Good silage will be key to making the most of good milk prices in the face of high fertiliser and feed costs.
The message from Volac silage specialist Peter Smith, at a clamp talk for farmers in the Gloucestershire Grassland Society, was that good silage will be vital to making the most of good milk prices in the coming season.
David Merrett, the societys chair, explained that as an independent organisation, the society aimed to help producers make better use of forage and utilise grassland for both profitability and environmental sustainability.
The aim of the event was to help farmers produce quality silage and do so efficiently, to improve business resilience against volatile costs.
Mr Merrett said: Looking at fertiliser costs, it has never been more important to make good silage and make this with the least amount of fertiliser.
Giving pointers on how to capture maximum nutrient value in grass silage, Mr Smith said in an untreated clamp that even the best silage can lose 10% of its dry matter (DM).
However, bad bacteria do not just consume fibre in silage, they feed on sugars and proteins. So in nutritional terms, losses are greater.
Topical Steps
- Consider cutting grass younger for multiple benefits
- Mitigate slurry risks; especially if applying more slurry or cutting more often
- Wilt rapidly to 30% dry matter to retain more sugar and protein
- Learn from previous silage analyses for example, lactic acid to VFA ratio to gauge whether preservation can be improved
- Utilise the benefits of a proven additive as Ecosyl can add 1.2 litres of milk/cow/day
