Jdunn55
Member
- Location
- Helston, cornwall
Hi all, I seem to be finally be finding my feet and am wanting to make some improvements going forwards. One particular area being milk from forage.
Was hoping for some tips but also some realistic targets. Would people mind sharing what your own goals are (including cow type and system please) and how you feed?
Don't ask me what it currently is. I have a number in my head as to what I think it is and it's not good enough, it's actually a bit embarrassing imo.
I've already started laying the foundations out and have made what I think is some good quality forage.
First cut is attached below. I have 21 acres of maize in which I think looks OK but I'm no expert, so will have to wait and see.
The grass is clamped and the maize will be pitted on top of the grass.
With this I should have enough to get through winter easily and have left over for next summer should it turn dry.
My plan for the winter was to self feed across the clamp which is 70' wide and there will be a maximum of 95 cows milking until the middle of December when I begin drying off for the spring.
Assuming it grows, they will also have access to approximately 3ishkgdm of forage rape/day for mid november-end of January
What sort of intakes and yield from forage do people think I could achieve with a herd of friesians weighing an average of about 650kg?
Then once grazing again next year what do people aim for when grass is growing properly (in a drought I would be feeding the first cut silage + maize to make up for lack of grass growth)
Any other tips for improving intakes will also be appreciated.
Thanks
Was hoping for some tips but also some realistic targets. Would people mind sharing what your own goals are (including cow type and system please) and how you feed?
Don't ask me what it currently is. I have a number in my head as to what I think it is and it's not good enough, it's actually a bit embarrassing imo.
I've already started laying the foundations out and have made what I think is some good quality forage.
First cut is attached below. I have 21 acres of maize in which I think looks OK but I'm no expert, so will have to wait and see.
The grass is clamped and the maize will be pitted on top of the grass.
With this I should have enough to get through winter easily and have left over for next summer should it turn dry.
My plan for the winter was to self feed across the clamp which is 70' wide and there will be a maximum of 95 cows milking until the middle of December when I begin drying off for the spring.
Assuming it grows, they will also have access to approximately 3ishkgdm of forage rape/day for mid november-end of January
What sort of intakes and yield from forage do people think I could achieve with a herd of friesians weighing an average of about 650kg?
Then once grazing again next year what do people aim for when grass is growing properly (in a drought I would be feeding the first cut silage + maize to make up for lack of grass growth)
Any other tips for improving intakes will also be appreciated.
Thanks