How to cut concentrate costs by rotational grazing sheep

Now is the ideal time for farmers to consider implementing a rotational grazing system while fertiliser costs are low.

Farmers may be inclined to “take their foot off the pedal” on the back of lower feed and fertiliser prices, visitors were told at an open day at 2013 Farmers Weekly Sheep Farmer of the Year Keith Williams’ farm.

Speaking at the open day, organised by the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, Sue Buckingham from Aberwysth University’s Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences said farmers should capitalise on low fertiliser costs.

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“If you start rotational grazing when there’s a little bit of slack in the system, when prices go back up you are going to be in a situation to maintain profits,” she explained.

“Temperatures have been above average this September, but with day length decreasing and evening temperatures getting cooler there is less potential for high grass growth.”

Ms Buckingham said at current fertiliser costs of about 75p/kg of N, the “breakeven” grass growth rate would need to be about 4kg DM/ha grass for each kilogram of applied N, where grass is used to replace bought-in compound feed at a cost of £220t (22p/kg).

“On well managed ryegrass swards there is still the potential to get an economic response to fertiliser applications,” she concluded.