Give variety in the diet

23 July 1999




There was plenty to see on last weeks British Grassland

Society summer tour in Somerset. James Garner reports

Organic venture based on logic not waffle…

FACING a new challenge of organic conversion is giving one Somerset producer a positive outlook for the future.

Alan Ker is incorporating holistic farm techniques of rotation, clover rich pastures and minimal drug, pesticide and nitrogen use at Kittisford Barton, Wellington.

But he told BGS tour delegates that organic principles are based on fact and not muck and magic. The 136ha (336 acre) farm, of which 73ha (180 acres) is grass, carries 480 Hocken ewes, 100 ewe lambs and 135 beef cattle is now entered into organic conversion.

"Grass has had low inputs of nitrogen and little drug use for a number of years, so I have been creeping towards organic production."

The system is based on a grass rotation to reduce parasite damage. Mr Ker grades pasture into high, medium and low risk for sheep worms by looking at which class of stock have used leys, worm counts and how stock have performed.

Leys are colour-coded according to their parasite risk. The lowest risk are new leys, followed by those grazed only by cattle or cut for silage. Leys with low worm egg counts, despite being grazed by ewes and lambs are classified next, and pastures with high worm egg counts and highest parasite risk will be grazed by cattle.

By using a notebook, marking observations and recording worm egg findings on a grazing map, Mr Ker plans each years grazing to minimise parasite damage.

"My view of faecal egg monitoring is to get an idea of a groups status. The chart highlights this, but it is not exact science."

Mostly samples are analysed by vets, but Mr Ker has his own microscope and can identify different types of worms. Some worms are not pathogenic, he said.

"Coccidia are often found. Sometimes they are a problem, sometimes not." A problem is often found when there is other worm damage, he added.

But it is a combination approach of controlling mixed grazing, sward heights and faecal egg counts which means he hopes never to use a wormer on his lambs. "Probably half will never receive an anthelmintic, while the remainder may be wormed if theres a problem."

Producing organic food provides other challenges besides drug use, which motivate Mr Ker. "I believe there is a philosophical change which is part of conversion, but I will continue to be as commercial as possible."

Despite promises of organic premiums, Mr Ker has little doubt that by the time he sells his first organic lambs in three years time there will be no premiums.

"Beef premiums might continue for six to nine years and cereals have good potential." But he said his sheep flock will be at least as profitable under an organic system as now, which is not as profitable as he would like.

Subsoiling gives consistent leys

REGULAR sub-soiling is how one Somerset farmer produces good Italian ryegrass leys.

Because of slow spring growth, Robin Hoare of Lympsham Manor Farm, Weston-Super-Mare, uses Italian ryegrasses to boost productivity in late spring.

But the secret of ley establishment on the farms heavy soil is sub-soiling, he says.

Normal re-seeding policy for short-term leys at the farm is grass into grass. This is occasionally broken by a catch-crop, usually stubble turnips, because this can help improve soil structure.

Cultivations follow a pattern of sub-soiling to 45cm (18in) using a two-legged sub-soiler pulled by a 90-130hp tractor, chisel ploughing and power-harrow drilling.

A fritfly spray is applied routinely, but no tramlines are used as they let meadowgrasses into the field, says Mr Hoare.

Balance essential

MAINTAININGorganic farming systems means a nutrient balance is a necessitity incorporating arable and livestock enterprises.

This is the case at Oliver Dowdings 587ha (1450 acres) at Avaries Farm, Shepton Montague, Wincanton, Somerset. Grass and clover leys support 315 cows, averaging 5900 litres. Following leys with arable crop allows him to cash in on fertility created.

New grass leys are established under peas, they are drilled into a good seedbed in mid to late April, then ring-rolled and grass is drilled. The crop is cut in July and wilted to give a 16% protein silage.

Peas are harvested early, before they go flat and smother the grass ley below. "The last thing I want is for weeds to seed. The nutritional value is better for us when cut and ensiled than harvesting peas dry."

Give variety in the diet

THERE is more to a diet than bread alone and it is variety that counts when it comes to feeding cows.

This is the main principle followed by John and Jackie Davis. They are also expanding their Tadhill farm, Leighton Mendip, Somerset, doubling its size to 60ha (148 acres) since 1993.

"I know John would not be happy if he didnt have a varied diet," said Mrs Davis. So its the same for the cows.

This means the Davises vary forage in the cows diet to get as many litres as possible from forage. Figures to the end of March show 73 cows averaging 6878 litres at a high stocking rate of 0.5ha/cow (1.25 acres/cow).

Concentrate use is only 0.12kg/litre, using a mixture of forage including 2ha (5 acres) stubble turnips and kale – which the cows strip graze – maize, red clover and peas.

With no paid labour the Davises try to do as much of the work themselves. Mr Davis said much of their success is down to hard work and strong teamwork between him and his wife. This year, for the first time, he has relented and is using contractors to make silage.

But they have a system that works. Cows are rotationally set stocked in paddocks. "I am yet to be convinced about rotational grazing." Splitting and moving an electric fence in these small fields does not make a lot of sense, he added.

Closer to home… 15 Americans from Ohio, Michigan and Illinois went on this years BGS summer tour. Most of their dairy systems incorporate legumes, such as lucerne, so it was a welcome sight for them to see this field of lucerne being mown at John Hills Peadon Farm, Fiddington, Bridgewater.


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