Irish forage options

Due to the complete depletion of fodder supplies after the extended housing of animals during the spring, 2018 has been a very difficult year. Now, we are in the middle of a drought situation, with grass growth coming to a complete halt and animals being supplemented with silage and concentrates.
Planning for the coming months and the winter ahead is vital to ensuring sufficient feed on-farm. Below are some options that might help curb the deficit.
Redstart
Redstart is a hybrid brassica forage crop that can provide extra forage options on-farm. Consisting of a cross of kale and rape, it offers both rapid, vigorous growth ability and winter hardiness. It is a superb catch crop for counteracting late-season forage shortages. It is mainly grazed in-situ and can provide a high energy, high protein feed for out-wintering young stock. Another option is to zero graze.
For best results, sow before mid-August. The earlier the crop is sown will reflect the final yield. Redstart is typically ready to graze after three months growth and can yield over 6 tonnes of dry matter per hectare.
This option can work well for those who have the possibility to link in with local tillage farmers who have cleared fields due to the early harvest.
Key information
Seed rate: 3.5-4 kilograms per hectare
Plant: June-mid-August
Utilise: September-February
Yield: 6-8 tonnes of dry matter per hectare
Dry matter percentage: 12-14 percent
Protein: 18-20 percent
Energy: 10-11 metabolisable energy
Crop costs
Total growing costs: €472 per hectare
Seed: €30 per hectare
Fertiliser: €250 per hectare
Contracting costs: €192 per hectare
Cost per tonne dry matter utilised €78
All figures taken from Teagasc Crop Costs and Returns 2018
Westerwold Ryegrass
Westerwold is an annual type of ryegrass. It is the fastest growing of all grass species and offers a good solution to farmers looking to build silage reserves. Similar in quality to Italian ryegrass, it is suitable for silage production, hay production or zero grazing.
The use of westerwold is mainly seen when high production is required within three to six months after sowing. Most commonly sown in August or September, 3 to 4 cuts of silage can be achieved within a year. Each cut of silage removes approx. 80 units of nitrogen, and this should be replaced after each cut to maximise the potential of the next cut.
Key information
Seed rate: 35 kilograms per hectare
Plant: July-September
Yield: 3.5-4.5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare (second cut)
Protein: 14 percent
Energy: 10.5 metabolisable energy
Crop costs
Total costs: €750 per hectare
Establishment: €450 per hectare
- Seed
- Fertiliser
- Spring desiccation
- Contractor
Harvesting cost x2 €300 hectare
All figures taken from Teagasc Crop Costs and Returns 2018
Could be an option for a short-term crop for tillage farmers who have harvested winter barley early and are planning on sowing a catch crop.
Forage Rape
Forage rape is a brassica forage crop that can be grown to supply extra winter feed. It gives more flexibility than kale because it can be sown later. Successful crops achieving good yields can be seen with crops grown up to late August. The earlier the sowing date, the higher the yield potential. Generally, there is a 30% yield difference in crops sown in early August to those sown in late August. The crop is most commonly grown to be grazed in-situ, usually by young stock. It can also be zero grazed and used in the winter diet.
Crop is ready to utilise 10-12 weeks after sowing. Consult with your InTouch feeding specialist before feeding for advice on best practices.
Key information
Seed rate: 6 kilograms per hectare
Plant: May–late August
Yield: 3.5-5 tonnes of dry matter per hectare
Dry matter percentage: 12-13 percent
Protein: 18-20 percent
Energy: 10-11 metabolisable energy
Crop Costs
Total growing costs: €446 per hectare
Seed: €30 per hectare
Fertiliser: €212 per hectare
Contracting costs: €204 per hectare
Cost/tonne DM utilised €127
All figures taken from Teagasc Crop Costs & Returns 2018
Top tips to help plan ahead
- Analyse feed stock immediately
- Contact InTouch to plan winter feed budget
- Explore options of growing fodder crops
Get in contact with the InTouch team today to do a fodder budget and create a plan for the year ahead.
Call InTouch on: 059 910 1320
Email: contactInTouch@alltech.com