14th January 2021 - Flipbook - Page 21
NEWS
I
’M sure you think first cut is a
long way away but preparation
now is essential for best results,
Michael Verner, CAFRE dairying
adviser, reminds dairy farmers.
Michael, pictured below, adds
that poor quality silage often results
in poor animal performance. It can
also have serious economic effects
during the winter feeding period with
additional concentrates needing
to be fed. Weather and contractors
often get the blame for poor quality
silage but there are other reasons.
Decisions and actions you take now
can help you make high quality first
cut silage this year.
As with all nutrient planning, an
up-to-date soil test is vital to allow
the most cost-effective use of both
fertilisers and manures. An up-todate soil analysis indicates if lime
is required as well as checking
Phosphorous (P) and Potash (K)
levels. Aim to test 25 per cent of the
farm every year, meaning the whole
farm is sampled every four years.
Michael continues that swards
should be assessed for dead grassy
material: “Hopefully you have been
able to graze silage swards in late
autumn, or perhaps early spring,
to avoid dead material in the crop
as this will greatly improve silage
quality.”
Slurry should be applied taking
into account NAP guidelines.
Slurry should only be spread
on low grass covers and
should be applied at least
six weeks before silage making to avoid contamination
that leads to fermentation
problems. Ground which has
been trampled by stock or
damaged by machinery may
need to be rolled to avoid
soil being brought in with
harvested grass, causing
contamination and high
FARMWEEK
FEBRUARY 25 2021
21
PREPARATIONS: Plan
early to make high
quality first cut silage.
Counting down to
rst cut silage
ash levels in fi
firstt cutt silage.
This
il
Thi iis
especially important on ground
which will be tedded and
raked.
Timely application of nitrogen (N) fertiliser will help
stimulate grass growth.
This will be most effective
on swards with a high
proportion of perennial
ryegrass. Too much
N produces grass
with low sugar levels
and any resulting
silage can have high
ammonia and butyric
acid
id llevels,
l making
ki it lless palatable.
l t bl
Too little N compromises yield and
protein levels can be low.
Once the soil has reached 5.5
degrees at 10cm depth for 3-4
consecutive days, grassland can
utilise 2.5kg N/ha/day (around two
units of N/acre/day) under ideal
weather conditions. Your application
rate and date need to fit with your
planned harvest date.
Typically apply total nitrogen (N)
at from 100 to 120kg/ha from the
combined input of inorganic fertiliser
and slurry. (Allow approximately
7kg N per 4,500 litres (1,000
gallons)
ll
) undiluted
dil t d cattle
ttl slurry).
l
)
For Phosphate (P) and Potash (K)
recommendations, the results of a
recent soil analysis showing the soil
index is needed.
Michael continues: “If you employ
a contractor or even if you’re using
your own equipment, everyone
needs to be primed and ready
for your planned cutting date. On
many farms cutting date has been
a compromise between yield and
quality, with an aim of less than 50
per cent ear emergence of the sward.
However, by cutting earlier there is
a significant increase in nutritional
quality
li and
d this
hi will
ill be
b offset by a
slight yield penalty.”
Michael’s summary is that grass
silage is the most important
component of the diet for at least six
months of the year on the majority
of dairy farms in Northern Ireland.
Decisions taken now and over the
next number of weeks will have a
major effect on first cut silage quality
next winter. A delay in harvesting of
one week from mid-May onwards
typically results in a reduction in
D-value of up to three units, resulting
in a reduction in milk yield of 1.0-1.2
litres/day.
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