility does not drop as rapidly as
grass once the crop has flowered," he explains.
However, to get the full benefits associated with red clover,
farmers should consider baling the crop.
Flexible feeding options
Big baled silage is a good option for the majority of farmers
who have a lower percentage of grass than red clover, Mr Davies
says.
"When clover is ensiled with grass in large clamps, it gets
'lost' and can't be fed out accurately at the optimal nutritional
requirements.
"Bales enable accurate inclusion in the feed and they can also
be easily identified, accessed and quantitified so the play-off
between silage yield and optimum nutrition can be adjusted for the
winter feeding regime."
For detailed factsheets and more advice on establishing red
clover crops visit
www.silageadvice.com