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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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DAIRY

How a greenfield dairy targets 'resilient' 50% yield lift

An autumn-calving herd is targeting 7,500 litres from 1.5t of parlour cake after moving farm, breed and system. The Barnes family of Alma Bank Farm, near Oakham, have endured six…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How cattle on herbal leys have transformed Essex farm

A short video about grazing herbal leys sparked a complete change of direction for an Essex arable farm. Gone are the wheat, oilseed rape and potato crops, and in their…

POULTRY

Why pastured poultry is good fit for grassland farm

At Paddock Farm in Warwickshire, 300 Hy-line and Dekalb hens follow beef cattle around the grazing rotation, producing an average of 240 eggs a day. They apply their manure directly…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why dairy beef is set to beat arable returns

Grazing dairy beef cattle is proving more profitable than arable cropping on a north Norfolk farm. It is also the best way to improve soils, says David Cross, whose aim…

ASSESSING PERFORMANCE

Cost-focused Angus herd targets further £8 a cow savings

A processor-led carbon benchmarking initiative has challenged a Cheshire Angus unit to squeeze more cost out of its already lean system. Ian Norbury at Mobberley Angus, near Wilmslow, has already…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Soil health focus reduces cow variable costs by 40%

Basing a farming system on improving soil health has helped a Northumberland mixed farm strip costs out of its sucklers and halve its winter housing period. The variable costs of…

Practical advice

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SHEEP

Tips to manage worm challenges and benefit lamb growth

Farmers must learn to “clean-graze” lambs to reduce worm burdens, rather than routinely relying on anthelmintics. This was the message from Matt Colston, who said farmers need to relearn the…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Agronomist tips on taking reliable soil samples this autumn

Taking soil samples this autumn will only produce useful data for a nutrient management plan if it is done consistently. This means sampling at the same time of year, in…

LIVESTOCK

Tips for an end-of-season grazing platform review

Now is a good time to review this season’s grazing platform performance as we head towards the end of the grass-growing year and herds move into their final grazing rotation.…

LIVESTOCK

7 ways to prepare grazing herds for big rain events

Although changing weather patterns seem to bring rainfall in sudden, torrential downpours and flooding has become normal for many farms, planning can reduce the impact of big weather events. Farmers…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Maize Watch: Harvest yields off to a promising start

As foragers start chopping maize crops across the South and East, reports are that yields are very good, ranging between 43 and 48t/ha. Excellent growth throughout the summer was due…

MAIZE

Maize Watch: Crops perform well despite challenging weather

Maize has done well in this year’s challenging weather conditions, utilising summer rain for excellent plant growth, reports Neil Groom, manager of forage specialists Grainseed. “Spring was wet and maize…

Insights

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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…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Forage Aid gears up for busy winter feed campaign

The prolonged hot weather and lack of rain has created serious issues for livestock farmers, with increasing reports of forage shortages. Following massive increases in feed, fertiliser, fuel and energy…

GROUNDSWELL

7 farmer tips on moving to regenerative farming

At a packed Groundswell event on 22 June, a panel of farmers talked to delegates about the challenges and benefits of moving to regenerative agriculture. Infrastructure and time were two…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Ulster farmers must act to avoid forage crisis

Immediate steps to ensure sufficient winter forage supply need to be taken by Northern Irish farmers facing unprecedented cost escalation, say farm advisers responding to stark findings of a survey. …

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How remote sensing tech can help fine-tune grass management

A farm-level study in Wales has shown remote sensors can provide valuable information on how grass responds to inputs. Furthermore, they can do this in greater detail and more rapidly…

Maize

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…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Maize Watch: Harvest yields off to a promising start

As foragers start chopping maize crops across the South and East, reports are that yields are very good, ranging between 43 and 48t/ha. Excellent growth throughout the summer was due…

MAIZE

Maize Watch: Crops perform well despite challenging weather

Maize has done well in this year’s challenging weather conditions, utilising summer rain for excellent plant growth, reports Neil Groom, manager of forage specialists Grainseed. “Spring was wet and maize…

LIVESTOCK

Farmer networks will be key for SFI uptake

Building confidence via networks of farmers will be crucial to the successful implementation of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and rollout of agroecological practices on UK farms. This is according…

MAIZE

Benefits of undersowing maize for soil, water and grazing

Tom Kimber has been growing maize at Higher Stavordale Farm near Wincanton in Somerset for at least 10 years, but it is only recently that he has turned his focus…

AHDB resources

See AHDB resources on rotational grazing

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FEED AND NUTRITION

How growing maize with beans can improve silage quality

Intercropping of maize and climbing beans is gaining ground among German farmers keen to improve the quality of their silage. Yields and protein content are particularly promising when the two…

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…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Soil health focus reduces cow variable costs by 40%

Basing a farming system on improving soil health has helped a Northumberland mixed farm strip costs out of its sucklers and halve its winter housing period. The variable costs of…