Extra milk or meat production generated from improved grassland can provide a healthy return on investment within a year, but factors including soil health and fertility are critically important to maximising the benefits.
This was the advice at a grass management knowledge exchange day at Four Crosses, Powys, from Germinal experts where over sixty livestock farmers gathered this week to sharpen their focus on a forage–based approach.
Speaking on the benefits of reseeding, Germinal GB’s Helen Mathieu said a cost of £200/acre to complete a full grassland reseed to the highest standard should not be a deterrent given the benefits that should result from higher pasture productivity.
“Rates of grassland reseeding remain very low at less than 5% per annum, well below that required to maintain leys in optimum condition,” she said. “When carried out correctly, reseeding will result in a significant increase in dry matter production and grass quality, boosting homegrown feed production and reducing reliance on bought–in feeds.
However, as independent soil and grassland specialist Chris Duller pointed out, results such as these are only possible if factors such as soil fertility are sorted in advance.
Mr Duller said the difference between a field at pH 6.1 and pH 5.6 would result in a dry matter yield penalty of around 1 tonne/acre, which he estimated to be worth £200/acre. Liming at a rate of 2 tonnes/acre would cost about £70/acre, resulting in a healthy return on investment within the year for an action that should have lasting benefit.
Visitors to the grass management event, which was generously hosted by Martin Evans of Carnbwll, also heard about the importance of resolving soil compaction issues and the benefits of effective grass weed control.