Better Silage

locha

Just seen an article in the Indo today stating that NI based Farmers make much better silage then us. DMD scores of >75% were 5.6% in NI and 3.5% down South.
Considering it is so expensive to make, fertilizer, contractor and cost of the grass, I am going to make a very conscious effort to give it my best shot this year to improve my quality. I cut between 60-80ac point #1 will be to get rid of docks...
I would be interested to hear the tips that other people who have improved the process before have adapted and the difference it made..

Muckit

Cutting date l found improved quality no end. Also cutting before or just as the crop is heading out.

It wouldn't be uncommon up north to be cutting silage in late april/early May. It would be the exception rather than the norm down here.

Re docks. Hit them the middle of April when the growth really gets going. l have gone from having the place infested to a lovely clean sward with zero dock stems in the feed passage. It has taken a few years. I haven't seen cattle to eat them yet, so why would you be paying to bale/ pit them??

blue5000

OP maybe look at the big picture, N. Ireland has a lot more dairy farmers in winter milk, maybe that's why they produce on average better silage than us. Unless you really need better quality silage, be careful about spending €40 per ton where €20 would do fine. Maybe they keep the cows in 2 months longer than we do, and they have to make top quality silage.

Nettleman

I put one cover on my slab in Early june 2013, well sealed with FYM, & tyres. opened it mid November, and tested 70DMD and 30% DM = Golddust for an old sward. Always find round bales never test as well as pit. Theres always vested interests trying to make farmers spend money where its not needed. years ago, if we didn't put molasses or acid on a pit, you were doomed/should be sectioned !!!.
Always have docks left over when feeding bales, but not pit ...... Considering Forefront T in April/May for docks this year, any suggestions? OH recons its meal in slurry that brings docks??

heavysteer

Nettleman wrote: »

I put one cover on my slab in Early june 2013, well sealed with FYM, & tyres. opened it mid November, and tested 70DMD and 30% DM = Golddust for an old sward. Always find round bales never test as well as pit. Theres always vested interests trying to make farmers spend money where its not needed. years ago, if we didn't put molasses or acid on a pit, you were doomed/should be sectioned !!!.
Always have docks left over when feeding bales, but not pit ...... Considering Forefront T in April/May for docks this year, any suggestions? OH recons its meal in slurry that brings docks??

I might be wrong here, but I think forefront is not recommended for use on silage ground, something about a residual effect being carried through in the slurry, can't remember the exact details. The salesman for these products, if you believe such people would recommend dockstar-pro. Will probably give it a try next month as I have a growing dock problem.
Re OH's belief in the power of meal to grow docks- the dock seeds dont need any help, each plant produces thousands of them and they can last for years. But better soil fertility, be it from meal enriched slurry or not is also good for docks

White Clover

heavysteer wrote: »

I might be wrong here, but I think forefront is not recommended for use on silage ground, something about a residual effect being carried through in the slurry, can't remember the exact details. The salesman for these products, if you believe such people would recommend dockstar-pro. Will probably give it a try next month as I have a growing dock problem.
Re OH's belief in the power of meal to grow docks- the dock seeds dont need any help, each plant produces thousands of them and they can last for years. But better soil fertility, be it from meal enriched slurry or not is also good for docks

I think we get the jist of what ur saying heavysteer !!!!

Nettleman

With Forefront T-silage cant leave the farm AFAIK. will look into that dockstar stuff.

I said

Bale early I find has worked for me (end of May)

AP2014

Muckit wrote: »

Cutting date l found improved quality no end. Also cutting before or just as the crop is heading out.

It wouldn't be uncommon up north to be cutting silage in late april/early May. It would be the exception rather than the norm down here.

Re docks. Hit them the middle of April when the growth really gets going. l have gone from having the place infested to a lovely clean sward with zero dock stems in the feed passage. It has taken a few years. I haven't seen cattle to eat them yet, so why would you be paying to bale/ pit them??

I will be selling silage as usual, my dilemma is whether to graze ground and then let it up or should I leave as is with old winter grass on it?

If I graze I am sure it will be better quality silage but I'm not overly concerned on quality more bulk. Also if I graze it will be pushing to early/mid June on cutting. Whereas if I don't he could be cutting mid May and possibly getting as good stuff.

Will the old winter grass effect growth rates of fresh grass much? Would a light graze cause better growth and bulk?

Milked out

Nettleman wrote: »

With Forefront T-silage cant leave the farm AFAIK. will look into that dockstar stuff.

If you go early enough the high load mircam does a good enough job I think, perhaps a second run in the after grass or mid season to get the re emerging docks

Milked out

Graze early to clear off old sward, fertilize well and spray weeds and cut in early May or at least before it starts heading out. And make sure all N is used up and hope for the weather to come right. Some say you shouldn't wilt for more than 24 hrs as the p starts to break down so perhaps tedding it would be better than time to dry the crop but watch for soil contamination if like ours the silage ground can end up a bit rough after grazing as it's wet in the shoulders of year or a wet year in general

mf240

Resseding .

