Best Fertliser for Haylage/Silage for Sheep?

Bleating Lamb

Hadn’t intended on making any Silage this year but am going to have extra grass by look of things so am going to take up around 8 acres to make Haylage or Silage depending on the weather which will be fed indoors to sheep next Spring.

It will be made on fields that had Silage for Cattle taken off them for last 20 years apart from the last few years when no crop was taken as I changed the farming system.
Fields are fairly well grazed down and clean,going to spread Fertilizer before the rain at wkd.
Got a bag and a half of 18:6:12 to the acre in early April,no slurry.
What and how much would people recommend putting on now,
Thanks.

Bleating Lamb

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Hadn’t intended on making any Silage this year but am going to have extra grass by look of things so am going to take up around 8 acres to make Haylage or Silage depending on the weather which will be fed indoors to sheep next Spring.

It will be made on fields that had Silage for Cattle taken off them for last 20 years apart from the last few years when no crop was taken as I changed the farming system.
Fields are fairly well grazed down and clean,going to spread Fertilizer before the rain at wkd.
Got a bag and a half of 18:6:12 to the acre in early April,no slurry.
What and how much would people recommend putting on now,
Thanks.

Really appreciate anyone’s thoughts on this,thanks.

Green farmer

I’ve been using 18 6 12 on my silage for sheep for years without issue. Always thought it better then pasture/ cut sward, as their more p&k in it. Different for the dairy / beef lads, that have access to slurry and can get the p&ks there. Contractor always complements me on the crop not being too heavy and easily preserved. Sheep haven’t complained yet.

kk.man

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Hadn’t intended on making any Silage this year but am going to have extra grass by look of things so am going to take up around 8 acres to make Haylage or Silage depending on the weather which will be fed indoors to sheep next Spring.

It will be made on fields that had Silage for Cattle taken off them for last 20 years apart from the last few years when no crop was taken as I changed the farming system.
Fields are fairly well grazed down and clean,going to spread Fertilizer before the rain at wkd.
Got a bag and a half of 18:6:12 to the acre in early April,no slurry.
What and how much would people recommend putting on now,
Thanks.

I would think 10.10.20 as if u put too much N in would u have trouble saving it ...been green....I am n o t an expert on these things..but that's my opinion

tancoman

You should be ok with the bag and a half of 18.6.12 that you put out in early April. Should be easy to save. I usually put out 2 bags 18.6.12 in April for hay or haulage.

Bleating Lamb

Great forecast from now till Sat morning....I put out 3 bags 18-6-12 to the acre on this ground on 15th May....working it out myself I reckon it would be 1st July before it would be safe to cut.
However a neighbour was saying that if you cut it and leave it lying for 24 hours plus to wilt that that takes out nitrogen as well.

Appreciate any thoughts on whether it could be ready and safe to cut?.Am mindful that we have generally had cloudy wet days while it has being growing which would have slowed down the take up of nitrogen you would imagine.

Thanks for any replies

uck51js9zml2yt

Newbie question here...what danger is there if the grass hasn't taken up all the nitrogen.?

Green farmer

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Great forecast from now till Sat morning....I put out 3 bags 18-6-12 to the acre on this ground on 15th May....working it out myself I reckon it would be 1st July before it would be safe to cut.


Thanks for any replies

I’ve a feeling it 2 units a day minimum, so 18x3= 54 divides by 2= 27 days. But could be completely wrong . If it was mine I’d be leaving a bit longer, would hate to have black silage later in year

Buford T. Justice XIX

Walker Creamy Musketeer wrote: »

Newbie question here...what danger is there if the grass hasn't taken up all the nitrogen.?

The silage doesn't preserve well enough and there will be a strong and bitter taste off it. It won't be as palatable to animals even if it preserves enough to stop it going rotten.

Say my name

Any plant when cut, (dead) or any animal when dead (dead) will offgas nitrogen back into the atmosphere from where it came from, given enough time.
If you put that plant or animal in a liquid or a pickle it won't offgas that nitrogen back into the atmosphere.

Just a fun fact that may or may not be relevant to the thread.

