3 cuts verse 4cuts

[Drumdergfarm]

I farm in Northern Ireland and toiling with the idea of going for 4 cuts.
I harvest my own silage and just looking at ways to make better silage
Does it bulk the same over the 4 cuts etc and when best to cut

 

[davidroberts30]

I farm in Northern Ireland and toiling with the idea of going for 4 cuts.
I harvest my own silage and just looking at ways to make better silage
Does it bulk the same over the 4 cuts etc and when best to cut

Cut it every 4 weeks from end of april until the pit is full

 

[upnortheast]

I farm in Northern Ireland and toiling with the idea of going for 4 cuts.
I harvest my own silage and just looking at ways to make better silage
Does it bulk the same over the 4 cuts etc and when best to cut

The 1st question is what is your definition of "better silage"

 

[goodevans]

I farm in Northern Ireland and toiling with the idea of going for 4 cuts.
I harvest my own silage and just looking at ways to make better silage
Does it bulk the same over the 4 cuts etc and when best to cut

Surely fertiliser and fuel will put a dampener on 4 cuts

 

[Conrod96]

We take 4 cuts now for 5 years, always said tonnage was the same as 3 but we seem to end up with more left in the pits now Usually we start 1st week of may, go again 5 weeks later in 2nd week of June, again in 3rd week of July and try for 1st week of September maybe last week of august for 4th.
On average over the last 5 years we’ve had 2 cuts of 12me, 3rd cut 11.5 and 4th of 11 which meant we were never feeding bad silage as such. Having your own machinery makes it easier to dictate when you cut and how often if I had my own I might even cut another time in the year or start earlier

 

[Drumdergfarm]

The 1st question is what is your definition of "better silage"

Silage well over 11me. Struggle to get it in 2nd cut

 

[Drumdergfarm]

Surely fertiliser and fuel will put a dampener on 4 cuts

I wouldn't think it should. If anything the opposite to get more milk from forage would out weigh the extra expense

 

[Drumdergfarm]

We take 4 cuts now for 5 years, always said tonnage was the same as 3 but we seem to end up with more left in the pits now Usually we start 1st week of may, go again 5 weeks later in 2nd week of June, again in 3rd week of July and try for 1st week of September maybe last week of august for 4th.
On average over the last 5 years we’ve had 2 cuts of 12me, 3rd cut 11.5 and 4th of 11 which meant we were never feeding bad silage as such. Having your own machinery makes it easier to dictate when you cut and how often if I had my own I might even cut another time in the year or start earlier

Fair enough
What results did u get the first year and did it increase ure milk from forage

 

[Stuart1]

We take 4 cuts now for 5 years, always said tonnage was the same as 3 but we seem to end up with more left in the pits now Usually we start 1st week of may, go again 5 weeks later in 2nd week of June, again in 3rd week of July and try for 1st week of September maybe last week of august for 4th.
On average over the last 5 years we’ve had 2 cuts of 12me, 3rd cut 11.5 and 4th of 11 which meant we were never feeding bad silage as such. Having your own machinery makes it easier to dictate when you cut and how often if I had my own I might even cut another time in the year or start earlier

I find with 4 cuts as opposed to 3 you’ve way more yield of grass in the clamp but then cows eat more of it with it being higher D Value. Overall average of silage is better which is the aim. Your ME seems to be super.

 

[Conrod96]

Fair enough
What results did u get the first year and did it increase ure milk from forage

Can’t just exactly remember but Mff was 1800 which was poor that went up to 2900 in the 1st year going to 4 cuts it has went on up since but that’s due to adding zero grazing in the summer now

 

[davidroberts30]

Surely fertiliser and fuel will put a dampener on 4 cuts

same amount of fert whatever(2 units a day)
fuel use would be lighter as lighter crop but more than pay for the extra quality

 

[Beef farmer]

Cut it every 4 weeks from end of april until the pit is full

Just this. Perfect

 

[davidroberts30]

Just this. Perfect

Be honest tho I'd watch 2nd cut and if possible take it at 25 days especially if its warm and dry

 

[Beef farmer]

Be honest tho I'd watch 2nd cut and if possible take it at 25 days especially if its warm and dry

We cut every 27-30 days for the last few years. Wagons make it possible. Wouldn't want to do it with a silage gang. Even less so this year

 

[rusty]

Went from 3 to 4 cuts four years ago. Aim to cut every 5 weeks. I think total tonnage is similar to 3 cuts but quality is better and diets just work much better. If you get a wet spell and get delayed a week it’s not the end of the world quality wise.

 

[davidroberts30]

We cut every 27-30 days for the last few years. Wagons make it possible. Wouldn't want to do it with a silage gang. Even less so this year

I been on 4 weeks last 2 year and the 2nd cut just wants to bolt to head so hence the 25 days just to keep the quality

 

[t murrr]

I find with 4 cuts as opposed to 3 you’ve way more yield of grass in the clamp but then cows eat more of it with it being higher D Value. Overall average of silage is better which is the aim. Your ME seems to be super.

Would all the fertiliser be out of a silage it been cut at such a short interval. They always say six weeks providing the weather is sunny

 

[Barmyfarmer]

Would all the fertiliser be out of a silage it been cut at such a short interval. They always say six weeks providing the weather is sunny

Depends how much you put on

 

[Serup]

I take 5 cuts. We start around may 10th and go every 24-28 days for the first 3 cuts. The goal is max 28 days, and if weather is an issue, rather earlier than later. Then the last two cuts are for heifers and with longer interval. This way, if one cut is lower quality because of a too long interval, we have a chance to take a better cut later. I want the last cut around october 1st, so grass isn’t too long over winter.
The yield (kg dm) doesn’t change much with number of cuts, but total protein yield and quality is better.
And yes, when it’s dry it will sometimes be rather small cuts.

 

[Headless chicken]

We’re going against the tide here this year a bit….
first is planned for early may instead of late April with maize being drilled behind a chunk of it.
Second is going to be let run to head to feed dry cows on the assumption that we will run to drought.
then take a nice 3rd and 4th when we’re not fighting it so hard.

been disappointed with results on second cut me often coming in sub 11 even when cut rapidly.
Time will tell.

I should add don’t have access to wagons hauling into the dairy. If we do pit again on heifer farm that will be wagon. Potentially looking for our own mower to minimise “per acre” costs