Cutting in time/ before heading out.

Wilting.

Fertilizing.


You might be better off with bulk depending on what your feeding . Dry suckler cows for example only need bulk and will go overfat on good silage.

AP2014

mf240 wrote: »

Resseding .

Cutting in time/ before heading out.

Wilting.

Fertilizing.


You might be better off with bulk depending on what your feeding . Dry suckler cows for example only need bulk and will go overfat on good silage.

Jaysus I'm selling it not buying it

mf240

AP2014 wrote: »

Jaysus I'm selling it not buying it

Then you want bulk.

AP2014

mf240 wrote: »

Then you want bulk.

Would you graze off at all? Would cleaning up old grass generate better growth and bulk.

mf240

AP2014 wrote: »

Would you graze off at all? Would cleaning up old grass generate better growth and bulk.

I wouldnt bother if selling. You might have your aftergrass sooner if not grazing first which might suit you. Or if you need the grass you could graze it first .

Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Deepsouthwest

mf240 wrote: »

I wouldnt bother if selling. You might have your aftergrass sooner if not grazing first which might suit you. Or if you need the grass you could graze it first .

Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

I would've thought the after grass would grow much quicker if it was fed first. A fed field is always greener after being cut, an unfed field will stay white for over a wk

AP2014

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

I would've thought the after grass would grow much quicker if it was fed first. A fed field is always greener after being cut, an unfed field will stay white for over a wk

Do you mean applying fert? I was just asking about grazing off...whether it would grow better with out being grazed.

Miname

If your selling and need bulk would you not hit it now with a shot of urea. Take a light crop in April. Fertilise well for another cut towards the end of June and then hit for a third cut in September.

Robson99

Muckit wrote: »

Cutting date l found improved quality no end. Also cutting before or just as the crop is heading out.

It wouldn't be uncommon up north to be cutting silage in late april/early May. It would be the exception rather than the norm down here.

Re docks. Hit them the middle of April when the growth really gets going. l have gone from having the place infested to a lovely clean sward with zero dock stems in the feed passage. It has taken a few years. I haven't seen cattle to eat them yet, so why would you be paying to bale/ pit them??

What did you use on the docks muckit ??
One of the most important factors for quality silage as well is to graze it tight before closing

Muckit

I've used eagle and found it good but lately l have started using hi load mircam and very happy with the results @keener price/acre. Twas puds that got me onto it.

I have now got a hozelock Spot spray stick (€20). It's light and Idea is to bring it with me herding and in tractor to nab any rouge weed on my travels. That's the plan anyway we'll see how get on

just do it

Muckit wrote: »

Cutting date l found improved quality no end. Also cutting before or just as the crop is heading out.

It wouldn't be uncommon up north to be cutting silage in late april/early May. It would be the exception rather than the norm down here.

Re docks. Hit them the middle of April when the growth really gets going. l have gone from having the place infested to a lovely clean sward with zero dock stems in the feed passage. It has taken a few years. I haven't seen cattle to eat them yet, so why would you be paying to bale/ pit them??

How early are you cutting first cut?

aneala

Nettleman wrote: »

I put one cover on my slab in Early june 2013, well sealed with FYM, & tyres. opened it mid November, and tested 70DMD and 30% DM = Golddust for an old sward. Always find round bales never test as well as pit. Theres always vested interests trying to make farmers spend money where its not needed. years ago, if we didn't put molasses or acid on a pit, you were doomed/should be sectioned !!!.
Always have docks left over when feeding bales, but not pit ...... Considering Forefront T in April/May for docks this year, any suggestions? OH recons its meal in slurry that brings docks??

Rem reading somewhere that Dock seed will remain viable in slurry but are meant to be killed by ensiling process so it's what comes out of cows after being housed and during on off grazing or being fed hay is the problem. Not too sure how accurate this is based on my own experience but definitely read this somewhere before.

sh1tstirrer

AP2014 wrote: »

Do you mean applying fert? I was just asking about grazing off...whether it would grow better with out being grazed.

AP did you buy this years cattle yet?

Muckit

just do it wrote: »

How early are you cutting first cut?

I took first cut the 15 may last year. Took out a few paddocks also After that. All silage done by first week in June.

But that was last year. Like to get main cut on or before the June bank holiday weekend.

AP2014

sh1tstirrer wrote: »

AP did you buy this years cattle yet?

There is a few in my herd number this week, just checked there. They haven't landed on farm yet. Was talking to dealer last wkd and he said he would pick them up for around €800.

Hopefully ok quality but could be 3 legged donkeys.