Who2

Get it tested if your worried but I’d say your well safe to cut, especially if your going for hay. The growing conditions the last while would have taken a lot more than two units per day.

Mooooo

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Great forecast from now till Sat morning....I put out 3 bags 18-6-12 to the acre on this ground on 15th May....working it out myself I reckon it would be 1st July before it would be safe to cut.
However a neighbour was saying that if you cut it and leave it lying for 24 hours plus to wilt that that takes out nitrogen as well.

Appreciate any thoughts on whether it could be ready and safe to cut?.Am mindful that we have generally had cloudy wet days while it has being growing which would have slowed down the take up of nitrogen you would imagine.

Thanks for any replies

Take a fresh sample to local teagasc office to test for nitrates and sugars

Bleating Lamb

Waited to cut the silage crop,in Leitrim,looks like Monday to Thursday will be dry if a bit cloudy here,might have some showers on Monday.Hoping to get the grass to wilt fairly well as want to wrap stuff that is well wilted,never made ‘sheep silage’ before,would a 48 hour wilt be ‘too long’?
Aim to get cut Monday morning and bale Wednesday around Midday.

Thanks for any replies on wilt time.

Green farmer

Everyone’s different, but the way I do it is cutting dry at around 2 in afternoon when sugars are high, and bale up 24 hours later, weather dependent. Saw a graph somewhere that moisture looses slows after this. Also reduces risk of bacteria. sheep haven’t complained yet. I like when there’s a nice breeze there as well, but everyone will have a different opinion.

Bleating Lamb

Green farmer wrote: »

Everyone’s different, but the way I do it is cutting dry at around 2 in afternoon when sugars are high, and bale up 24 hours later, weather dependent. Saw a graph somewhere that moisture looses slows after this. Also reduces risk of bacteria. sheep haven’t complained yet. I like when there’s a nice breeze there as well, but everyone will have a different opinion.

Thanks for reply,problem with mowing is World and his mother might want stuff cut Monday so I mightn’t get to choose time for Mowing,what do you mean by reduced risk of bacteria?....is that with a quicker wilt?

Green farmer

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Thanks for reply,problem with mowing is World and his mother might want stuff cut Monday so I mightn’t get to choose time for Mowing,what do you mean by reduced risk of bacteria?....is that with a quicker wilt?

24 hour wilt just works for me and gives me easily preserved stuff that ain’t too dry. If it became too dry it would encourage mould and spores to develop. But everyone has a different way of doing things.

Say my name

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Waited to cut the silage crop,in Leitrim,looks like Monday to Thursday will be dry if a bit cloudy here,might have some showers on Monday.Hoping to get the grass to wilt fairly well as want to wrap stuff that is well wilted,never made ‘sheep silage’ before,would a 48 hour wilt be ‘too long’?
Aim to get cut Monday morning and bale Wednesday around Midday.

Thanks for any replies on wilt time.

Why not hay?

You have the weather.

MeTheMan

Like what was said cut in the afternoon when sugars are highest. Don't wilt for longer then 36 hours they say sugars start to drop off after that. So ideally, cut in the afternoon and bale the next evening.

Bleating Lamb

Say my name wrote: »

Why not hay?

You have the weather.

Would be hard enough to save as hay methinks as is quite green stuff having got 3 bags acre of 18:6:12.
Tomorrow doesn’t look that exciting for NW,possible rain and definitely a cloudy day,rain for here on Friday so would be hard enough to get hay realistically in the interim.

Green farmer

Does your contractor have a conditioner on the mower ? Its meant to speed up the wilt, if you were under pressure from weather. Smaller swards would also help. I never have big heavy crops, so have a chat and get the contractors opinion as well. They’ll know what type of stuff it is, when their mowing it, ie how the machine is picking it up.

Bleating Lamb

Got meadow mowed yday around 11am....was a dull enough day in NW,opened out a bit in afternoon,was a heavy crop of very green fresh grass on it.
Lovely Sunny day here today....was baled this afternoon from 2pm with Fusion baler,104 bales off just shy of 9 acres.Man on Baler reckoned it will make lovely stuff for sheep.
Thanks to all for replies on the thread.