FarmersWeekly: 05/11/04

Best use of Grassland in decoupled future:By Jonathan Long

 MAXIMISING SHEEP production from grass and avoiding feeding concentrates when possible is the ethos behind one New Galloway producer”s production system.

Marcus Maxwell runs 1600 Romneys and 400 Mules alongside 170 suckler cows on his 560ha (1400-acre) farm. “We try to maximise production from the grass we can grow and even cows are only fed silage through winter.”

This winter up to 600 ewes and 500 hoggs will be put away to other farms for wintering, explains Mr Maxwell, who will speak at this year”s British Grassland Society winter meeting. “

Away-wintering should allow our own grass to recover and ensure we have more cover ready for lambing ewes.” Lambing at Viewfield Farm starts in mid-April and runs for just a month.

“Ewes are set-stocked onto lambing fields about 10 days before lambing starts and left there until the end of May. The aim is not to handle a ewe at lambing and, for the last two years, we haven”t lambed a ewe.”

Mr Maxwell avoids setting lambs onto ewes, preferring just to leave them to get on with things. “This year we averaged 98 lambs from every 100 single-bearing ewes and 185 lambs from every 200 single-bearing ewes reared to marking.”

While Mr Maxwell”s system is dependent on grass, he relies on improving permanent pasture rather than sowing leys. “We try to improve about 60 acres of grazing ground each year by stitching grass and clover seed into existing swards.”

Breed choice was based on what Mr Maxwell thought would do well on his unit. “Romneys graze better than any other breed we”ve had and seem to do well under pressure. Ewes put on condition over autumn and then have fat to burn off during harder times.”

BGS president John Vipond says the future of beef and sheep production post-CAP reform will depend on making the most of grazed grass throughout the year. “Grazing stock outside all year round removes the need for expensive buildings and cuts the cost of forage and straw conservation.”

 However, in an effort to make the BGS meeting accessible to more producers this year, it will be held at three different venues (see panel).

The second producer speaker at these meetings will be farmers weekly Farmer Focus writer Wilbert Girvan. He will explain how he outwinters 300 Luing suckler cows on hill ground at Buckholm, Galashiels.