Second cut silage fields are either closed off for silage or getting harvested over this spell of good weather and a fodder budget should be completed to see if more cuts are needed.
Reports from first-cut silage indicate that yields were back a small bit from previous years, which means it is crucial to make sure there was enough fertiliser applied and enough ground closed off for second-cut.
By putting a fodder budget together now, farmers will avoid any last minute feed shortages and keep the herd well fed throughout the winter.
A fodder budget must be completed, as where there is an identification of a fodder shortfall, it will give you time to react and rectify the situation.
Fodder budget
Last winter proved kind as it allowed for early access to grass, but one would be naive to presume a similar winter ahead. Though it sounds pessimistic, we should always feed budget for the worst.
Planning for at least a five-month winter is advisable, and the duration of the winter will depend on your location, so if a six-month winter is a reality in recent years in your area, then definitely budget for it.
Farmers should also aim to have an extra month’s or 15-20% worth of feed in reserve for periods of challenging weather, which should be included in your budget.
A herd with 100 cows, 25 in-calf heifers and 25 yearling heifers will need the following amount of feed reserves:
Silage requirement –month
No. of months (incl. fodder reserve)
No. of stock
Total
Dairy cow
1.6
5
100
800t
In-calf heifer
1.3
5
25
162.5t
Yearling heifer
0.7
5
25
87.5t
Total
147
1,050t
To complete a fodder budget, farmers need to measure their silage pits (length x width x average height in metres) and count bale stocks.
Multiply the measurement of the pit by 1.35 to get the amount in tonnes. To convert bales to the equivalent of tonnes of silage, multiply the number of bales by 0.9.Â
Many farmers will have extra silage left over in the yard due to the short winter experienced this year, so this should be added into their plans to see how much ground and how many cuts are required to make their desired amount of silage.
There have been lots of opportunities so far this grazing season to get surplus bales cut for silage, which will also reduce the silage requirement.
Fodder shortage options
If you are worried about winter supply and don’t have enough land closed off for second cut, there are a number of ways to reduce the demand for silage before you go too tight next winter.
Firstly, to reduce your demand, you should scan cows 30 days after the breeding season and cull any that are not in calf.
If you keep any surplus cattle, you should consider selling these earlier than planned.
Now might also be a good time to contact other farmers to see whether you can purchase extra fodder off them.
Farmers should plan for a third-cut silage if they have enough fertiliser to do so and if the weather conditions hold up.
Exploring alternative feed options is advisable as, if you feel that you may run tight, you may consider sowing a a forage crop or even a catch crop.
