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Know How / Grassland management

In the current challenging climate, all livestock producers are under pressure to maximise the cheapest food source – forage. See the latest thinking on grazing methods, forage systems, reseeding and varieties as well as how others are making more from grass and maize.

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SHEEP

How cobalt deficiency tests led to higher lamb weights

A split trial on a Dorset farm highlighted a 3.52kg uplift in weight gain and reduced susceptibility to worms in lambs supplemented for cobalt deficiency. The result of the trial,…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why simple herbal ley mix benefits Durham mixed farm

Government clarification that growing one herb, one legume, and one grass together qualifies as a herbal ley under the Sustainable Farming Incentive is grist to the mill of a County…

BEEF

How an intensive beef finisher has cut carbon footprint

A Welsh beef finisher is demonstrating that making structured progress towards net zero is achievable in an intensive farming system. Dylan Jones, who farms on Anglesey in partnership with his…

DAIRY

How carbon audit kick-started dairy’s net-zero ambition

Improved slurry storage and an increase in milk from forage have helped a Cumbrian dairy farm cut its carbon footprint by one-third. When the Dunning family first looked at Raisgill…

LIVESTOCK

How a beef farm is managing grassland to face extreme weather

Maize is an established part of Ian Farrant’s system at Underley Farm, Stoke Bliss in Worcestershire, and a crop he describes as a “brilliant insurance policy’’ in dry summers when…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to restart rotational grazing after a wet winter

Beef and sheep farmer John Ritchie, winner of Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year 2023, replaced set stocking with rotational grazing on his Perthshire hill farm. He will be…

Practical advice

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

6 tips for managing this year’s first-cut silage

Slurry stores are full and forage stocks are running dangerously low on many farms. While grass is generally growing well, many fields remain vulnerable to damage by poaching and machinery.…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to manage dairy cows at grass as seasons get more extreme

Regularly measuring grass growth, assessing trends and being adaptable to changing weather patterns are helping one grass-based dairy manage extreme weather conditions. Herd manager Antony Mitchell milks 600 spring- and…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How visiting other farms can improve business resilience

Perthshire beef and sheep farmer and Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year 2023 John Ritchie is convinced the biggest improvements on his farm have come from listening to other…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

5 ways to help prevent silage slippage

More silage slippage is being seen on farms because of the increase in the popularity of multicut silage. A multicut system involves cutting grass more frequently than the traditional two-to-three-cut…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Advice on sampling fresh grass for this season’s silage

A pre-cut grass sample, analysed for crude protein content and nitrate nitrogen levels, should be used as a gauge to time all silage cuts this season and review fertiliser inputs.…

LIVESTOCK

Why focus on grazing basics is key to maintaining profits

Increased reliance on concentrate feeding and a decline in grass production are threatening the future profitability of Irish dairy farms. Some of this reliance is a result of climate stresses…

Insights

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BNG

Conservation grazing grows as alternative land uses develop

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in the planning system in England from February 2024, allowing landowners to earn an income from selling biodiversity units to developers. This is just…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Bacterial inoculant boosts milk yield 1.9kg/day, study shows

Inoculating silage increases available dry matter, improves aerobic stability, and increases milk yields, according to the findings of a new trial. The independent trial was carried out at Reading University’s…

LIVESTOCK

6 livestock tech developments to look out for

From driverless tractors to cameras for identifying diseases, several high-tech innovations are coming down the track. Farmers Weekly looks at six highlights. See also: NI farm transforms slurry and food…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why calcium is critical for soil, plant and animal health

Calcium’s superpowers have been known by agronomists for years, yet not enough attention is paid to the crucial role this mineral plays in soil health on farm. This is according…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

What is 'Total grazing' and will it work in the UK?

A radical grazing technique is gathering pace which claims to maximise grassland production and rumen function by baring off pasture at the 3.5-leaf stage. “Total grazing” involves moving cattle four…

LIVESTOCK

Why diverse forage mixtures could improve outwintering

Findings from a recent trial in Devon have concluded that outwintering cattle on a diverse mix of forages can help improve both animal and soil health, while also benefiting the…

LIVESTOCK

How multispecies swards can improve production efficiency

Grassland in the UK has traditionally been dominated by ryegrass. While ryegrass provides high yields of good-quality forage, it is dependent on applications of now-expensive nitrogen fertiliser and is susceptible…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Benefits of winter sheep grazing for silage performance

Tack sheep have a “Marmite” reputation among dairy farmers – some value their benefits as grass managers and a source of income, while others only see their ability to rob…

Maize

FEED AND NUTRITION

6 things to watch out for in wet spring maize campaign

Maize growers should be prepared to address soil compaction and drill later if required after a record-breaking period of rainfall. The wettest 18-month period across England in recorded history could…

LIVESTOCK

Can living mulch cut maize cost and protect soil health?

Maize is an important component in livestock diets, but growing the crop is often associated with harmful environmental effects caused by soil erosion and run-off. The tendency for maize ground…

MAIZE

5 ways to reduce the carbon footprint of maize production

Managing maize production as efficiently as possible offers UK growers one of the biggest opportunities to minimise the carbon footprint of their forage production. Dairy and beef sectors are increasingly…

MAIZE

What lessons can be learned from 2023 maize harvest?

Farmers harvesting maize later in October 2023 were plagued by wet and difficult conditions. “Maize was a lot riper than people thought it was. Farmers were put off harvesting because…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize grower relief at emergency seed treatment ruling

British maize growers can breathe a sigh of relief that three European seed treatments have been given the green light for UK use next year. UK regulators have granted emergency…

LIVESTOCK

Options for harvesting maize in wet conditions

A switch to grain maize could be the answer for farmers with maize crops still standing because harvest has been hampered by wet ground conditions.   This is according to…

MAIZE

Maize Watch: Bumper maize yields for many

Maize growers around the country are reporting very good yields this year. “Contractors are chopping now in all regions. Yields are 44-49t/ha, which is very good compared with the long-term…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Maize Watch: Mild weather helps crops to mature steadily

Maize crops continue to mature steadily through this period of mild weather and warm nights. Plants have dried a lot this week, with many crops having leaves senescing from the…

AHDB resources

See AHDB resources on rotational grazing

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LIVESTOCK

Grassland and Muck 2014 video: Revolutionary grass monitor on de...

A revolutionary grass monitor that can be mounted on a wellie boot and automatically measures grass height via ultrasound sensors is set to make measuring grass easier. The Grassometer from…

DAIRY

Video: How a dairy farmer cut concentrate costs by £30,000

Close monitoring of daily production and producing more milk from forage have enabled a Suffolk farmer to reduce concentrate use by almost one-third. In 2019, Jonny Crickmore was comparing the…

BEEF

Video: Return of native beef breed benefits Welsh farm

Livestock farmer Richard Lewis swapped his Limousin cattle for native Welsh Blacks and has seen the farm flourish. He invested in 45 head of the cattle, which was quite an…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Should you do a full reseed or renovate pasture?

In most cases, if a sward is past its best, there is no substitute for ploughing. However, overseeding can also be beneficial. In the video below, Germinal’s Daniel Loe sets…