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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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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Benefits of embracing NZ grazing techniques – 30 years on

An influx of New Zealand consultants – led by the late Jerry Ryder, Wiltshire dairy farmer and the-then president of the British Grassland Society – set off a rotational grazing…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How gauchos, Incas and advisers evolved Welsh farm system

A Welsh grazier has taken life lessons from indigenous peoples and farming lessons from leading farmers and consultants to ring the changes at home. Wil Evans’s experiences inspired him to…

LIVESTOCK

How a shift in grazing grew more beef for less money

Soils with greater water-holding capacity, more diverse pastures and big savings on winter housing are among the standout results of a four-year grazing project at FAI Farms near Oxford. The…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Staff loss catalyst for Highland organic conversion

Going organic is a natural step for one Highland farm as it takes steps to reduce risk and restructures. The maternal stock of beef and sheep farmers David and Barbara…

DAIRY

How new lagoon will drive silage quality and milk from forage

A major slurry lagoon project is a Lanarkshire family farm’s next step in their organic journey. Andrew Stewart, of Draffan Marshill, Kirkmuirhill, says the simplicity of organic farming, and the…

LIVESTOCK

How a dry autumn is benefitting grass utilisation

Beef and sheep farmer John Ritchie, winner of Farmers Weekly’s Grassland Manager of the Year 2023, replaced set stocking with rotational grazing on his Perthshire hill farm. He is sharing…

Practical advice

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GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Managing soils to withstand wet winters and dry summers

Farmers could bolster production and farm resilience by focusing on soil health, rather than blaming the weather, soil type and location for waterlogging and drought. So says independent farm adviser…

LIVESTOCK

How soil and crop can contribute to ruminant nutrition

Livestock farmers are advised to take a holistic approach to animal nutrition, accounting for soil, crop and stock when formulating diets to avoid mineral imbalances and optimise animal performance. Independent…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

7 tips for liming grassland this autumn

Farmers struggling to lime grassland fields have been issued a reminder by Northern Irish researchers and advisers that the effort is worthwhile if conditions allow. Prolonged wet spells in 2023…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why rest and recovery are essential for pasture after grazing

Allowing pastures two distinct post-grazing periods of “rest and then recovery” before livestock return increases root biomass, soil biology and pasture nutrient density.  This is according to grassland consultant Dr…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

7 tips on earthing an electric fence

When electric fencing equipment fails to do the job this is often caused by insufficient earthing of the system, according to a leading beef and sheep grazier. Powerful energisers and…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

How to minimise soil compaction without steel and diesel

Increased occurrence of extreme rainfall events should prompt farmers to remind themselves of the dangers of compacted soils. However, plenty can be done to reduce the risk of declining productivity…

Insights

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SLURRY AND MANURE MANAGEMENT

How a slurry inoculant helped increase grass yields by 20%

Use of a slurry inoculant on a Cornish farm resulted in fewer nutrient losses and a boost in grass yields by nearly 20%, a trial has shown. These resulted in…

LIVESTOCK

How higher grazing residuals increase liveweight gain

Beef cattle which graze pasture to a residual of 5-6cm in all rotations – except the first and last of the season – are likely to gain more weight than…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why growing more grass species helps cut feed costs

Improving productivity is key to increasing natural capital while building a more resilient grazing system on livestock farms. This was the message from regenerative farming consultant Siobhan Griffin from Next…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Why cell grazing beat set stocking in Devon trial

Cell grazing is a more sustainable and productive grazing method than set stocking, results from a four-year grazing trial have shown. Cell grazing consistently outperformed set stocking plots at Rothamsted…

BEEF

16 ways to improve suckler herd profitability

British beef farmers can check their management practices against a list of tried and tested ways to make their suckler herds more profitable and productive. A joint levy board initiative…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Tips for establishing white clover in a sward

A combination of correct pH, good seed-bed conditions and minimal competition from weeds is important for successful clover germination, according to consultant Andre van Barneveld of Graise Consultancy in Ireland.…

BNG

Conservation grazing grows as alternative land uses develop

Biodiversity net gain (BNG) became mandatory in the planning system in England from February 2024, allowing landowners to earn an income from selling biodiversity units to developers. This is just…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Bacterial inoculant boosts milk yield 1.9kg/day, study shows

Inoculating silage increases available dry matter, improves aerobic stability, and increases milk yields, according to the findings of a new trial. The independent trial was carried out at Reading University’s…

Maize

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize Watch: Crop progress a month behind

Maize progress has largely been a month behind all year in southern Wales, with drilling and harvesting dates both delayed.   This is according to George John of SG John…

LIVESTOCK

Maize Watch: Marked difference under film near Dumfries

Harvesting is halfway at SRUC Crichton Royal Farm, Dumfries, where conventionally grown maize is lagging behind crop germinated under film. While the farm’s maize under film was harvested last week…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize Watch: Bigger maize acreage brings results in Devon

A decision to grow an extra 30ha of maize to swell forage stocks has paid off for Crediton-based autumn block-calver Chris Blake. Maize makes up 60-65% of the winter silage…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize Watch: What to do if frost hits before harvest

Timing the maize harvest after a cold spell should be informed by close crop inspection and leaf colour. This is according to Neil Groom, manager of forage specialists Grainseed, who…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Livestock farmers battle bad weather to bring in maize

Livestock farmers are facing significant challenges with this year’s maize harvest due to poor weather conditions and the late sowing of crops. The combination of excessive rainfall, difficult ground conditions,…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize Watch: Average year in Suffolk after wet winter

A laborious drilling campaign was rewarded with an average maize year on the Suffolk-Norfolk border for ex-dairy farmer Toby Tibbenham. Crops yielded a solid 39.5t/ha across the18.5ha (46 acres) of…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Maize watch: New variety impresses in moderate growing year

Maize performed better than feared for a Sussex dairy herd, including bumper results for a new variety.   Farmer John Hancock at Hurlands Farm, near Petworth, plans to grow new…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Busy maize harvest expected with acreage up

Wider drilling windows and crop flexibility have meant more maize has been drilled this year, after one of the wettest cereal drilling campaigns in living memory. As a result, there…

AHDB resources

See AHDB resources on rotational grazing

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BEEF

New entrants harness hills with £106 a cow winter feed cost

A young family owes a debt of thanks to an open-minded landlord and a small and hardy cow type that thrives on rough Cairngorm hill country. Without the faith of…

GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT

Video: Outwintering system hopes to beat £163 a cow savings

Trial and error are paying off for a Northumberland mixed farm that has transitioned to outwintering its suckler herd over the past three winters. The Sordy family and the team…

BEEF

Video: How Shorthorn forage system hits 500kg bulling weights

Trawling the globe for elite commercial sires and flushing easy-fleshing females from forage-based systems has helped a pedigree herd expand while consistently bulling heifers at 14-15 months old. Dutch veterinary…

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…