There is no doubt that this year has been an incredibly challenging one for those wishing to make quality silage.

Although first-cut silages were taken in decent weather at the correct time, subsequent cuts were taken in very unsettled weather. It’s hard to think of any point from July onwards where we had three or four days of dry weather in a row!

Did anyone grab a chance to get some grass off in November? I know a few – but what else can you do? Obviously, some of this silage isn’t the best and some fields have been left for sheep.

The consequence of all this, of course, is that on some farms forage - grass silage, maize, wholecrop - is going to be tight.

This week I have been out measuring silage stocks on two farms, at the farmer’s request. It’s much better to realise there may be a problem now than try to rectify it in March, and I’m more than happy to pace out the clamps and do the calculations.

What if you don’t have enough? It is vital is that you try and maintain the nutritional plane that is needed for high production animals. If you don’t do this you can introduce other problems such as lower milk yields, ketosis, reduced fertility and digestive problems. Feeding too much concentrate, for instance, in relation to forage can cause an imbalance.

It is always best taking the advice of a qualified nutritionist when balancing diets to avoid problems.

If you are short you will need to look at other options, such as a blend, fodder beet or brewer’s grains.

Fifty tonnes of forage dry matter, for example, is equivalent to two hundred and thirty tonnes of brewer’s grains or three hundred and forty tonnes of fodder beet.

It is better to know and start introducing these feeds now – not just due to availability but while you still have forage to feed them along side!

James Collantine

DN Dairy Sales Specialist